Thrilla in Manila
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:06:04 PM Wikipedia source
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, billed as the Thrilla in Manila, was the third and final professional boxing match between undisputed champion Muhammad Ali, and former champion Joe Frazier, for the heavyweight championship of the world. The bout was conceded after fourteen rounds on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines, located in Rizal at the time of the event (later Metro Manila shortly after the event). The venue was temporarily renamed the "Philippine Coliseum" for this match. Ali won by corner retirement (RTD) after Frazier's chief second, Eddie Futch, asked the referee to stop the fight after the 14th round. The contest's name is derived from Ali's rhyming boast that the fight would be "a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila." The bout is almost universally regarded as one of the best and most brutal fights in boxing history, and was the culmination of a three-bout rivalry between the two fighters that Ali won, 2–1. Some sources estimate the fight was watched by 1 billion viewers, including 100 million viewers watching the fight on closed-circuit theatre television, and 500,000 pay-per-view buys on HBO home cable television.
Infobox
Date
October 1, 1975
Venue
Araneta Coliseum, Cubao,Quezon City, Philippines
Title(s) on the line
WBA, WBC and The Ringundisputed heavyweight titles
Boxer
Muhammad Ali
Nickname
The Greatest
Hometown
Louisville, Kentucky, US
Purse
$9,000,000
Pre-fight record
48–2 (34 KO)
Age
33 years, 8 months
Height
6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight
224 1⁄2 lb (102 kg)
Style
Orthodox
Recognition
WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputedHeavyweight Champion
Tables
· Undercard
Fernando Cabanela
Fernando Cabanela
Winner
Fernando Cabanela
Loser
Rolando Navarrete
Weight division/title belt(s) disputed
GAB bantamweight title
Result
Unanimous decision.
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Winner
Larry Holmes
Loser
Rodney Bobick
Weight division/title belt(s) disputed
Heavyweight (10 rounds)
Result
6th-round TKO
Ben Aldeguer
Ben Aldeguer
Winner
Ben Aldeguer
Loser
Al Gutierrez
Weight division/title belt(s) disputed
Bantamweight (10 rounds)
Result
Unanimous decision
| Winner | Loser | Weight division/title belt(s) disputed | Result |
| Fernando Cabanela | Rolando Navarrete | GAB bantamweight title | Unanimous decision. |
| Larry Holmes | Rodney Bobick | Heavyweight (10 rounds) | 6th-round TKO |
| Ben Aldeguer | Al Gutierrez | Bantamweight (10 rounds) | Unanimous decision |
· Broadcasting
Australia
Australia
Country
Australia
Broadcaster
Nine Network
Brazil
Brazil
Country
Brazil
Broadcaster
Band
Canada
Canada
Country
Canada
Broadcaster
CTV
France
France
Country
France
Broadcaster
TF1
Germany
Germany
Country
Germany
Broadcaster
ARD
Indonesia
Indonesia
Country
Indonesia
Broadcaster
TVRI
Japan
Japan
Country
Japan
Broadcaster
TBS
Mexico
Mexico
Country
Mexico
Broadcaster
Televisa
Philippines
Philippines
Country
Philippines
Broadcaster
RPN 9, GMA 7 delayed telecast
Singapore
Singapore
Country
Singapore
Broadcaster
RTS 5 colored telecasts
Spain
Spain
Country
Spain
Broadcaster
TVE
Thailand
Thailand
Country
Thailand
Broadcaster
TV3 MCOT colored simulcasts
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Country
United Kingdom
Broadcaster
BBC
United States
United States
Country
United States
Broadcaster
HBO
SFR Yugoslavia
SFR Yugoslavia
Country
SFR Yugoslavia
Broadcaster
JRT
| Country | Broadcaster |
| Australia | Nine Network |
| Brazil | Band |
| Canada | CTV |
| France | TF1 |
| Germany | ARD |
| Indonesia | TVRI |
| Japan | TBS |
| Mexico | Televisa |
| Philippines | RPN 9, GMA 7 delayed telecast |
| Singapore | RTS 5 colored telecasts |
| Spain | TVE |
| Thailand | TV3 MCOT colored simulcasts |
| United Kingdom | BBC |
| United States | HBO |
| SFR Yugoslavia | JRT |
· References
Preceded byvs. Jimmy Ellis II
Preceded byvs. Jimmy Ellis II
Preceded byvs. Joe Bugner II
Preceded byvs. Jimmy Ellis II
Muhammad Ali's bouts 1 October 1975
Joe Frazier's bouts 1 October 1975
Succeeded byvs. Jean-Pierre Coopman
Succeeded byvs. George Foreman II
Awards
Awards
Preceded byvs. Joe Bugner II
Awards
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali
Preceded byvs. Joe Bugner II
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali's bouts 1 October 1975
The Ring Fight of the Year 1975
Succeeded byvs. Jean-Pierre Coopman
Succeeded byGeorge Foreman vs. Ron Lyle
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad AliRound 8
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad AliRound 8
Preceded byvs. Joe Bugner II
Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad AliRound 8
Muhammad Ali's bouts 1 October 1975
The Ring Round of the YearRound 12 1975
Succeeded byvs. Jean-Pierre Coopman
Succeeded byGeorge Foreman vs. Ron LyleRounds 4 & 5
| Preceded byvs. Joe Bugner II | Muhammad Ali's bouts 1 October 1975 | Succeeded byvs. Jean-Pierre Coopman |
| Preceded byvs. Jimmy Ellis II | Joe Frazier's bouts 1 October 1975 | Succeeded byvs. George Foreman II |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali | The Ring Fight of the Year 1975 | Succeeded byGeorge Foreman vs. Ron Lyle |
| Preceded byGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad AliRound 8 | The Ring Round of the YearRound 12 1975 | Succeeded byGeorge Foreman vs. Ron LyleRounds 4 & 5 |
References
- Rapplerhttps://www.rappler.com/sports/boxing/thrilla-in-manila-50th-anniversary-mark-magsayo-eumir-marcial-manny-pacquiao/
- "'Thrilla in Manila': The Brutal Fight that Cemented Muhammad Ali's Greatness"https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/muhammad-ali-thrilla-in-manila-everlast-boxing-shorts
- boxrec.comhttps://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Joe_Frazier_(3rd_meeting)
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/oct/01/thrilla-in-manila-40-years-on-muhammad-ali-joe-frazier-boxing
- LIFE ALI: A Life in Pictureshttps://books.google.com/books?id=gSaiDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT92
- Milwaukee Journal/The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160312054351/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WAgqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JCkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6672%2C176243
- Sports Illustratedhttps://www.si.com/vault/1975/10/13/613261/lawdy-lawdy-hes-great
- Milwaukee Sentinelhttps://web.archive.org/web/20160314020050/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19751001&id=Y8UVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0REEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6766,101331&hl=en
- "TOPICS: The Thrilla in Manila". ESPN. December 5, 2012.https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/topics/_/page/the-thrilla-manila
- Walker, Childs (April 13, 2009). "The Endorsement: Thrilla in Manila". The Baltimore Sun.http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/2009/04/the_endorsement_thrilla_in_man_1.html
- Gustkey, Early (October 1, 1999). "It Was Much More Than a 'Thrilla in Manila'". Los Angeles Times.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-01-sp-17552-story.html
- Boxing News 24https://www.boxingnews24.com/2008/01/54-facts-you-probably-dont-know-about-don-king/
- Black Belthttps://books.google.com/books?id=XtUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35
- Play-by-Play: Radio, Television, and Big-Time College Sporthttps://books.google.com/books?id=CMKqn6LzsBIC&pg=PP101
- In the Corner: Great Boxing Trainers Talk About Their Art
- Muhammad Ali: His Life and Timeshttps://archive.org/details/muhammadalihisli00haus/page/544
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ37lyT6u8Y
- "Thriller in Manila"https://www.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dUQNKb_1xlc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdUQNKb_1xlc
- Hauser, Thomas (September 3, 2005). "The Unforgiven", The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/04/features.sport16
- In the Cornerhttps://archive.org/details/isbn_9780688094461/page/288
- "Thriller in Manila"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUQNKb_1xlc
- "ABC's Wide World of Sports"https://www.youtube.com/#/watch?v=32EI8Rn1yts&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D32EI8Rn1yts
- "The Thrilla in Manila"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcTGfG6uk-o
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8875960/Joe-Frazier.html
- Sports Illustratedhttps://web.archive.org/web/20010503222040/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/centurys_best/news/1999/05/05/thrilla_manila/
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/0/boxing/15618173
- "How the Mirror Reported the Thrilla in Manila – Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier – 38 years ago". Daily Mirror. October 1, 20https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/how-mirror-reported-thrilla-manila-173000
- McGhee, Frank (October 2, 1975) "It Was Next to Death" Part 1 Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Mihttp://videos.icnetwork.co.uk/m4/ThrillaInManila-Part1.pdf
- McGhee, Frank (October 2, 1975) "It Was Next to Death" Part 2 Archived December 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Mihttp://videos.icnetwork.co.uk/m4/ThrillaInManila-Part2.pdf
- The Observerhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/04/features.sport16
- "BoxRec - event"http://boxrec.com/en/event/240
- "Coliseum History" Archived March 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Corporate – Smart Araneta Coliseum. Retrieved Januarhttp://www.aranetacoliseum.com/2006/corporate.php
- Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Mediahttps://web.archive.org/web/20141102123231/http://comm.louisville.edu/~al/421/pdfs/parsons.pdf
- Reed, R. and Reed, M. Encyclopedia of Television, Cable, and Video, p. 260 (2012).https://books.google.com/books?id=gU3uBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA260
- "Kay Koplovitz '67"https://www.uwalumni.com/news/daa_koplovitz/
- "Kay Koplovitz"https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/kay-koplovitz
- "Pacquiao vs. Larios: Boxing's New Thrilla in Manila?"http://www.saddoboxing.com/3320-pacquiao-vs-larios-boxings-new-thrilla-in-manilla.html
- The Philippine Starhttps://www.philstar.com/headlines/2006/07/03/345163/145pacman146-gobbles-larios
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H41BDneq5PI
- Bleacher Reporthttps://bleacherreport.com/articles/154709-king-j-gives-the-thrilla-in-manila-documentary-on-hbo-a-grade-of-a-
- The Philippine Starhttps://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-sports/2025/09/01/2469559/jerusalem-upbeat-defending-wbc-throne-home-fans
- Balitambayanhttps://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/957450/apo-ni-muhammad-ali-sasabak-sa-thrilla-in-manila-anniversary-event-sa-october-29-2025/story