October 3, 2025: The Thrilla in Manila: Part 3s

[50years ago this week, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in Manila for theirthird and final professional boxing bout. So this week on the blog I’ll stepinto the ring with posts on a handful of contexts for that significantsports story, leading up to a tribute to one of our best sports scholars!]

Ali andFrazier’s third fight was without question their best, and by some accounts thegreatestboxing match of all time. So for a fun way to end the week’s series, hereare quick thoughts on a handful of other superlative part 3s (not including TheGodfather Part III, obvi):

1)     Returnof the Jedi (1983): I said most of what I’d want to say about my favorite StarWars moment in that hyperlinked post. But even if we set that moment aside, anyfilm that starts with Jabba and ends with the Ewoks is just a banger from startto finish.

2)     The Lord of the Rings: TheReturn of the King (2003): Return might be my thirdfavorite of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, honestly; but that stillmakes it one of my favorite films, and there’s not a moment—of storytelling,performance, score, theme, you name it—anywhere in the trilogy that’s better thanthat hyperlinked one.

3)     TheBourne Ultimatum (2007): I’ve long loved the Jason Bourne characterand film trilogy, as that hyperlinked post reflects; when I had the chance toshare them with my wife earlier this year, they hit even harder than ever (withher I did finally also watch the fourth Matt Damon Bourne film, and it was okay,but I still wish they hadn’t made it). And when that iconic Moby track kicks inover Bourne swimming away in Ultimatum’s final image? C’mon now.

4)     Toy Story 3 (2010): Yes,that whole wonderful final scene. And yes, the whole terrifying and moving sequence with the fire. Butmost of all, most of all, as the Dad of two sons who have gone off to collegein the last couple years, thisfreaking scene. My sons watched this film every day for a whole week whenthey were young, and I cried every single time. Now I can’t even watch thatclip!

5)     Before Midnight (2013): Idon’t think it’s overstating to say that there’s never been a film trilogy likeRichardLinklater’s Before films, and there never will be another. Among themany reasons for that uniqueness is that each is genuinely and entirelydistinct in tone, mirroring and engaging with where the characters, the actorsand filmmakers, and the world are in their respective moments. Midnightis by far the hardest to watch, on purpose; but it’s also a cinematic versionof Bruce Springsteen’s amazing “adult love songs,” andanyone who knows me knows that’s very high praise indeed.  

Tributepost this weekend,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think? Contexts for this fight or other boxing histories you’dhighlight?