The 50th year celebration of the Thrilla in Manila will be extra special.
Eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao is leading the way in putting up a blockbuster show that will have three world title fights on tap.
The exact date of the mega event is being discussed by the major stakeholders.
The three Filipinos figuring in world title fights are World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight ruler Melvin Jerusalem and International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titlist Pedro Taduran as well as leading super-featherweight Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who is fresh from a win underneath Pacquiao’s clash with Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
“We are doing everything to ensure that the golden anniversary will be truly unforgettable,” said Pacquiao, who wasn’t born yet when Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier waged a bloody war at the Araneta Coliseum on 1 October 1975.
Jerusalem and Taduran are the country’s only reigning world champions while Magsayo is one of the brightest prospects for a world crown.
Magsayo, based in Los Angeles, soundly beat Jorge Mata of Mexico last 19 July to solidify his status as a world title contender.
If ever Magsayo’s appearance on the card won’t be for the world championship, it will nevertheless be a world title elimination match.
Jerusalem’s last fight took place in late-March in Nagoya, Japan, where he showed his mastery of Yudai Shigeoka.
Taduran, meanwhile, also made a defense of his IBF 105-pound throne last May in Osaka where he beat Ginjiro Shigeoka in their rematch.
Plans are afoot to bring in a few personages to Manila, including Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and referee Carlos Padilla.
The children of Ali and Frazier are also being eyed to grace the week-long festivities.
Even the WBC is going to have a major participation in the celebration with its current president Mauricio Sulaiman having a key role.
Tapped by Pacquiao to work on the event are Sean Gibbons for the US and world side of the preparations and Joe Ramos focusing on the domestic side of things.