By Brian Campued
Underscoring the administration’s commitment to supporting sports development and inspiring the next generation of Filipino athletes, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos joined boxing fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night for the golden celebration of “Thrilla in Manila”.
The First Couple arrived at the venue together with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who moved to organize the Thrilla in Manila’s 50th anniversary in the Philippines.
“Ipinakita nina Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, kasama si People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao, ang kanilang suporta sa ika-50 anibersaryo ng Thrilla in Manila. Libo-libong fans ang nakiisa sa makasaysayang gabing ito ng Pinoy pride at boxing legacy,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a Facebook post.
Also present during the event, dubbed “Thrilla in Manila 2,” were Araneta City owner and former Sen. Mar Roxas II and Araneta Group of Companies chairperson Jorge Araneta.
The commemorative boxing competition honors the historic bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, which took place at the same venue on October 1, 1975.
After defeating Frazier in 14 rounds, Ali won the heavyweight title and received a trophy from then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., who personally attended the iconic Thrilla in Manila with the First Family.
For the commemorative boxing event, President Marcos Jr. witnessed the fight between Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh and Thai boxer Kittisak Klinsom in a middleweight clash, which ended in a draw.
The Thrilla in Manila 2 also featured top Filipino boxers pitted against foreign fighters—World Boxing Council (WBC) Strawweight World Champion Melvin Jerusalem in the main event; Eumir Marcial in the WBC International Middleweight championship bout; and Carl Jammes Martin and Marlon Tapales in the junior featherweight matches.
On Sept. 25, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular No. 99, directing all agencies and instrumentalities to support the celebration of the golden anniversary of Thrilla in Manila.
-jpv
