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Joe Frazier "Thrilla in Manila" Gloves
The holiest of all sports memorabilia are the gloves worn by the great boxing champions. Perhaps no other items better symbolize the intensity and inner resolve that drives athletes to the heights than the 16-oz. weapons of mass destruction that cover the hands of men who make their living with their fists. For "Smokin'" Joe Frazier, this reality is especially resonant given that his nickname originated when his first trainer told him, "Joe, go out there and make smoke come from those gloves." And did he ever. All boxing gloves tell a story, and this pair of red Everlast gloves worn by Frazier in his unforgettable 3rd bout with Muhammad Ali -- "The Thrilla in Manila" -- tell one of the greatest stories in sports history. Every mark on them seems worthy of its own chapter. If you look close enough, you might see some pieces of Ali's pretty face in the crevices. The fight was on October 1, 1975, with Ali defending his title against Frazier in Quezon City, Philippines, and in the run-up to the rubber match of their epic trilogy Ali insulted Frazier by calling him stupid and comparing him to a gorilla. Yet Ali knew the power of Frazier's gloves full well, having been knocked flat on his butt in the 15th round of the 1st fight. And, now, while the early rounds were Ali's, Frazier's pressure started taking its toll and in the seventh Frazier drove the mouthpiece from Ali's mouth. Frazier kept the pressure on Ali, but it was not without a toll of its own. By the 13th, Frazier could barely see from one eye and Ali started taking control with vicious shots to Frazier's head. After the 14th, Frazier trainer Eddie Futch had seen enough and stopped the fight. "No, Eddie, you can't do that to me," Frazier begged. "Sit down, son," said Futch. "It's all over. No one will ever forget what you did here today." Indeed, Ali later said that those 14 rounds were as close to death as he'd ever been. The gloves that dished out so much punishment were taken after the fight by Frazier's cutman Milt Bailey, who gave them to long-time Philadelphia boxing promoter and Boxing Hall Of Fame member Russell Peltz. One of the most significant offerings of this great champion in recent history, the gloves' red leather sheen is intact and can make one swallow hard considering their history. The faint graying of the Everlast labels seem to be the product of Joe's perspiration, lending an even greater touch of authenticity. There's so much history in these gloves, any den or room that displays them will become a boxing hall of fame.
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