Manny Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons are joining hands in holding an unforgettable celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila in October 2025.
Photograph Courtesy of Sean Gibbons
History’s greatest heavyweight title fight deserves the greatest celebration of all time.
The Thrilla in Manila, the colossal clash of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, will be marking its 50th anniversary in October 2025 and Manny Pacquiao, the country’s leading sports figure, is spearheading the project to import the event’s major figures.
Ali and Frazier and their respective trainers have long been gone but Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons, his representative in the United States, are planning a mega celebration on 4 October at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was at that venue where Ali and Frazier went toe-to-toe that left Ali telling everyone “it was the closest thing to death.”
Ali passed away in June 2016 while Frazier died in November 2011.
Even countless members of the support cast have also gone ahead.
Angelo Dundee, Ali’s longtime cornerman, died in February 2012 while Eddie Futch, who told referee Carlos Padilla to stop the fight in the break entering the 15th and final round, passed away in October 2001.
Ferdie Pacheco, Ali’s personal physician and known as the Fight Doctor, also went ahead in 2017.
In the absence of the main event fighters, Gibbons said that boxer Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of The Greatest, will be invited alongside “the Fraziers.”
Of course, Padilla, now based in the States, will also be invited to attend.
Promoter Bob Arum, who turned 93 about two weeks ago, will also be sent an invite and is likely to arrive since he remains active.
But Don King, also 93, is a doubtful attendee because of health concerns.
What makes next year’s celebration epic is the fact that it was President Ferdinand Marcos, father of current President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who led the staging of Ali-Frazier 3 in Manila.
“Next year’s celebration of the Thrilla in Manila is going to be extraordinary,” said Pacquiao, boxing’s one and only eight-division champion.
Gibbons echoed Pacquiao’s sentiments saying “Manny Pacquiao wants to do it up.”
Aside from importing Thrilla personages, the main draw is going to be the staging of a triple world title fight that will be made up of Filipino fighters.
