Gibbons giddy with excitement over ‘Thrilla’

The Philippines’ celebration of the 1975 Thrilla in Manila will be marked like no other with American boxing man Sean Gibbons guaranteeing just that.

“It will be full steam ahead,” Gibbons told DAILY TRIBUNE as he plots the commemoration that will see personages form the United States who had a hand in the staging of the event being invited, including the referee Carlos Padilla and promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.

“We gotta get organized, keep rockin’ and rollin’ keep goin’ and keep movin’,” Gibbons added, stressing that the highlight will be the staging of three world title fights on the night of 4 October.

The Thrilla featured the world heavyweight title clash between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at the Araneta Coliseum — renamed the Philippine Coliseum at that time — and is often considered as one of boxing’s best bouts ever due to its brutality.

At ringside during that contest were then President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda alongside a packed crowd of over 30,000 and global audience of close to 1 billion.

What makes this year’s festivities extra-special is the fact that Marcos Sr.’s son — Bongbong — is now the President.