Page 17 - atoday oct 1

SPORTS A17
Thursday 1 October 2015

ARTFUL
DODGER

In this Oct. 1, 1975, file photo, L.A. clinches third straight NL West title
Joe Frazier speaks with report-
ers after losing to Muhammed Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw cele-
Ali by TKO in the 14th round of brates after the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants
their heavyweight title fight in 8-0 in a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept.
Manila, Philippines. 29, 2015. The Dodgers clinched the National League
West division.
Associated Press
Associated Press
Ali, Frazier Page 19
and the cost
of the Thrilla in

Manilla

TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Columnist
It was, Muhammad Ali
would later say, the closest
thing to death he had ever
known.
He and Joe Frazier had
gone 14 brutal rounds in
stifling heat of a Philippines
morning before Frazier’s
trainer Eddie Futch merci-
fully signaled things to an
end, his fighter blind and
battered and feeling pret-
ty close to death himself.
It was the final time the
two fighters would meet in
a trilogy that transcended
the sport of boxing. The last
meeting would take place
in the most unlikely of plac-
es, and be a fight so epic it
would live up to its name.
It was 40 years ago, Oct.
1, 1975, and the “Thrilla in
Manilla” was just that. Nei-
ther fighter gave an inch as
Frazier relentlessly pursued
Ali, and Ali responded by
unleashing the fury of his
fists on the oncoming chal-
lenger’s head.
“They told me Joe Frazier
was washed up,” Ali said
to Frazier at one point.

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