Once all the papers were signed and the fight was officially on, Muhammad Ali knew exactly what to do. The master quipster, fight-promoting wizard and most famous and outrageous boxer in the world — ...

It was oven-hot inside the arena, and that was before the fight began. The building’s air-conditioning had already lost the undercard against the tropical sun, and the air was thick with humidity.

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. Fifty years ago, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought the “Thrilla in Manila,” still considered the greatest and ...