It was a day in nineteen and seventy five

When Smokin' Joe and Ali had their third jive 

The very first time The Greatest had met for three

Always before, he'd called it quits after two, see ...



But Smokin' Joe had taken him out in fifteen rounds the first time

And at the return match in seventy four neither were at their prime

So they put together this third bout to be fought in the Philippines

Dubbing it "The Thriller in Manila" with a six mil purse - quite fine



And even though they went fourteen this time around 

The Greatest would never again be quite as sound 

For Smokin' Joe Frazier whipped him pretty bad ...

Even tho Ali was given a TKO ... it was quite sad ...



For The Greatest had finally met his match between the ropes

Smokin' Joe Frazier was his name, and had been the great hope

But that one fight really finished the two of them on that day ...

And boxing would never ever be quite the same - forever dazed



For the one sport that'd spawned the career of so many lights

Now attracted so many critics who looked down on the fights

And although one or two have risen out of the sawdust since

Smokin' Joe Frazier will always be considered Boxing's prince



Happy 55th Birthday, Smokin' Joe ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

11:05am Tuesday, Jan. 12th, 1999