BoxRec

I like the concept of a thread like this so I'm going to take a shot at it.

If you really want the info on the Thrilla in Manilla, why it ended, what the cornermen, referee, and the boxers themselves thought and experienced this should provide a bit of good historical perspective. In the case of this youtube hyperlink you will simply see and hear the testimony of the principals involved and no one else. Opinions in response to what you see here are of course welcomed but my intent was to borrow the most relevant content, allowing you to make up your own mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJODy0Pehw

MY OPINION of what I see here:

What I see in this case is not an Ali that was at death's door (though that is how he describes it) at the end of the bout but a man who was being somewhat magnanimous in victory. Though he sho' took a horrific beatin' along the way to earn that "W". Two class fighters/adversaries who even recognized the greatness in each other. Sadly we see nearly none of this type of focus, intent,skills, class or pride in the current era of boxing.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I actually had Frazier up by 3 when he quit. Ali had won the 13th and 14th big though, and I think I had the 14th a 2 pt round.

After 14 rounds the official scorecards read: 66-60, 67-62 and 66-62 all in favour of Ali. (A 5 point round system was in force)

I had 8 rounds to Ali, 4 to Frazier and 1 even.

I cant see how anyone could have Frazier ahead!... each to his own though, ...had Frazier comeout for the 15th I'm pretty certain after all the head shots he was taking in the 13th and 14th that he would either have been stopped or badly hurt... he had nothing left. Ali was exhausted too but he only really let it show when he knew it was over, Ali being Ali if the fight had gone on he would have gone out in the 15th and finished Frazier off..... I think its a great thing that the fight was stopped when it was by Futch because otherwise we could be looking back on this fight as one of boxings tragedies...

My take on the TIM (albeit in the context of a raging "what made Ali great?" argument that was going on at the time) is in this older thread here. No point in repeating myself.