Last time I attended a boxing show in the country that lasted way into the morning, it was still in the early 1990s.

The venue?

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum and it was headlined by a fight for the Oriental title.

More than 30 years later, I found myself doing the same thing.

This time, the venue was different.

From Manila, the site of my unforgettable coverage was the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier rumbled like no other on 1 October 1975.

Early this week, I camped out at the Araneta Center in Cubao so I can be where the action is going to be as the celebrations began to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.

Actually, I was already coming off another boxing coverage in Manila over the weekend and that, too, was quite tiring.

But this latest escapade was one for the books.

It was like cramming a seven-day coverage in the US for a fight into three days.

On the eve of the fight, there was the behind-closed-doors weigh-in at 7 a.m. at Novotel.

Then six hours later, there was the ceremonial weigh-in and press conference in the afternoon at a nearby mall.

When you thought that was it for the day, you’re mistaken.

In the evening, there was the Gala Night where personages not just from sports joined Manny Pacquiao and the inner circle of the International Boxing Association (IBA) in remembering that day in sporting history.

There were testimonials by those who were at the Big Dome, including election lawyer Romy Makalintal and Gene Kilroy, who used to be Ali’s business manager.

Referee Carlos “Sonny” Padilla was supposed to come but just hours before his flight from Las Vegas, he fell sick.

Instead, his granddaughter and celebrity Karylle subbed for her famous grandpa.

Then the next day — the day of the fight — there were two events on tap just an hour separated from each other.

The IBA met the media at a little past noon to present their program after appointing Pacquiao as its vice-president.

It was right at this event when Pacquiao gave information about his next fight, possibly against Floyd Mayweather.

Another event happened at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon just when the first few fights at the historic coliseum were about to take place.

So by the time we and other scribes trooped to the venue, we were already starting to lose steam.

And what made it even worse was the main event already happened on Thursday alongside the thrilling fight between Eumir Marcial and Eddy Colmenares.

As I am writing this piece, I feel drowsy and super-tired.

But am I complaining?

Hell, no!

Looking forward to the next boxing show.