--- description: Forty years ago, Muhammad Ali took on Joe Frazier in the memorably-named bout title: Photos: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and the Thrilla in Manila image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt674faa0773ead1af/69886556524fc05422df4b27/150924-thrilla-manila-01.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [History](/section/history/) ## History Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # See Photos From Ali's 'Thrilla in Manila' Fight 40 Years Ago  by [Lily Rothman](/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Oct 1, 2015 11:30 AM CUT  Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, left, applauds as challenger Joe Frazier, right, makes some remarks about world champion Muhammad Ali, second from left, during their call on Marcos at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, on Sept. 18, 1975\. Between the two fighters is Marco's wife Imelda. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, left, applauds as challenger Joe Frazier, right, makes some remarks about world champion Muhammad Ali, second from left, during their call on Marcos at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, on Sept. 18, 1975\. Between the two fighters is Marco's wife Imelda.Jess Tan—AP Photo  by [Lily Rothman](/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Oct 1, 2015 11:30 AM CUT It was 40 years ago—on Oct. 1, 1975—that Muhammad Ali took on Joe Frazier in a boxing match that would go down as one of the sport’s greatest. As should surprise nobody familiar with his talent for wordplay, the so-called Thrilla in Manila was named by Ali himself, and functioned as giant publicity excursion for the veteran slugger. “Ostensibly, Ali had come to defend his title against Frazier in an extravaganza he touts as the ‘Thrilla in Manila,'” TIME [noted ahead of the fight](http://time.com/vault/issue/1975-09-29/page/79/ "undefined"). “In fact, the expedition resembles nothing so much as a royal tour. Ali has become one of the most readily recognized individuals in the world.” But Ali’s celebrity didn’t mean the “Thrilla” would prove to be an easy match for the defending champ, as the fight report made clear: --- > “” --- **_Read more about the fight from 1975, here in the TIME Vault:_** [Battle for Supremacy in Manila](http://time.com/vault/issue/1975-10-13/page/86/ "undefined")  Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, left, applauds as challenger Joe Frazier, right, makes some remarks about world champion Muhammad Ali, second from left, during their call on Marcos at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, on Sept. 18, 1975\. Between the two fighters is Marco's wife Imelda. Jess Tan—AP Photo  This chart compares the stats of boxers Joe Frazier, left, and Muhammad Ali. The heavyweights are due to meet in Manila, Sept. 30, 1975. AP Photo  Oct. 1, 1975, Manila, —Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali punches Joe Frazier during their title bout in Manila in 1975. Bettman—Corbis  Muhammad Ali connects with the top of Joe Frazier's head in the 13th round of their bout for the heavyweight title at Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Oct. 1, 1975. Kenchi Mori—AP Photo  Challenger Joe Frazier, showing puffed eyes, talks to members of the press after suffering a TKO in the 14th round of his 15-round heavyweight championship match against champion Muhammad Ali. Manila, Oct. 1, 1975. Bettman—Corbis  President Ferdinand Marcos, left, of the Philippines, presents the President's Trophy to heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, second from right, after Ali defeated Joe Frazier in their "Thrilla in Manila" fight at the Coliseum in Manila, Oct. 1, 1975\. Posing from left are, President Marcos; promoter Don King; Ali's brother, Rahman; Ali, and his father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., right. AP Photo  Heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali (C) meets with the press after defeating challenger Smokin' Joe Frazier in the 14th round by TKO. Next to Ali is boxing promoter Don King (R), and Ali's brother Rahaman. Manila, Oct. 1, 1975. Bettman—Corbis ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4048920/photos-thrilla-in-manila/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4048920/photos-thrilla-in-manila/"},"headline":"See Photos From Ali's 'Thrilla in Manila' Fight 40 Years Ago","datePublished":"2015-10-01T11:30:51.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:01:30.170Z","description":"Forty years ago, Muhammad Ali took on Joe Frazier in the memorably-named bout","url":"https://time.com/4048920/photos-thrilla-in-manila/","keywords":["Sports topic","photography","Boxing","Muhammad Ali"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt674faa0773ead1af/69886556524fc05422df4b27/150924-thrilla-manila-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lily Rothman","jobTitle":"Rothman is managing editor at TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/"}],"articleSection":"History","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt674faa0773ead1af/69886556524fc05422df4b27/150924-thrilla-manila-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Thrilla in Manila 1975","caption":"Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, left, applauds as challenger Joe Frazier, right, makes some remarks about world champion Muhammad Ali, second from left, during their call on Marcos at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, on Sept. 18, 197","creditText":"Jess Tan—AP Photo","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/history/","name":"History"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4048920/photos-thrilla-in-manila/","name":"See Photos From Ali's 'Thrilla in Manila' Fight 40 Years Ago"}}]}] ```