Thrilla in Manila (2008, HBO documentary)
They say that nature is a violent creature. There is plenty of evidence that shows that the forces of Nature are both brutal and murderous. Its damage can be mammoth. It has no sympathy for the weak-hearted and even the righteous. It is a necessary evil that ensures only the best survives. Man can be equally inhumane. Over generations, the will to survive as a species has ensured that only the strongest survive. A reflection of our violent past is seen in the society sanctioned a display of legal murderous intent of boxing. Here two individual are put on display to knock each other blind as many around them prosper in more ways than one.
We grew up at a time when a live telecast of boxing could paralyse a nation. In the 70s when live broadcast was new, a boxing match held half a globe away was a national event, especially one involving the World Heavyweight Championship, specifically one involving Muhamad Ali. The greatest boxing fights of all time is the one involving the two greats of the ring, Muhamad Ali and Joe Frazier. Their fights went beyond the ring. It started as a friendship when Ali refused to serve in the US Army in Vietnam for his religious belief. Frazier petitioned with the courts and President Nixon for Ali to be allowed to box when his licence was withdrawn for his refusal.
They say that nature is a violent creature. There is plenty of evidence that shows that the forces of Nature are both brutal and murderous. Its damage can be mammoth. It has no sympathy for the weak-hearted and even the righteous. It is a necessary evil that ensures only the best survives. Man can be equally inhumane. Over generations, the will to survive as a species has ensured that only the strongest survive. A reflection of our violent past is seen in the society sanctioned a display of legal murderous intent of boxing. Here two individual are put on display to knock each other blind as many around them prosper in more ways than one.We grew up at a time when a live telecast of boxing could paralyse a nation. In the 70s when live broadcast was new, a boxing match held half a globe away was a national event, especially one involving the World Heavyweight Championship, specifically one involving Muhamad Ali. The greatest boxing fights of all time is the one involving the two greats of the ring, Muhamad Ali and Joe Frazier. Their fights went beyond the ring. It started as a friendship when Ali refused to serve in the US Army in Vietnam for his religious belief. Frazier petitioned with the courts and President Nixon for Ali to be allowed to box when his licence was withdrawn for his refusal.
Suddenly, things changed when they were arranged to fight in a bout. Therein started the mortal animosity and the trilogy of Ali-Frazier classic fights.
After an eventful first fight and a not so eventful second fight, the two pugilists were drawn at one fight each; Frazier winning the first and losing meekly in the second. With such a curtain-raiser, the stage was laid for a final showdown.
The Philippines with its internal turmoil, a flamboyant dictator and communist uprising, Marcos decided to divert the attention of his subjects by upstaging an extravagant boxing match to showcase to the world of the greatness of this backwater country.
History has shown that such an event happens all the time to make people feel good about their country and forget the fact that they are being shortchanged.
Ali-Frazier's fight has always been sold by Ali as a fight between the whites and newly emerging Black Power Afro-American community of America. Ali with his affliction with the Nation of Islam and his newfound religion is the voice the blacks whilst Frazier, who was financed by mostly white bankers is a reflection of the old.
Ali as a build-up to the fights called Frazier with derogatory terms like ugly, gorilla and 'Uncle Tom'. 'Uncle Tom' refers to a subservient black slave of the slave trade era who would 'sell' his own race for the comfort of the white masters. Ali continued tormenting Frazier with his antics even at Frazier's training ground. The media had a field day covering all these thrashy news and the stage was slowly set for the showdown.
The contest's name is derived from the frequent rhyming boast made by Ali that the fight would be a 'killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila'. A song about Ali even made it to charts.
The contest's name is derived from the frequent rhyming boast made by Ali that the fight would be a 'killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila'. A song about Ali even made it to charts.
Even Ali's philandering lifestyle came to fore to spice up the event. During a formal state function, Ali's African girlfriend Ms Porsche was introduced as his wife to President Marcos. Upon viewing this televised event in the US, Ali's real wife, Belinda, scurried to Ali's hotel to show her discontent to the glee of running cameras!
For Frazier's credit, he was a cool cat. Despite all the heckling and the intimidations, he never retaliated.
The fight proved to be a well-awaiting clash of two Titans. A 6'3" Ali and a 5'11" Frazier who just would not bow to each other and refuse to fall. Visibly exhausted fighters soldiered on past 12 rounds - Ali almost at the brink of collapse and Frazier blinded at both eyes. Frazier later confessed that he had actually been fighting with sight only from his right eye. A 1964 training accident blinded his left! Imagine a blind man punching aimlessly without surrender. Ali, at the 14th round, was begging for his trainer to 'cut his gloves' but he refused. Frazier, on the other hand, was still rearing to go with a puffed-up face.
Unfortunately, the Filipino umpire, who himself was a fill-in umpire as the regular umpires were deemed too controversial for the fight, stopped the fight. Frazier's trainer threw in the towel. He had seen enough men die on the canvass. There would be another day, another fight. Unfortunately, they were not to be. The fight scarred both men and it did irreparable damage to their bodies and they were never the same again. The differences between the boxers were nerve resolved and Frazier took his grudges to the grave. Ali apologised to Frazier's family about his misconduct, quoting that it was all part of the marketing of their boxing duel.
Unfortunately, the Filipino umpire, who himself was a fill-in umpire as the regular umpires were deemed too controversial for the fight, stopped the fight. Frazier's trainer threw in the towel. He had seen enough men die on the canvass. There would be another day, another fight. Unfortunately, they were not to be. The fight scarred both men and it did irreparable damage to their bodies and they were never the same again. The differences between the boxers were nerve resolved and Frazier took his grudges to the grave. Ali apologised to Frazier's family about his misconduct, quoting that it was all part of the marketing of their boxing duel.
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