Sometimes one knows one is witnessing greatness as it happens. That was the feeling among those who saw the third and final fight between the two warriors that were Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in Manila #OnThisDay in 1975. All those in crowd, and millions watching on television around the world, knew they were experiencing a fight that would be talked about for as long as people are interested in boxing. The Boxing News ringside special report called it “one of the great all-time heavyweight battles”. That was an instant judgement; since then many have crowned it the best fight ever in the sport’s blue riband division – even the best at any weight. It should have been expected. The two had met twice before, the first time in 1971 as a pair of unbeatens in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden. Frazier won on points over 15 rounds to retain the world heavyweight title, but Ali gained revenge at the same venue in January 1974, this time over 12 sessions. The third and final encounter was a battle of stunning intensity in which both had their moments. They were desperately tired, but Ali’s conditioning had enabled him to last the ferocious pace better. We will never know what might have transpired in the last round because during the interval after the 14th Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch withdrew his man. That prompted Nat Loubert to write in The Ring: “Futch should be given a medal for humanity’s sake.” The last word can be left with the gentlemanly Futch, who assured his bloodied but defiant charge: “Joe, no one will ever forget what you did here today”