The “Thrilla in Manila” Anniversary: The Story of the Fight That Changed Ali and Frazier Forever
Today marks the 51st anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila,” the Oct. 1, 1975, showdown between the late Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that became one of boxing’s most brutal fights. But the fight wasn’t just happening in the ring. Ali famously called Frazier an “Uncle Tom” and compared him to a gorilla, turning their once-friendly relationship into a bitter rivalry.
We’re exploring the devastating fallout of a rivalry that played out across three fights and included questions of Black identity, class, colorism and pride. By the end, Ali described their final bout as being “like death” and reflected that they both “came back as old men.” Here’s what you should know about their historic feud.
The Rivalry Started as Friendship
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier weren’t always enemies. The two heavyweight champions first met in 1967 and developed a friendship and mutual respect that would later become complicated by their fierce rivalry.
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Two Black Fighters, Two Very Different Images
Muhammad Ali — born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 — grew up in a relatively stable, middle-class neighborhood in Louisville. He was introduced to boxing by police officer Joe Martin after his bike was stolen. Meanwhile, Joe Frazier — born January 12, 1944, in Beaufort, South Carolina — grew up on a southern farm where he worked from an early age and helped support his family. By age 6, he was already working 12-hour days for a dollar, according to the Ali Center.
Frazier Defended Ali When He Refused to Fight in Vietnam
In 1967, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. He was stripped of his heavyweight title and banned from boxing, leaving him struggling financially during his exile. Frazier, then a young fighter and rising rival who admired Ali’s conviction, publicly supported his right to refuse the draft, gave him money, advocated for his reinstatement and called for his boxing license to be restored.
Ali Went After Frazier
Despite Frazier’s support for the boxing legend, Ali returned to the sport declaring that Frazier’s belt didn’t mean a thing and that he was still the champion. Ali began throwing insults left and right, cutting words that would later be dealt with in the ring — and the audience was captivated.
Joe Frazier Is “Too Ugly” to Be the Heavyweight Champion
Ali is seen in various press conferences, giving Frazier the verbal business without stopping for gas. “We have to whoop Joe Frazier, because Joe Frazier is too ugly to be the World Heavyweight Champion,” Ali once told a crowd.
Ali Calls Frazier an “Uncle Tom”
@tapout.hq Frazier shut him up real quick
#boxing #muhammadali #joefrazier #karma #africanamerican
Ali’s attacks on Frazier turned up as their rivalry grew. He repeatedly called Frazier an “Uncle Tom” and later compared him to a gorilla, taunts that hit at Frazier’s identity and how he was perceived within the Black community. These insults turned a once-supportive relationship into one of boxing’s most bitter rivalries. “He’s not like me,” Ali said regarding his opponent.
How “Thrilla in Manila” Got Its Name — Ali Called Frazier a Gorilla
Ali’s words cut like a knife during the press run. He called Frazier a “gorilla,” carried a small gorilla toy and teased reporters with a “sharp” poem: “It will be a killa, and a thriller, and a killa, when I get the gorilla in Manila.” The name stuck, and so did the insult.
“The Fight of the Century”
Their first official matchup, dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” took place at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971. Frazier won by unanimous decision after 15 rounds, handing Ali the first professional loss of his career and stunning boxing fans around the world.
Then Came the Rematch — “Super Fight II”
Ali and Frazier met again in January 1974, with Ali winning by decision and evening their rivalry at one victory apiece. But the personal tension between them had only intensified, setting up a third and final meeting.
The “Thrilla in Manila” — Fight 3
On Oct. 1, 1975, Ali and Frazier met for the third and final time in Manila, Philippines, with Ali defending his heavyweight title. The fight was scheduled for 15 rounds, but Frazier’s trainer stopped it before the final round, giving Ali a technical knockout (TKO) victory.
Neither Fighter Recovered From the Physical Toll
By the end, both Ali and Frazier were physically spent. Frazier’s left eye had swollen shut, while Ali was so exhausted that he collapsed onto the canvas after the fight. Ali later described the bout as being “like death,” saying it was the closest thing to dying he knew, and famously reflected. “We went to Manila as champions, Joe and me, and we came back as old men.”
Frazier Felt He Was Overshadowed by Ali
Ali’s repeated insults left Frazier feeling that his accomplishments were overshadowed by their rivalry and that he was denied the respect he believed he earned. “I do all the right things. And this is the way people look at me because of him,” Frazier stated regarding his fiery feud with Ali. “I know things would have been different for me if Clay hadn’t been around. I’d have gotten a lot more respect. I’d have had more appreciation from my own kind.”
