I remember it like it was yesterday, watching in the kitchen in the back of our shop in Clones then going upstairs with my brother to work on the pads.
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It is hard to convey the impact Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had on a young boxing-mad kid in Ireland in the 1970s, and The Thrilla in Manila, which turned 50 on October 1, rightly passed into legend.
I was 14 years old, training relentlessly and getting ready for the Ulster championships. These guys were our idols, like gods.
I loved the way Frazier attacked. I was still trying to find my feet. I got beaten that year in the Ulster final which made me more determined.
In my head I was Frazier. I loved Ali but I wasn’t built that way. It was the third and final meeting between two heavyweights who defined the era along with George Foreman and Kenny Norton.It came a year after the Rumble in the Jungle, where Ali defied belief in overcoming the mighty Foreman, who in 1973 had devastated Frazier in two rounds. The trilogy bout was brutal. Ali had the most remarkable chin. He was in tremendous condition. It was ding dong from the word go.
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Ali was 6ft 3ins, Frazier about 6ft tall with a long sweeping left hook that decked Ali in their first fight. Ali, hands low, bouncing in and out, Frazier squat, rolling shoulders, head moving, lunging forward.
All three of fights followed the same pattern, absolute wars. But with an expert eye you could see the subtle decline of both in that final bout.
Frazier’s style took the greater toll. Though he was two years younger at 31, there is no longevity in the way he fought.
I loved Smokin’ Joe. That’s how I wanted to fight, on the front foot, all aggression and excitement. But Ali just had that incredible ability to pull it out of the bag. He had done it throughout his career.
From half way Ali started to take over, hitting Frazier with those lovely combinations off a snappy jab then drifting out of punching range.
Frazier would just shake his head, then go again. It was a classic encounter that came to be one of the signature fights of the age, cementing both their reputations.
At the end of the 14th round Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch called it off. Frazier knew he was done. Futch was doing his job, protecting his man. “Sit down, son, it’s all over,” he told him. “No-one will ever forget what you did here today.”
Ali said it was the nearest thing to death he had ever experienced in the ring. An unforgettable fight, an unforgettable period.
The Denver Broncos received tough news Friday afternoon.
As NBC Sports noted, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that running back J.K. Dobbins will amiss Sunday’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a significant foot injury.
Rapoport added that Dobbins is “believed to be out for the foreseeable future.”
His placement on injured reserve remains a real possibility as the team evaluates its options.
“Dobbins is still working through options, and while there is no final determination, IR remains a possibility,” Rapoport said.
The report came from himself and Tom Pelissero.
The development marks a quick escalation from earlier in the week, when Dobbins missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices.
At that point, the team had not revealed the full severity of the injury.
Dobbins’ injury stems from a hip-drop tackle last Thursday against the Raiders, a play that left him frustrated enough to take to X and call for the move to be banned.
Dobbins ranks fifth in the NFL with 772 rushing yards and has been a huge part of Denver’s offense so far this season.
While Dobbins has officially been ruled out for Week 11, the next major decision comes quickly.
The Broncos must determine by Saturday afternoon whether to place him on injured reserve.
If he is moved to IR before Sunday, the Chiefs game will count toward a required four-game absence.
Placing Dobbins on IR would sideline him for matchups against the Chiefs, Commanders, Raiders, and Packers.
He would be eligible to return Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged that discussions are ongoing.
“Nothing has been decided yet, and at some point there will be more clarity with him and some of these other players,” Payton said earlier this week.
Denver’s Week 12 bye gives the team a small cushion, but if the injury is significant enough to keep him out multiple weeks, the IR designation becomes more likely.
“With JK Dobbins potentially headed to Injured Reserve, all eyes turn to RJ Harvey,” Rapoport said.
RJ Harvey has already flashed his dynamic potential in limited work.
Payton praised Harvey’s running style, durability, and readiness to step into a larger role:
“When we drafted him, it was his running skillset, and he had a lot of touches at Central Florida,” Payton said.
“You are starting to see him grow in front of our eyes, and he will have more opportunities in this game.”
Tyler Badie will likely mix in as a third down guy, while Jaleel McLaughlin could be active as well.
Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Chiefs carries major playoff implications for both teams and Harvey has a huge opportunity to step up and flourish in the RB1 role.