It wasn't until late in life that Frazer realized exactly who Ali was.
Forgave Ali for what?
I saw videos of the two of them later in life, and Joe seemed to respect Ali then. I think they. Both had respect for each other as fighters.
The “thrilla in manilla” is said to have put both of them in the hospital because of how brutal the fight was, and how brutal the Humidity was. It was a heck of a battle. It didn’t disappoint. Teo very fierce warriors for zure.
A staple of Ali's buildup of fights with Frazier was to demean Joe as ugly, ape-like and stupid. His constant refrain was that It was gonna be a thrilla in Manila when he whupped "the gorilla". Comments like these stuck in Frazier's craw and led to the great animus between them.
Not only this but Black American stood largely with Ali when the two would fight and Joe was understandably perplexed as to why this was being held against him. Joe felt Ali was robbing his glory.