BoxRec

Today's is the celebrated great battle of the Thrilla in Manila. A fight that many experts and boxing fans alike believe that was the greatest fight of all-time.

Was Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier rubber match the greatest fight of all-time?

It was a great fight, no doubt about it.

- After the horrific 14th round, Ali returned to his corner screaming for Angie to cut the gloves off like he did in the first Sonny fight. A Frazier assistant, I believe it was Kid Gavilan who was monitoring Ali's corner tried to rush to Frazier's corner through the crowded ring, but was too late to notify Futch who stopped the fight.

When he stopped it, Frazier had been up bouncing around raring to finish Ali, but he had the busted eye. Supposedly Joe never forgave Futch, but regardless he harbored bad feelings about that bout. Many like me think he could've KOed Ali had not Futch pulled the plug...alas, 'twas not to be forevermore...

I always very much doubted that Ali or his corner were about to surrender though it wouldn't be shocking if it were true as it was one of the most grueling bouts of all time.

I'm not sure if Frazier could've won or not in the 15th as I had him losing the 12th, 13th and 14th so the momentum was not with him.

One thing's for sure though. I think it's best for all of us, and the 2 men involved that there was no 15th round. I don't think they could've survived it. One or both of them probably would've died if they had fought that 15th round.

It wasn't Gavilan it was Willie The Worm Monroe

I always thought Futch should have waited for the bell to sound to start round 15 and had Frazier stand up as if he would continue before stopping it.

Probably the greatest world heavyweight championship fight ever.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025, 12:26 I always very much doubted that Ali or his corner were about to surrender though it wouldn't be shocking if it were true as it was one of the most grueling bouts of all time.

I'm not sure if Frazier could've won or not in the 15th as I had him losing the 12th, 13th and 14th so the momentum was not with him.

One thing's for sure though. I think it's best for all of us, and the 2 men involved that there was no 15th round. I don't think they could've survived it. One or both of them probably would've died if they had fought that 15th round.

Of course, it's not true that Ali screamed for his gloves to be taken off. Total nonsense.

Ali was fine. He teed off on Frazier in the 13th and 14 round. Frazier simply could barely see at all at this point and was getting pummeled. His trainer did the wise thing and stopped the fight.

SteveO wrote: ↑02 Oct 2025, 14:37 Probably the greatest world heavyweight championship fight ever.

Without question.

SteveO wrote: ↑02 Oct 2025, 14:37 Probably the greatest world heavyweight championship fight ever.

The Fight of the Century was way better

Frazier got a beating those last 2 rounds, and while he kept coming forward, he kept eating leather as he did. No Way was Joe on the verge of a stoppage.

didnt they fight at like 9 am in the morning ?

elmersalsa wrote: ↑03 Oct 2025, 18:08

SteveO wrote: ↑02 Oct 2025, 14:37 Probably the greatest world heavyweight championship fight ever.

The Fight of the Century was way better

They're 2 sides of a very, very brutal coin, but I personally agree with you. The pace of the 1st fight is quicker, and they both seem to be at their absolute best.

The 3rd feels more brutal because they're giving what feels like all they have left of themselves to try to defeat each other, and neither man will yield.

For Athleticism, and Peak Performance it's the 1st fight. For Grit, Brutality, and Sheer Determination it's the 3rd fight.

Whatever you prefer, there's no denying those 2 men fought some of the absolute best Heavyweight Championship fights that have ever happened.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 15:57

elmersalsa wrote: ↑03 Oct 2025, 18:08

SteveO wrote: ↑02 Oct 2025, 14:37 Probably the greatest world heavyweight championship fight ever.

The Fight of the Century was way better

They're 2 sides of a very, very brutal coin, but I personally agree with you. The pace of the 1st fight is quicker, and they both seem to be at their absolute best.

The 3rd feels more brutal because they're giving what feels like all they have left of themselves to try to defeat each other, and neither man will yield.

For Athleticism, and Peak Performance it's the 1st fight. For Grit, Brutality, and Sheer Determination it's the 3rd fight.

Whatever you prefer, there's no denying those 2 men fought some of the absolute best Heavyweight Championship fights that have ever happened.

Not only best heavyweight title fights in history, there were two of the greatest pound per pound fights of all-time!

To me, I ranked the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier as the greatest title fight of all-time. I don't remember that fight. I was only a toddler. But, when I see the fight on tape I can feel the atmosphere that it was electrifying to say the least. The fight superseded the expectations. And both were undefeated for all the marbles. The World Heavyweight Crown was at stake. The winner becomes not only the undisputed champion, but the best fighter in the world for the year 1971.

And they gave us a fight.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 19:19

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 15:57

elmersalsa wrote: ↑03 Oct 2025, 18:08

The Fight of the Century was way better

They're 2 sides of a very, very brutal coin, but I personally agree with you. The pace of the 1st fight is quicker, and they both seem to be at their absolute best.

The 3rd feels more brutal because they're giving what feels like all they have left of themselves to try to defeat each other, and neither man will yield.

For Athleticism, and Peak Performance it's the 1st fight. For Grit, Brutality, and Sheer Determination it's the 3rd fight.

Whatever you prefer, there's no denying those 2 men fought some of the absolute best Heavyweight Championship fights that have ever happened.

Not only best heavyweight title fights in history, there were two of the greatest pound per pound fights of all-time!

To me, I ranked the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier as the greatest title fight of all-time. I don't remember that fight. I was only a toddler. But, when I see the fight on tape I can feel the atmosphere that it was electrifying to say the least. The fight superseded the expectations. And both were undefeated for all the marbles. The World Heavyweight Crown was at stake. The winner becomes not only the undisputed champion, but the best fighter in the world for the year 1971.

And they gave us a fight.

Yeah there's few examples in Boxing history where a fight is hyped to the moon. Becomes as big as a Boxing match can be, and it actually delivers or exceeds expectations when the bell rings.

These matches exceeded expectations.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025, 12:26 I always very much doubted that Ali or his corner were about to surrender though it wouldn't be shocking if it were true as it was one of the most grueling bouts of all time.

I'm not sure if Frazier could've won or not in the 15th as I had him losing the 12th, 13th and 14th so the momentum was not with him.

One thing's for sure though. I think it's best for all of us, and the 2 men involved that there was no 15th round. I don't think they could've survived it. One or both of them probably would've died if they had fought that 15th round.

However, after they announced a stoppage of the fight, it was Ali, who collapsed on the floor, not the Smokin' Joe.

DrDuke wrote: ↑04 Oct 2025, 23:41

gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025, 12:26 I always very much doubted that Ali or his corner were about to surrender though it wouldn't be shocking if it were true as it was one of the most grueling bouts of all time.

I'm not sure if Frazier could've won or not in the 15th as I had him losing the 12th, 13th and 14th so the momentum was not with him.

One thing's for sure though. I think it's best for all of us, and the 2 men involved that there was no 15th round. I don't think they could've survived it. One or both of them probably would've died if they had fought that 15th round.

However, after they announced a stoppage of the fight, it was Ali, who collapsed on the floor, not the Smokin' Joe.

That is true, but it's only natural to let yourself finally let go when you know the fighting is done.

Exactly.
Ali would have fought on if Frazier came out for the 15th.

Sort of like the winner of a marathon. the runner is exhausted. But if he had to run another mile, he would have. Ali was completely dominating Fraizer in the last two rounds. no way in the world he wouldn't have come out for the 15 round.

It was a brutal fast-paced fight. The closest thing to death that Muhammad Ali knew of according to him. That's some scary comments.

What if Eddie Futch had said to Joe Frazier at the end of the 14th round.
Okay, if you really wanna do it then , YOU'R OWN YOUR OWN -THEN GO BABY GO !!
(IMOP ,that really crushed and haunted Joe Frazier for the rest of his life that his corner stopped it).

Caractacus wrote: ↑06 Oct 2025, 14:05 What if Eddie Futch had said to Joe Frazier at the end of the 14th round.
Okay, if you really wanna do it then , YOU'R OWN YOUR OWN -THEN GO BABY GO !!
(IMOP ,that really crushed and haunted Joe Frazier for the rest of his life that his corner stopped it).

Like I said earlier in the thread. I think if there had been a 15th round, Ali or Frazier suffering life altering or fatal injuries would've been high.

His corner was right.

What's worse? Joe Frazier having hurt feelings that his corner stopped the fight for the next 25 years? Or Joe Frazier dying that night in 1975, and never living those years at all?

Well , when a fighter gets in there, he’s got a couple guys in his corner and the referee as the only people that are protecting his safety.
The fighter , in this case, Joe, is gonna keep going until he can’t go anymore. Until he’s laying on the mat.
Futch cared enough about Frazier to not let him take any more abuse. He did the right thing.

yeah, but how many times have you heard, a trainer say
that he's going to stop the fight and the fighter says "If you stop this fight I will never speak to you again EVER !"
(I think Barney Ross may have said that to his corner in his fight with Henry Armstrong.

Trainer still has to look out for his fighter.
I had a few fights and I would never quit. I’d rather get stretched. No doubt. But a fighter still needs good people in his corner looking after him.
It ain’t mma. Ya can’t tap out.

Plus given where they were in the fight. They had given Joe every opportunity to fight back into the fight. Futch is a lifetime Boxing man. He knew what he had in Joe. A warrior who was beaten, couldn't see, but would rather die than admit he was beaten. Futch wasn't going to let him die, and Thank God for that.