That’s how I remember Ali goofing off in Manila … it cost him dearly fighting bruising Joe Frazier. For me it was the rumble in the jungle that was Ali’s toughest fight and where he got hit to the head with Foreman’s big hammering fists. Ali wasn’t in fighting shape in Manila as this account clarifies …
Greatest heavyweight fight! by Glenn Schouw of PhilBoxing
Ali’s cornerman and ring physician Ferdie Pacheco recalled: “The Ali circus, which had seriously begun to gather steam in Zaire, reached its zenith – or nadir, depending upon your perspective – in Manila.
The increasingly bloated size of the circus was not the result of Ali’s generosity, although that was legendary. What made these sideshows possible was the governments of the countries hosting the fights, which provided flights and accommodation at no cost.
At that price Ali invited the world, and his world came to consist of an eclectic group of ex-fighters, boxing managers, agents, pimps, movie stars between pictures, beauty queens, rock stars, writers, painters, politicians, gangsters and garden-variety con men.
“All we lacked was a priest, but we had an entire colony of cardinals in the form of
the Muslim hierarchy led by Herbert Muhammad, who was Ali’s manager and the son
of the Right Honourable Elijah Muhammad. We didn’t lack for spiritual help.”The presence of such a glut of parasites might be expected to have an adverse effect on a boxing champion who was preparing to defend his title. In this case there were other serious distractions for the fighter.
Ali was on a secret honeymoon, he seriously underestimated his challenger, and he viewed his visit to Manila as an all-expenses paid, four-week vacation. Put these together and you have a recipe for disaster.
The previous year, Ali had rumbled in the jungle, sensationally demoralising George Foreman in what was the defining fight of his career and the most bizarre occasion in boxing history. In Zaire he had been introduced to a stunning model named Veronica Porché, with whom he began an affair.
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Thrilla in Manila: Veronica Porché's surprise visit to the boxing ring (Photo credit: Red Bubble)On the assumption that this would be a fairly easy encounter, Ali spent much of his time in Manila with his new girlfriend, whom he later married. He made a big mistake, however, when he took her to a reception at the presidential palace to meet Marcos and his wife, Imelda. “Your wife is quite beautiful,” Marcos said. Ali did not correct him.
An article in Newsweek soon described the incident to the world, Ali’s womanising at last exposed.
Her suspicions confirmed, Belinda Ali flew into a rage and left immediately for Manila. Tall, with a black belt in karate, she stormed into the hotel room where Ali and Veronica were staying, tore down drapes, smashed mirrors, and left scratches on her errant husband’s face.
All’s real wife leaves the scene
MANILA (AP) Belinda Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali, flew into Manila today and flew right out again, giving rise to speculations that the heavyweight champion’s marital status might be in difficulty over reports that he has another wife. She took the Philippine Airlines flight to Honolulu and on to San Francisco. Manila newspapers have been playing up pictures during the week, identifying Los Angeles model, Veronica Porché, as “Mrs. Ali” and using Belinda’s Moslem name ‘.’Kahlila.”
Early in’the week, Ali at an informal meeting with the press, said flatly: “I got just one wife — and that’s Belinda.” However, he went on to say that women naturally flock around him and that he has other friends. “Every young American man I know ‘has a girl friend,.” he said. “What I do behind, locked doors is no body’s business but mine.”
Ali is scheduled to meet Joe Frazier in.defense of his heavyweight title here next Wednesday (10:45 p.m., EDT, Tuesday).
Belinda, mother of Ali’s four children, arrived on an early morning flight from Hawaii to be met at the airport by representatives of promoter .Don King. “I’m going home to my four children,” Belinda told a friend before she walked out of the hotel. Regally, head held high and” looking neither to her left nor right of her, she strode through the carpeted, crowded lobby to a waiting black limousine, which whisked her to the airport. She wore a long beige dress and was accompanied by her Malaysian maid. The incident brought considerable confusion among the Ali party. Newsmen ‘ from throughout the world swarmed around the various floors, seeking’ information on what happened. Ali’s suite was on the 21st floor.
Sex, Money, and Muhammas Ali: How ‘The King’ Conquered Manila
As he silently marked his third anniversary of martial rule amidst mounting political unrest, President Marcos –with the charismatic Ali as his one-man propaganda machine and weapon of mass distraction–was the other triumphant victor, for whom the spoils were much greater.
“Marcos knew, from the history of Rome, that the emperor needed to humor the crowd with a circus and distract them from seething problems,” shared the exiled Leftist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison from The Netherlands.
“He also learned from a fellow dictator, Mobutu–who had staged the Ali-Foreman fight in Kinshasa, Zaire on October 30, 1974– that the modern gladiators from the US could be hired at the right price to bring the big show to the Philippines.”
Did our country really gain from Ali vs Frazier? | Manila Bulletin |
