Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought in the third and final installment of their storied rivalry 50 years ago in the Philippines. The fight was nicknamed the "Thrilla in Manila."

In 2005, the Muhammad Ali Center opened in downtown Louisville to continue Ali's legacy of social justice through education.

The air sat still and sticky. Body heat from some 28,000 spectators at the Philippine Coliseum brought Manila’s midmorning temperature to a boiling point. Breathing felt like sipping warm water.

An estimated 1 billion worldwide gathered around the ring, their television sets and closed-circuit theater screens to watch Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier put on one of the greatest fights of all time. Fourteen rounds. Nearly 45 minutes of unbarred brutality.

Ali estimated he and Frazier lost 4

See Full Page