“The Thrilla in Manila” is perhaps one of the most famous boxing matches in history. It was an all-out war of attrition between two incredible fighters: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. 14 rounds of hell on October 1, 1975, with both boxers giving everything they had.
But there’s much more to the fight than what was on the surface. For example, what did “The Thrilla in Manila” do for Ali and Frazier’s rivalry? What did the fight do for boxing in the Philippines in general?
“The Thrilla in Manila” Set Boxing Grassroots in the Phillippines
One notable fighter you might’ve heard of is named Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino boxing legend achieved numerous accolades during his illustrious career, including winning titles in four different decades.
A part of the event’s credence created one of boxing’s most prolific athletes. In fact, Pacquiao credited Ali for inspiring him to get into boxing. Without “The Greatest”, the sport’s footprint wouldn’t have expanded to southeastern Asia.
It Galvanized An Incredible Rivalry
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier was one of the most incredible rivalries in the sport. It featured two contrasting styles: one was an offensive rope-a-dope fighter in Ali, while the other was a defensive, conservative fighter in Frazier.
The two fighters also shared contrasting personalities, with Frazier being the quieter boxer while Ali talked smack. The result was a long, arduous battle between the two, leaving both legends battered and bruised.
It was the perfect rubber match for the rivalry, with “The Greatest” winning the final bout. Overall, it was a great match between two boxers who disliked each other, ending in the ultimate crescendo for fights.
The “Thrilla in Manila” Was Unique
Much like the “Rumble in the Jungle”, this event took place at an early time. With a start time of 10:00 am at the Araneta Coliseum, the fight was set for an international audience. Millions of people across the globe watched two titans go at each other.
In fact, the fight had an estimated 1 billion viewers, with 100 million watching on closed-circuit theatre television. “The Thrilla in Manila” also had 500,000 pay-per-view buys, making it one of HBO’s most successful events.
But what truly made the event unique was the in-ring temperature. With an estimated temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, it was a factor in the boxing conditions. Whether it was Ali claiming to have lost five pounds during the fight or Frazier estimating the temperature, the match was one-of-a-kind.
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