Fascinating documentary currently running on HBO. At 63 years old, Joe Frazier lives in the back room of a run down gym he owns in one of the worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia. In 1967, after Ali was stripped of his title, Frazier befriended the champ, loaned him money, and was instrumental in the crusade to get Ali's boxing license reinstated. Whatever "friendship" Frazier thought he enjoyed with Ali ended as soon as Ali knew he was back in the game. Frazier felt deeply betrayed by Ali's use of belittling racial stereotypes and accusations of Uncle Tom-ism and by the time of the historic title bout in the Phillipines, the two men genuinely hated each other. It was a monsterously brutal 14 rounds in 120 degree heat and Ali was declared - barely - the winner by TKO. But it is Frazier's belief that Ali suffered the ultimate cosmic payback in that fight and that his subsequent debilitation was a righteous punishment from God - and that it was Smokin' Joe himself who was the instrument of that punishment on that hellish day in Manila. Frazier is a very satisfied man.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/thrillainmanila/index.html

I'll have to check it out, I was a big fan of When We Were Kings, the excellent documentary about the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Ali and George Foreman. Watching underdog Ali systematically psych-out the more powerful and formidible Foreman is truly compelling to watch. Not to mention the boxing match itself.

When We Were Kings
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118147/

I'll have to check it out, I was a big fan of When We Were Kings, the excellent documentary about the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Ali and George Foreman. Watching underdog Ali systematically psych-out the more powerful and formidible Foreman is truly compelling to watch. Not to mention the boxing match itself.

When We Were Kings
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118147/

Yep. That's a great doc too!

Scott,

Was it just a HBO deal, and do you know if it's available on DVD? I'm a big fight fan.

Scott,

Was it just a HBO deal, and do you know if it's available on DVD? I'm a big fight fan.

Hawg - HBO releases everything on DVD eventually, I think. I'd make you a copy if I had the ability to do so. It's saved "permanently" on my DVR but I don't have a DVD burner. It's really an amazing documentary. Pecheco himself says that one of them would likely have died had it gone to the 15th round. Frazier says he would have been willing to pay that price.

Had Frazier's corner just let him come back out for the 15th round, Ali may have not and quit. Sad that it could have turned out the other way.

Had Frazier's corner just let him come back out for the 15th round, Ali may have not and quit. Sad that it could have turned out the other way.

According to Pecheco and others, Ali was begging them to cut his gloves off at the end of the 14th. Frazier was begging to continue the fight.