The Thrilla in Manila - in pictures

Given the fighters involved and the history between them this is indeed, as the fight programme states, the fight of a lifetime Photograph: Action Images

And so the show begins. New York City Thursday, July 17, 1975, and a press conference to promote the fight. The planned venue is in the Philippines: the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos offers to hold the bout in Manila and sponsor it in order to divert attention from the social turmoil the country is experiencing. The press conference gives Ali another opportunity to badmouth Frazier Photograph: AP

August brings another press conference, this time at the Four Seasons in NYC. It is originally to feature just Frazier, but Ali has other ideas. In the middle of the conference Ali and his entourage-cum-circus arrive. They destroy the ambience and run amok on the plush carpet, shaking the chandeliers with their hollering. In another attempt to get under the skin of Frazier they wear black T-shirts with pictures of gold gorillas on the front Photograph: James Hughes/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

On September 13, Joe Frazier arrives in Manila. He is surrounded by security guards as he makes his way through the airport with his entourage Photograph: Jess Tan/AP

Two days later Ali, the reigning world heavyweight champion, touches down in the Philippines. On his arrival he receives a Smokin' Joe Frazier T-shirt from Frazier's son Marvis, left Photograph: Jess Tan/AP

Ali doesn't have it all his own way in the insults department. Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos applauds as Frazier makes some remarks about Ali when they visit the Malacanang Palace. Between the two fighters is Marco's wife Imelda Photograph: Jess Tan/AP

Ali, ever the showman while speaking to the press on September 22... Photograph: Dieter Ludwig/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

... though he does have his contemplative moments too Photograph: Dieter Ludwig/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

A trainer slams a medicine ball into Frazier's abdomen during a public workout. Looking on is Frazier's sparring partner Duane Bobick Photograph: AP

The reigning champion shows off his hand speed to a huge crowd during a public workout at the Folk Art Center Photograph: Jess Tan/AP

The tale of the tape Photograph: AP

The fight begins at 10:45 local time in order to accomodate US TV. Frazier throws out a left jab as Ali pulls back during the first round Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

However Ali outboxes and outscores the challenger in the early rounds. Here Frazier gets a face full of right glove from Ali in the second round. On a number of occasions he is hurt by the flurry of combinations that Ali is delivering Photograph: AP

Ali peeks through his raised gloves as Frazier backs the champion against the ropes in the third round Photograph: AP

By the fourth round, the humidity – and the energy he has exerted in the earlier rounds – starts to affect Ali. Frazier's tactic is to punish Ali's body at close range, even though it means he has to take more and more of the withering punishment Ali is dishing out. Ali had hoped his early onslaught would make it a short fight and starts to grow frustrated by Frazier's refusal to go down and ability to absorb the punishment – so much so that he screams "You stupid chump, you!" Photograph: AP

Spurred on by this frustration, Frazier turns up his own attack and begins punishing Ali with his trademark hooks. By the sixth round, Frazier has unleashed a couple of huge left hooks that shudder into Ali's jaw, causing him to stagger back. The challenger seems to be gaining control of the bout Photograph: AP

Ali glances a right off Frazier during the seventh round. At the beginning of the round, Ali reportedly whispers in Frazier's ear, "Joe, they told me you was all washed up"; Frazier growls back, "They told you wrong, pretty boy" Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Frazier grimaces when Ali lands another left Photograph: AP

The punishment continues in the ninth as a focused Ali slams another huge right into Frazier Photograph: Mitsunori Chigita/AP

Both fighters look tired as they meet in the centre of the ring Photograph: Dieter Ludwig/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Ali lunges at Frazier as he begins to slow down and tire in the 10th Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Frazier takes another right to the head Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

In the 11th round Ali starts to dance more, and uses his speed to unload a series of fast combinations. By the end of the round Frazier's face is severely damaged, his eyes so swollen that only a tiny slit remains open Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Ali covers up as Frazier tries to retaliate Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

With his left eye swollen shut and serious fatigue setting in, Frazier has to rely on intuition to avoid Ali's swinging fists in the 13th round Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Ali takes full advantage of the fact that Frazier can no longer see his right hand and he punishes him a number of times, at one point knocking Frazier's mouthpiece into the crowd Photograph: Kenichi Mori/AP

By the 14th round Frazier is virtually helpless, and although Ali is desperately tired and hurting, he is able to summon the energy to administer a fierce beating, including a left and right combination which rocks Frazier. Before the start of the 15th, Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch, against his fighter's adament objections, signals to the referee to stop the fight. "I want him boss," pleads Frazier, to which Futch responds, "It's all over. No one will forget what you did here today." Photograph: AP

Ali is still the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. His trainers, handlers and doctors jump in the ring to celebrate Photograph: AP

As Ali watches Frazier's gloves come off, the monumental physical and mental effort he has exerted catches up with him and he collapses. The following day he famously says of the fight, "It was like death. Closest thing to dyin' that I know of” Photograph: AP

To the victor, the spoils. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, left, presents the President's Trophy to Ali. Between them are the fight promoter Don King and Ali's brother, Rahman. On the right holding the trophy is Ali's father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr Photograph: AP

Everybody wants to hear what Ali has to say at the post-fight press conference Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Frazier cuts a much more solemn figure, swollen and bruised as he talks to the press Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Both men subsequently seem to recognise the enormity of the fight and how it affected them. Frazier says "He shook me in Manila. We were gladiators. I didn't ask no favours of him and he didn't ask none of me. I don't like him but I gotta say, in the ring, he was a man. In Manila, I hit him punches, those punches, they'd have knocked a building down. And he took 'em. He took 'em and he came back, and I got to respect that part of the man. But I sent him home worse than he came. He was the one who spoke about being nearly dead in Manila, not me."
Ali opined that "We went to Manila as champions, Joe and me, and we came back as old men" and "Why am I doin' this? What am I doin' in here against this beast of a man? It's so painful. I must be crazy. I always bring out the best in the men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him" Photograph: Rex Features