The third and final fight between Ali and Frazier is still regarded as the greatest boxing match in history…
There are very few sporting occasions that can ever come close to matching the levels of excitement, skill and drama that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier provided in the Philippines on this day in 1975.
The bout is still ranked as one of the greatest matches ever in the history of boxing as it proved to be the final encounter in one of sport’s greatest ever rivalries.
In their first meeting in 1971, the world champion Frazier inflicted Ali’s first professional defeat and even managed to send Ali to the canvas in the final round before winning on a unanimous points decision. Some boxing fans still consider this meeting to be the best fight between the two rivals.
The build-up to their re-match in 1974 was probably more interesting than what went on inside the ring though as Ali’s holding tactics allowed him to gain a measure of retribution but not the belt. This belonged to George Foreman at the time after he knocked out Frazier in the second round of their 1973 meeting.
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos campaigned to have the third part of the Ali-Frazier trilogy staged in his country because he felt it could provide a distraction from the social and political turmoil that the country was undergoing at the time.
The build up to the fight was interesting to say the least as Ali strived to get under Frazier’s skin at every opportunity while Ali’s estranged wife actually flew to Manila to engage her then husband in a shouting match at his hotel.
Take a look at this clip of Ali throwing some serious verbal punches in the direction of Frazier.
Clip via –serturn
This paled in comparison to the drama that unfolded in the ring though as the sweltering conditions didn’t prevent two of boxing’s all-time greats from serving up an epic and timeless encounter.
Take a look at just some of the historic footage as The Greatest retains his belt wth a 14th round TKO of Smokin’ Joe.
Clip via – Chaîne de MrJr2b
Here is a fascinating look at how Ali broke down the fight in a humble post-match interview with broadcaster Howard Cossell. The champion reveals that the pre-match trashtalk was just a psychological ploy and gives a really interesting insight into his fight tactics.
Clip via – Legendary Champions
