The Thrilla in Manila
"It was like death. Closest thing to dyin' that I know of."
R eflecting on what many consider the greatest heavyweight bout ever, Muhammad Ali knew he had been pushed closer to the brink of his physical and mental limits than any other fight in his career. Not only because his greatest rival, “Smokin” Joe Frazier, stood across the ring from him for the third (and final) time of his career, but also because the conditions of the fight were like nothing the boxing world has seen before.
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier (III) 1975-10-01 "Thrilla in Manila"
Denise Menz, who was Frazier’s longtime friend and part of his camp that day, would later describe the conditions inside the aluminum-roofed Philippine Coliseum: "It was so intensely hot, I've never before felt heat like that in my life. Not a breath of air—nothing. And that was sitting there. Can you imagine being in the ring? I don't know how they did it."
In the sweltering heat of a Philippine afternoon on October 1, 1975, the world of boxing witnessed an event that would etch itself into the annals of sporting history—the "Thrilla in Manila." The stage was set at the iconic Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, where two of the greatest heavyweights of all time would clash for the rubber match that would define their careers.
Sotheby’s is proud to present for auction, Muhammad Ali’s match worn boxing trunks from this legendary fight. The white satin trunks feature a black trim at the waistband and black piping running down the side of each leg. The trunks are inscribed by Ali’s assistant trainer and corner man, Drew “Bundini” Brown” and signed by Ali in black sharpie. The right leg inscription reads “Ali-Frazier Fight/Trilla in Manila” and the left leg reads “Pres. F. Marcos/Manila, Philippines/Oct. 1, 1975”.
The Thrilla in Manila
The rivalry between Ali and Frazier is one of the greatest in sports history. By 1975, Ali had already captured the world's attention with his charisma and unparalleled boxing skills. Frazier, on the other hand, was the epitome of toughness and resilience, having handed Ali his first professional defeat in their initial encounter in 1971.
Their first bout in 1971, billed as the "Fight of the Century," had been a brutal affair, with Frazier emerging victorious after 15 grueling rounds. After Ali was banned from the sport for 3 years due to his refusal to be drafted into the military during the Vietnam War, he prevailed in their second match in 1974 (‘The Rumble in the Jungle’), setting the stage for The Thrilla in Manila nearly 2 years later.
As Ali had established from the beginning of his career, the real fight started weeks and months before the opening bell.
"I like to get a man mad, because when a man's mad, he wants ya so bad, he can't think, so I like to get a man mad."
Ali verbally abused Frazier throughout the lead-up and promotional period of the fight. Ali nicknamed Frazier "The Gorilla", and used this as the basis for one of his trademark rhymes, "It will be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla when I get the Gorilla in Manila," which he chanted while punching a gorilla doll.
While this strategy had proven effective against other opponents and had galvanized the public behind Ali, in the instance of Frazier, the antagonism may have sparked a heightened level of intensity.
Dave Wolf, who was a member of Frazier’s team remarked: "With all of the residue of anger that Joe had from what had happened before the first fight, what had happened before and during the second fight and after these fights, Joe was ready to lay his life on the line, and ... he did.”
As the fighters stepped into the ring that afternoon, the tension was palpable. The scorching heat of the Philippine sun beat down upon them, intensifying the already blistering atmosphere inside the arena. The crowd roared with anticipation, knowing they were witnessing boxing history.
Ali, employing his trademark footwork and lightning-fast jabs, danced around the ring, taunting Frazier, and at times, even goaded him to come closer. Despite the theatrics, Frazier pressed forward relentlessly, unleashing thunderous blows aimed at Ali’s head and body.
As the fight entered the later rounds, the brutality of the physical rigors imposed on both the boxers reached new heights. Ali, sensing an opportunity, unleashed a barrage of punches, hoping to break Frazier's indomitable spirit. Frazier, his left eye swollen shut from the punishment he had endured, refused to yield, absorbing the blows and fighting on.
In the end, it was not Ali's punches that brought about victory but Frazier's inability to continue. With exhaustion taking its toll, Frazier's corner made the difficult decision to throw in the towel, conceding defeat to Ali by technical knockout. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, knowing they had witnessed something truly extraordinary. The Thrilla in Manila had lived up to its billing as one of the greatest fights in boxing history.
The shorts have been photomatched by MeiGray, Resolution Photomatching, and Sports Investors Authentication.
