On October 1, 1975, two titans clashed for the final time in what became one of boxing’s fiercest wars: Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier, famously known as the Thrilla in Manila. Staged at the sweltering Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, this was no ordinary championship bout—it was a brutal masterpiece that left the world breathless.

Ali entered the ring as the reigning heavyweight king, while Frazier, the relentless former champion, came seeking redemption. The Philippine heat was merciless, pushing both fighters beyond human limits in an atmosphere that felt more like a furnace than a boxing venue. Ali later admitted that surviving this match pushed him closer to the edge of mortality than any other night.

The early rounds belonged to Ali, who kept Frazier at bay with lightning jabs and punishing straight rights. However, as the fight wore on, Frazier, with his signature bobbing and weaving, began burrowing inside, delivering punishing body shots and devastating left hooks. By round six, Frazier had found his rhythm, battering Ali with thunderous hooks that would have ended lesser men.

But Ali, ever the master strategist, adapted. Using a cruel blend of counter-punching and survival instincts, he unleashed a savage barrage in the later rounds. The gruelling tempo saw both warriors dig deep into reserves of willpower few thought possible. By round thirteen, the pendulum swung firmly in Ali’s favour when a crushing right sent Frazier’s mouthpiece flying, signalling the beginning of the end.

As the fourteenth round closed, Frazier’s face was battered and his vision nearly gone. His legendary trainer, Eddie Futch, made the heart-wrenching decision to end the fight, refusing to let his warrior endure further punishment. Though Frazier pleaded to continue, the bout was mercifully stopped, awarding Ali a hard-earned victory by corner retirement.

Broadcast to an estimated one billion fans worldwide, Ali vs. Frazier III wasn’t just a fight—it was a brutal ballet of heart, hatred, and heroism. Ali retained his crown, but both men exited the ring forever changed, their rivalry sealed as the greatest in boxing history.

The Thrilla in Manila remains an enduring testament to the limits of human spirit and the timeless drama of heavyweight boxing at its absolute peak.