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Capt. Obvious

(9,002 posts)
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 11:54 AM Oct 2015

Thrilla In Manila: 40 years on from sanctioned manslaughter in boxing

For the purposes of commerce, showbusiness and Don King’s love of mangled rhymes, it was called the Thrilla In Manila. In reality, the third, final and quite frightening fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, on this day 40 years ago, ought to be remembered as The Fight Too Far.

Both came to the battle weary, aged and struggling to contain self-delusion. They left damaged and irreparably bitter. Ali won, famously, when Frazier’s kind and wise trainer, Eddie Futch, refused to let him go out for the 15th round, exhausted and near-blind.

But the contest lingered verbally way after the bell, all the way to Joe’s grave. This most noble of fighters struggled properly to forgive Ali for some of the most hurtful insults ever hurled in the name of sporting hype, and convinced himself in repeated assertions to anyone who’d listen that he could have survived one more round.

In that respect, Frazier did win. He won respect for his courage and sympathy for his plight as Ali’s plaything, the straight man in a joke he never understood. Joe sweated blood and dignity in equal measure.

....

Afterwards, according to boxing ritual, respect flowed. “He’s greater than I thought he was,” Ali said at the press conference. Frazier commented: “I thought the man put up a good fight. I guess we’ll be seeing each other some time again. I hope anyway.”

They would not meet again. They would eventually slide into decline, leaving the fight game within a week of each other in 1981. And they would be remembered above all their other mutual deeds for this one, The Fight Too Far.

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Thrilla In Manila: 40 years on from sanctioned manslaughter in boxing (Original Post) Capt. Obvious Oct 2015 OP
Then there's actual murder in the ring. Manifestor_of_Light Oct 2015 #1
Sheesh! ProfessorGAC Oct 2015 #2
We in this sports forum really don't give a flying fuck what you think. trumad Oct 2015 #3
Thank you for that polite response. Manifestor_of_Light Oct 2015 #4
 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
1. Then there's actual murder in the ring.
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 12:07 PM
Oct 2015

Boom Boom Mancini versus Deuk Koo Kim. November 13, 1982.
Lasted 14 rounds until Kim fell down for the last time, was hauled off to the hospital, went into a coma and died.

Boom Boom went to the funeral and felt horrible for having caused a man's death.
Kim's mother killed herself four months after the fight.
The referee killed himself in July of 1983.

That's four peoples' lives RUINED.

After that, the maximum number of rounds permitted was reduced to 12. Big fuckin' deal. It's still aggravated assault. It should be outlawed, just like football should be outlawed, due to repetitive brain injury, and preventable brain damage that RUINS LIVES.

This isn't sport, this is blood lust. You can watch it on Youtube.

I have no respect for people that beat each other up for a living. I have no respect for Ronda Rousey and do NOT consider her a "feminist". I consider her a cold-blooded potential murderer. She's just as bad as a male boxer and I do not consider her special. There is a difference between being in good physical shape and seriously injuring other people for money.

I had no sympathy for the woman boxer in Million Dollar Baby. She ended up dying from a prize fight. Got what she deserved. Nothing noble or honorable there.



 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
4. Thank you for that polite response.
Fri Oct 2, 2015, 02:51 PM
Oct 2015

Keep the masses pacified with violence broadcast by the mass media and other distractions.

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