A thriller in Manila.

“A thriller in Manila” is Muhammad Ali’s rhyming catchphrase for the third bout with Joe Frazier, fought in Quezon City (Metro Manila), Philippines, on October 1, 1975. Ali was famous for coining promotional slogans (“Float like a butterfly…,” “Rumble in the Jungle”) that framed his fights as cultural events as much as sporting contests. The Ali–Frazier rivalry was already legendary after two brutal earlier meetings (1971 and 1974). The Manila fight—held in oppressive heat—became one of boxing’s most punishing heavyweight matches; Frazier’s corner stopped it after the 14th round, giving Ali the win.

The phrase compresses Ali’s showmanship and narrative instinct into a single line: the bout is marketed as suspenseful (“thriller”) and vividly located (“in Manila”), turning geography into brand. Beyond hype, the slogan proved eerily apt—what was billed as entertainment became a near-mythic ordeal, later described by both fighters in terms of suffering and survival. As with many Ali quips, the rhyme is not merely decorative; it makes the event memorable, repeatable, and larger than the ring, helping fix the fight in public memory as a defining chapter of heavyweight boxing history.

“Thrilla in Manila.”
“The Thrilla in Manila.”
“Thriller in Manila.”