Thrilla In Manila - Philippines Coliseum
Well, here we are in the Araneta Coliseum
In Cubao, Quezon City in the Philippines
To witness two modern boxing Gladiators
Their prowess, stature, about to be seen
This will be the third between the WBC, WBA
Stepping into the ring, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali
To be Heavyweight Champion their skills will display
Linking satellites for the whole world to see
It's the day of the fight, local time 10am
Inside the aluminum-roofed Araneta Coliseum
To many an unbearable heat, stickiness extreme
It's as if they'll be boxing so close to the sun
In their corners they sit awaiting their instructions
Being told this and that, as Ali berates Frazier
For their employment of tactics to eithers destruction
Hoping pinpoint precision like a fencers rapier
Ding, Ding, round one as Ali bobs and weaves
Frazier not so aglile as Ali wins one and two
Immediately his right lands, after his left jab
Frazier wobbles twice, his defence through
Ali as he does, sometimes boxes verbally
Antagonising his opponent, ire in their eyes
Come on you ugly gorilla, try and hit me
Furthering the tension, allowing his fury to rise
Round three we have Ali using the ropes
A strategy he uses, allowing his body rest
Whilst Frazier commits, his energy fades
Ali the tactitian so consumed in his zest
Were now in the fifth seeing Frazier in command
His timing rhythm, bobbing, weavings in flow
For time after time to his target he lands
This challenger is now finally on show
The sixth sees Frazier landing a thunderous hook
To Ali's face, right, as he staggers to the ropes
Another tremendous left hook as Ali belooks
Stiff legged he is, again on the ropes he copes
After the sixth in the corner Ali says
Is this the Frazier whom I was told was washed up
For the round past showed experience in display
"They lied" Frazier retorts, as his corner reacts
Rounds seven and eight, advantage with Frazier
Wearing down Ali, body punches, left hooks
His rope-a-dope tactics, Dundee's now detesting
As we head to the ninth, over his shoulder Ali looks
The ninths very tiring as the intense heat takes it's toll
Ali comments, "it's the closest I've been to dying"
Whilst Frazier's corner confirms this ain't no stroll
But blow after blow these two Gladiators continue their trying
The tenths similar, with heavy swelling on Fraziers face
A barrage of punches in precise aim at his head
These two hell for leather, shall never disgrace
Into the final rounds, it's where a boxer now dreads
Into the eleventh, twelth, Frazier's swelling plays it's part
He's not seeing Ali's punches, new tactics discussed
Is it the start of his demise, Frazier standing upright
More damage, added swelling, melting icebag, no trust
The thirteenth Frazier rises, so swollen barely seeing
Ali's right hand, once, once again, gumshield flying
Frazier staggers back, bombarded, hope fleeing
His body, energy zapped, no longer complying
Here we are in the fourteenth, just like the last
The continual bombardment of Frazier, in blight
With the results of this round, Futch's words cast
"It's all over" as Frazier protests in stopping the fight
Frazier and Ali, amidst this continual rising heat
Unbeknown when one succumbed before the other
One can only marvel at this quite tremendous feat
When it's boxer against boxer, brother against brother
Well, here we are in the Araneta Coliseum
In Cubao, Quezon City in the Philippines
We've witnessed two modern boxing Gladiators
Wow! what a bout, seeing a scene to be seen.
Copyright © James Fraser | Year Posted 2021
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