Originally published October 1st, 2015
Thursday marked the 40th anniversary of one of sport's most historically resonant moments; the day Joe Frazier failed to meet the bell for the 15th round of his now legendary rubber match with Muhammad Ali at the Araneta Colliseum in Manila, The Philippines.
Four decades removed from one of boxing's most exhilarating ever battles, Muhammad Ali remains, to most, 'The Greatest.' This greatness transcends his individual sport, stretching to cultural significance and mythical status across the globe; Ali was a socio-political colossus, an urban poet, an icon. He was also on occasion a despicable, calculated figure of hatred.
But the reason why people across Europe and Asia rose at variously ungodly hours to watch Ali fight was more simple; he was the greatest fighter on the planet. His footwork, variety of punches and, perhaps most remarkably, his elusiveness were unlike anything anyone had ever seen in heavyweight boxing. Muhammad Ali was a freak of nature.
Here are his five most compelling victories in the ring:
Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964 (RTD 6)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvzw9xSuEHY
To put Liston's domination of early '60s heavyweight boxing into context, then British champion Henry Cooper said he would be interested in a title fight if Ali - then Cassius Clay - won, but he would refuse to climb in the ring with Liston. Cooper's manager, Jim Wicks, said, "We don't even want to meet Liston walking down the same street."
Johnny Tocco, a trainer who worked with George Foreman and Mike Tyson as well as Liston, said Liston was the hardest hitter of the three.
Ali was 7/1 underdog with the bookies. Of the 46 sportswriters at ringside, 43 picked Sonny Liston to win... By knockout. In the end, Ali would humiliate Liston into quitting on his stool after six rounds.
Ali vs Cleveland Williams, 1966 (TKO 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD99VbFzqAg
It's the opinion of many that Ali's three-round destruction of knockout artist Cleveland Williams (once described by Sonny Liston as the hardest puncher he ever faced) was his finest ever offensive performance.
Ali vs Ernie Terell, 1967 (Unanimous Decision)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qkMlDuwBPY
"What's my name?"
The dark side of Ali. The Daily Telegraph wrote that the resulting fight was "the nastiest display of Ali's celebrated ring career," recounting how he seized Terrell in a headlock and dragged his eye along the top rope. They also wrote, "The fight will be remembered for Ali's constant taunts of 'what's my name?' to an opponent he was apparently content not merely to defeat, but also to belittle and humiliate."
Before the fight, Ali described Terrell - who, in the build up, referred to Ali only as 'Cassius Clay' - as "an Uncle Tom nigger who is going to get his ass whupped."
Ali vs George Foreman, 1974 (KO 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftXqcdy6VKM
Zaire. 'The Rumble In The Jungle.' The Rope-A-Dope. "Ali bomaye!" One of the most iconic nights in the history of sport had everything.
Ali vs Joe Frazier III, 1975 (RTD 14)
The fight that sees us mark its 40th anniversary. Up until that night in Manila, Ali's rivalry with Frazier had seen the deterioration of a friendship, racial slurs, brawls and crucially, two fights - with Frazier winning The Fight Of The Century in '71, and Ali avenging his first ever defeat in '74.
After Ali's perserverative triumph in the Philippines may have been his greatest, but efforts to patch things up by apologising to Frazier's son were met with cold disdain by Frazier himself, who criticised Ali for not apologising face-to-face. The legendary Smokin' Joe passed away in 2011. At the time of his death, his answering machine recording contained him reciting an Ali-esque poem, boasting responsibility for putting Ali in his now deteriorated physical condition.
After Frazier's death, Ali released the following statement:
"The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."
