Roots of Fight Commemorates Anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila” with Short Film and Capsule Collection of Apparel
Oct 2, 2013 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Vancouver, BC (October 1st, 2013) –
Pugilist-centric apparel brand and media company Roots of Fight
celebrates the anniversary of the greatest heavyweight boxing match
of all time with a short documentary and capsule collection of
apparel, commemorating the final fight in Muhammad Ali and "Smokin’
Joe" Frazier’s epic trilogy.
The two Hall of Fame champions met in the squared circle for the last time on October 1st, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City, Philippines. They split their two previous encounters, both unanimous decisions, and each managed to lose just once more heading into the rubber match -- Ken Norton beat Ali via split decision, and George Foreman knocked out Frazier. Ali would reclaim his heavyweight title by defeating Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle,” thus setting the stage for one of the most anticipated boxing matches of all time.
For 42 grueling minutes, in 120-degree heat, the two warriors left
their hearts in the ring, with Ali often employing his now familiar
"rope-a-dope" strategy and Frazier coming in low to land thunderous
hooks to the body and head of the aging champion. The fight wore on
at a frantic pace, with neither man significantly ahead on the
judges’ scorecards. In-between rounds 14 and 15, Frazier’s trainer
Eddie Futch deemed his fighter had had enough and threw in the
towel, ending the battle and awarding Ali the victory. The fight
took its toll physically on both Ali and Frazier and neither were
ever as great again as they were that morning in Manila.
“Muhammad Ali was on the stool and was not getting up; he said he wasn’t getting up. If Eddie Futch would have let Joe Frazier get up and Round 15 would have started, he would have won that fight, because Muhammad Ali said that was it. He was not going out for the next round,” says former lightweight champion Ray Mancini. “Just think about that. 30 seconds that would change history.”
Roots of Fight commemorates the “Thrilla in Manila” through the release of a short film, featuring rare footage of both champions leading up to the historic fight. The film is narrated by boxing great Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, with original commentary by former heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson, former heavyweight contender and Ali and Frazier opponent George Chuvalo, former UFC light heavyweight/heavyweight champion Randy Couture, and UFC middleweight contender Mark Munoz.
For more information on Roots of Fight, visit www.rootsoffight.com.
About Roots of Fight Roots Of Fight pays tribute to the rich history and tradition of martial arts from regions around the globe and connects the history and images of iconic fighters like Muhammad Ali® Bruce Lee™ Helio Gracie and Mike Tyson with the contemporary global scale of mixed martial arts. Roots Of Fight tells an authentic story that reflects a genuine place and time and weaves the true stories of icons from the past with those of the present - paying homage to the roots, regional influence and diversity of each discipline. The “Sweet Science”, “Jun Fan Gung Fu”, “Gracie Jiu Jitsu”, “Jeet Kune Do” along with “Muay Thai” and Krav Maga – legends about these fighting systems and others are explored by Roots Of Fight.
To see and feel Roots of Fight products for yourself, visit our friends at the Las Vegas Fight Shop, located at:
The two Hall of Fame champions met in the squared circle for the last time on October 1st, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City, Philippines. They split their two previous encounters, both unanimous decisions, and each managed to lose just once more heading into the rubber match -- Ken Norton beat Ali via split decision, and George Foreman knocked out Frazier. Ali would reclaim his heavyweight title by defeating Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle,” thus setting the stage for one of the most anticipated boxing matches of all time.
Advertisement
“Muhammad Ali was on the stool and was not getting up; he said he wasn’t getting up. If Eddie Futch would have let Joe Frazier get up and Round 15 would have started, he would have won that fight, because Muhammad Ali said that was it. He was not going out for the next round,” says former lightweight champion Ray Mancini. “Just think about that. 30 seconds that would change history.”
Roots of Fight commemorates the “Thrilla in Manila” through the release of a short film, featuring rare footage of both champions leading up to the historic fight. The film is narrated by boxing great Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, with original commentary by former heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson, former heavyweight contender and Ali and Frazier opponent George Chuvalo, former UFC light heavyweight/heavyweight champion Randy Couture, and UFC middleweight contender Mark Munoz.
For more information on Roots of Fight, visit www.rootsoffight.com.
About Roots of Fight Roots Of Fight pays tribute to the rich history and tradition of martial arts from regions around the globe and connects the history and images of iconic fighters like Muhammad Ali® Bruce Lee™ Helio Gracie and Mike Tyson with the contemporary global scale of mixed martial arts. Roots Of Fight tells an authentic story that reflects a genuine place and time and weaves the true stories of icons from the past with those of the present - paying homage to the roots, regional influence and diversity of each discipline. The “Sweet Science”, “Jun Fan Gung Fu”, “Gracie Jiu Jitsu”, “Jeet Kune Do” along with “Muay Thai” and Krav Maga – legends about these fighting systems and others are explored by Roots Of Fight.
To see and feel Roots of Fight products for yourself, visit our friends at the Las Vegas Fight Shop, located at:
