Overview

• Muhammad Ali retained the heavyweight title on Oct. 1, 1975, by TKO when Eddie Futch stopped Joe Frazier after the 14th round.
• The fight unfolded in searing Manila heat and is widely described as shared agony that left both men altered for good.
• Coverage revisits Ali’s pre-fight taunts and Frazier’s plea for respect, including Frazier showing photos of his children in response to insults.
• The staging drew major financing from President Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos, underscoring the event’s political theater.
• Ringside accounts by leading boxing writers cemented the bout’s mythos, and fresh rankings place it atop the sport’s most punishing contests.