Saturday, April 18th, 2009...1:58 am
The Weekend: Frazier and Ali
Catch, if you can, Thrilla in Manila, an HBO documentary now in rerun schedule on the tube. Even if you have little interest in boxing, the third Ali-Frazier fight in 1975 was way beyond boxing, involving, as it did, efforts by the Marcos dictatorship to seem legitimate in the face of domestic turmoil in the Philippines, and - much more significantly - some withering racism practiced by Ali upon Frazier. Ali comes across not only as a bully, but as a pawn, manipulated by Elijah Muhammad’s Chicago-based Nation of Islam. Long-term Ali doctor, cornerman, and friend Ferdie Pacheco says as much. In fact, he laughs at the interviewer for asking what Pacheco considers such an obvious question.
In fairness, the documentary favors Frazier’s point of view, though I know enough about this contest to think that Frazier’s point of view is more than likely the correct one. It’s no secret that Frazier lost by a TKO when his trainer, Eddie Futch, threw in the towel as the 15th and last round was about to start. You may not know why he threw in the towel, and you may not know that Frazier never spoke to Futch again. And you may not know what would have happened if Frazier, who was nearly blind in the 14th round, had stepped into the ring in the 15th. When the TKO was announced, Ali smiled, and then he fainted dead away. Pacheco, his doctor, told him never to fight again - though of course he did. And these days Joe Frazier says, Look at Ali, and tell me who won that fight. He even says it in the message on his cell phone answering machine.
There may never have been a greater boxing match. This film is riveting.
1 Comment
April 18th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hello,
I am writing you regarding “The thrilla in Manila”. Eddie Futch was my late, beloved husband and was Joe’s trainer and manager for this fight. I just wanted to let you know “why” he stopped the fight after the 14th round. Joe couldn’t see; Eddie had motioned to him during the conversation and Joe didn’t see his hand movement and Eddie knew then “it was over”. A fighter who can’t see has no business being in the ring even if it is only for “one more round”. Eddie had already seen 6 fighters die ringside and to him Joe’s life was more important than winning a fight.
Yes, it caused tension in their relationship for some time but I just want to expell the rumor once and for all that Frazier never forgave him. Joe visited us many times in Las Vegas and we would see him at boxing events too. When Eddie died Joe flew to Vegas to be at his service at Caesar’s Palace, even though he had to hop on a flight back to Philly that evening since he was attending another event. We still keep in touch and I think it’s about time the media give Joe a fair shake.
Btw, Angelo Dundee (Ali’s Trainer) was asked what he thought about this documentary and he said “great”. Angelo and Eddie were very good friends despite being “friendly rivals”.
Sincerely,
Eva Futch
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.