There is no doubt that the biggest sporting event that will take place in the country this year will be the 50th year anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila in October.

As early as March last year, World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman, American dealmaker Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions and Manny Pacquiao agreed that the 2025 celebration will be like no other.

The Thrilla involved the world heavyweight title fight — the third and most decisive encounter — of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

The venue was the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and was renamed the Philippine Coliseum for the fight that went down as the most brutal of the three showdowns that featured Ali and Frazier.

It ended when Frazier’s chief trainer Eddie Futch told his fighter to “sit down” as the bell for round No. 15 was about to sound.

Frazier could no longer see from both eyes as Ali pounded him with slashing combinations in the last two rounds and was on the receiving end of thunderous blows.

Over at the opposite corner, Ali was likewise on the verge of giving up owing to the heavy pounding that he took starting the first round up to the 14th.

“Twas the closest thing to death,” Ali was quoted as saying afterwards.

The event was Class A.

All the big guns of sportswriting from the United States and elsewhere were at ringside.

Up to now, hardcore fight fans still get awed when told about The Thrilla.

Even today’s diehard followers of the sport insist that the Thrilla was savage and that the staying power of both fighters was just phenomenal.

Aside from the beating they took, Ali and Frazier fought under sweltering conditions.

While the Big Dome could accommodate 25,000, it was believed that an additional 10,000 were allowed to get inside as well.

The lights also contributed to the extreme heat that drained the energy from Ali and Frazier while taking into account the humidity.

Gibbons said that personages who played pivotal roles in the 1975 mega fight will be invited to grace the celebration.

Ali and Frazier are no longer. So are their respective trainers Angelo Dundee and Futch but promoters Don King and Bob Arum are still with us.

The plan is to import the family members of Ali and Frazier and referee Carlos Padilla, too.

Padilla is now residing in America but his arrival will be a major move given the role that he played during the classic clash.

To highlight the celebration, three world title fights will be staged at the Big Dome featuring Filipino boxers.

This early, the 4 October affair, looks very promising.