Today, on October 1, 1975, one of the most famous matches in its history was held boxingwith his Mohammed Ali To fight for the third and last time, with his big opponent, Joe Fraser.
Mohammed Ali and Joe Fraser fought “epic” battles in their great boxing career, with the “struggle of the century” starting their rivalry and “Manila thriller” completing the series, highlighting the winner of the first, giving him the first one.
The fight in the Philippines, however, was also considered the beginning of the end for the two great boxers, since physical stress was huge for both and never appeared on a similar level. The match remained in history as “Thrilla in Manila” and was the third and last between Ali and Fraser for the title of World Heavyweight Champion.
It was held on October 1, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum of Quezon in Manila, Philippines, in debilitating conditions. The choking heat, with temperatures (along with the lights) estimated that they exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, and excessive humidity still made the race very difficult for the two athletes, with passion and endurance dominating the ring.
The race ended after the 14th round when Fraser coach Eddie Fats decided to stop the race, as his athlete had essentially lost his vision of a strong swelling. Ali used in many places the “Rope – A -Dope” strategy to exhaust his opponent and managed to take advantage of the moments when his opponent was vulnerable.
The “Manila thriller” is considered by many to be one of the toughest and most legendary struggles in boxing history, not only because of the technique of the two gladiators but also because of the mental and physical costs they were suffering from. Both paid a very heavy price for health and strength, with Mohammed Ali gaining the reputation of the top boxer of all time.