"Thrilla In Manila" Muhammad Ali
Ali-Frazier III, Or The "Thrilla In Manila," As It Was Dubbed, Took Place On The First Day Of October, 1975. Muhammad Ali Successfully Defended The Heavyweight Title By Defeating Joe Frazier In 14 Rounds.
The Former Olympic Gold Medalist And World Famous Boxer, Won The Heavyweight Title Three Times -- 1964, 1974 And 1978.
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr, In Louisville , Kentucky, He Adopted The Name, Muhammad Ali When He Converted To Islam.
Ali's First Heavyweight Title Was Suspended After He Refused To Enlist In The Draft For The Vietnam War. Having Claimed "Conscientious Objection" As A Minister Of Islam, He Argued: "You won't even stand up for me here in America for my religious belief and you want me to go somewhere and fight, while you won't even stand up for me here at home." His Title Was Restored By A Supreme Court Ruling In 1970.
Muhammad Ali's Fame Transcends Sports And He Has Become A Symbol For Courage, Conviction And Black Manhood. It Has Been Said That His Is The Most Recognized Face In The World.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue to Breathe Life Into It" -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
