Ali Vs. Frazier: The Most Bitter Rivalry in Boxing History

I've been going through to all of the boxing videos that I have collected for years when I came across with the last installment of Ali-Frazier trilogy called "Thrilla in Manila." The bout took place at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, where it was hot, chaotic and filled with corruption.

Many unexplained turn of events erupted leading to the grueling battle between the two legendary fighters, Muhammad Ali and Smokin' Joe Frazier. Ali, for undefined reasons, ridiculed and humiliated Frazier, causing the latter to bitterly hate Ali, who was the recognized world heavyweight champion of that era. The proud champion labeled his worthy challenger "Uncle Tom", "White Man's Champion", among many other derogatory imputations.

It was a great fight from the onset, although nobody really gave Frazier a fighting chance due to his destructive loss to George Foreman, whom Ali just toyed around with and knocked out in the eighth round at their "Rumble in the Jungle" match-up in Zaire, Africa. Smokin' Joe gave a good account of himself and even though he lost the fight to Ali, his courage and determination to engage in ring war against the agile champion was nothing short of spectacular. In my eyes, Frazier was the winner of the "Thrilla in Manila" heavyweight championship because he did not only show up to fight, but to fight with class.

The bitterness of the insults hurled against Frazier by Ali remained in his heart unto this day. Frazier even took credit of Ali's misfortune on his health condition. As the whole world knows, Ali is now suffering from Parkinson's Disease. I am not bitter against Muhammad Ali because he was a great champion in his era but I also understand and feel Frazier's painful experiences when he fought Ali inside and outside of the squared circle. The most bitter rivalry between two of the greatest heavyweights in boxing lives on, not in the ring but in history.