The “Thrilla in Manila” lasted 14 rounds. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.
It was the third and final meeting between the rivals. Ali won when Frazier’s corner, led by trainer Eddie Futch, stopped the fight between the 14th and 15th rounds. The official result was a corner retirement, not a conventional knockout or a decision.
Both fighters were exhausted and badly affected by the oppressive heat. Frazier’s vision had deteriorated because of swelling around his eyes, while Ali later said the bout came closer to killing him than any other fight. The contest is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most brutal in boxing history.
A frequent mistake is answering 15 because heavyweight championship fights of that era were scheduled for 15 rounds. The Manila bout was scheduled for 15, but it ended after round 14, so it officially lasted 14 rounds.