5 best Muhammad Ali fights of all-time

1. Ali vs. Frazier 3 – October 1, 1975

The greatest contest in Ali and Frazier’s epic rivalry was their rubber match in which Ali settled the score. It was called the Thrilla in Manilla because it was in the Philippines, even though it wasn’t in the capital. However, Ali described the contest before the fight as “a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila.” If boxing didn’t work out for Ali, he could’ve easily made a living as a rapper.

This bout showed off Ali’s outstanding trash talking and promotional skills, as he constantly referred to Foreman as “a gorilla” and even punched a gorilla doll.

They fought each other at 10 am in order to accommodate the audience back home, but under the Filipino sun, it made for severely adverse fighting conditions. The temperature inside the ring was close to 120°F, and Ali said he lost five pounds during the fight due to dehydration.

Despite the conditions, both men gave it their all and delivered a classic bout for the ages. Ali started out controlling the fight, but then Frazier caught on in the third when Ali started rope-a-doping. By the fifth was when Frazier started gaining momentum, and a sharp left hook to start the sixth round stunned Ali. He started landing several clean looks, ones that would knock any other opponent out, but Ali didn’t even hit the canvas.

Frazier was nearly blinded in his left eye over the course of the fight, and in the 11th round, which Ali controlled, Frazier admitted he couldn’t even see some of the punches. His trainer told him to stand upright rather than bob and weave, which is when Ali started to seize control. Before they could commence the 15th and final round, Frazier’s corner stopped the contest as they told him “It’s all over. No one will forget what you did here today.”

Ali was badly damaged from the fight and the conditions as well, remarking that “Frazier quit before I did. I didn’t think I could fight anymore.” It was a contest that will be remembered forever and, despite their animosity towards each other, it was one that earned each other’s respect.

These are all fights that even people who haven’t watched a second of boxing know about, and while Ali has left us, these fights have helped make his legacy last forever.

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