Joe Frazier the thrilla in manila

The Thrilla in Manila between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali on October 1, 1975 has been called the greatest fight of modern times.

Ali entered the ring out of condition.

Joe Frazier had lost three fights; two to George Foreman and one to Ali.

HIs career was thought to be over.

The heat the morning of the match was stultifying hot.

Both heavyweights fought for their lives.

After the bell sounded the 7th Round legend has it that Ali whispered to Frazier, "Joe, they told me you was all washed up."

"They told you wrong, pretty boy."

It was a fight to the finish of the 14th Round.

Neither fighter could go on.

Ali was near death.

Joe Frazier was blind, but told his corner, "I been blind the last three rounds, but my hearing still good."

Eddie Futch threw in the towel.

Ali went to the hospital. Sadly Frazier never approached the greatest again and for many years felt that he had been robbed of victory by Ali.

The bitterness had a history.

Ali's boxing license was pulled for his opposition to the Vietnam War and Joe supported every effort to reinstate his rival. Ali never said thank you in public, but after the fight the Champ announced to the Media, "Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man."

And ain't that the truth.

The Greatest Ever

Muhammad Ali has been long considered the Greatest.

"I am the Greatest," the heavyweight fighter shouted at many bouts.

My choice for the Greatest has always been Andre the Giant.

He was able to pick up the Boston Bruins Bobby Orr and Carol Vadnais without breaking a sweat.

No one even close to the Greatest.

Andre the Giant.

Forever.

Black and White TV From Havana

Key West marks the southern terminus of US 1.

I spend several weeks there in 1980 and stayed in a small hotel off Duval Street. TV reception for the Miami stations was weak, however the signals from Havana came in crisp and clear. Most of the programming served Socialism in Spanish, however one station broadcast sports, especially winter baseball and boxing. Americans didn't watch Cuban TV. We were at war with Fidel Castro.

One night I was sitting in Sloppy Joe's Bar and the bartender turned on the Cuban station. The drinkers hooted at his selection. The gnarled barman lifted a thick hand and said, "Teofilo Stevenson is fighting tonight. Three rounds against a Russian."

"An amateur bout." A tourist mumbled from his stool.

Teofilo is only an amateur, because he refused to sell-out. The mob promotors offered him $5 million to fight Ali. Teofilo said, "What is one million dollars compared to the love of eight million Cubans?"

"Especially those hot Havana chicas." An old fisherman reminisced about the lost paradise ninety miles to the south. "There was no place like Havana."

"Or Cuba." The bartender turned up the TV. "Now watch some real fighting."

Teofilo won the heavyweight match and I returned to my hotel, wondering how to get to Havana from Key West.

There were no ships.

Cuba was not a destination on the airport departure board.

Teofilo Stevenson amassed a record of 302 wins versus 22 losses.

When he departed the world on 11 June 2012 at the age of 60, according to Wikipedia the Cuban state media stated that "the Cuban sporting family was moved today by the passing of one of the greatest of all time."

Veridad."

In living color or black and white.

To watch his knockouts, please go to this URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAFvQUyA470

Ken Norton RIP

In 1973 an unheralded heavyweight from San Diego fought a 12-round match with Muhammad Ali. The former champion was a huge 5-1 favorite against Ken Norton, but from round 1 the ex-marine dominated his opponent, breaking Ali's jaw in the 12th round. The judges gave the upset decision to Norton. He was not so lucky in the two rematches or his WBC championship fight with Larry Holmes. For some reason the boxing gods didn't like him. I think of him as one of the great heavyweights in my lifetime. I wish him well in the Here-After. To view the Norton-Ali fight, please go to the following URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbYtHaduVZ8