Ali stated that his third fight with Frazier was the "closest thing to dyin' that I know of."

Twenty-five years ago, two of the greatest fighters of any generation met for the third and final time. Having split the first two fights, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were not only fighting for Ali's heavyweight title, but to determine their place in history. Billed as the "Thrilla in Manila," the bout exceeded all the lofty expectations. Ali's post-fight statement is the best description of the battle: "It was like death. Closest thing to dyin' that I know of." Classic Day in History celebrates the 25th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila" on Tuesday, October 3, presenting the match at 9 p.m. ET. There will also be an encore presentation of the Classic Day in History special hosted by Al Bernstein at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Ali and Frazier were opposites in and out of the ring. Ali's verbal assaults were as quick as his jab and feet. Ali had style. Frazier was a bruiser. "I don't want to knock my opponent out," he said, "I want to hit him, step away, and watch him hurt. I want his heart." He loved to work inside and unleash his trademark left hook. The animosity between the fighters was real. Frazier was livid at the constant taunting by Ali. In one of his most famous lines, Ali stated: "It's gonna be a killa, a chilla, a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila." He didn't stop there, calling Frazier "ignorant" and "ugly." Walking away from an appearance together a few days before the fight, Frazier leaned to Ali and said "I'm gonna whip your half-breed ass."

Frazier had successfully defended his title on March 8, 1971, winning a 15 round decision to hand Ali his first defeat. With Frazier having lost his crown to George Foreman, Ali took the nontitle rematch on a 12-round decision on January 28, 1974. When they met on October 1, 1975, there was history, hate, desire and a world championship on the line.

The "Thrilla in Manila" disappointed no one. Ali took control early. Buckling Frazier's legs a couple of times in the first round, he continued to punish him in the second. He shook Frazier up twice in the third and it looked like Frazier might fall. However, Frazier made it through the round and began to turn the fight around in the fourth. By the sixth round, Frazier was connecting solidly to the body of Ali hurting the champ with a furious left hook to the jaw.

By the end of the 10th round the fight was up for grabs. Ali was cornered in the 11th, but recovered and unleashed an assault on Frazier's face. In the 13th, Ali sent Frazier's bloody mouthpiece flying out of the ring. By the end of the 14th both fighters were exhausted. With Frazier's eyes practically closed, his manager, Eddie Futch, stopped the fight before the 15th. "Sit down, son," said Futch. "It's all over. No one will ever forget what you did here today." An exhausted Ali could barely get off his stool to weakly celebrate his victory.

"I always bring out the best in the men I fight," said Ali. "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." Frazier was equal in his praise saying "Man, I hit him with punches that'd bring down the walls of a city. Lawdy, lawdy, he's a great champion."