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Philippine Showbiz Today
October 8 - 21 , 2017
The title-defending Muhammad Ali and his challenger ‘ Smokin ’ Joe Frazier arrived separately on elegant black Mercedes that crossed the almost empty Metro Manila streets ( like in this days every time our own Manny Pacquiao fights ) from their respective hotels .
Like in the various social functions and press conferences the duo jointly attended , Ali arrived first followed by Frazier as both , from the time they fought first , made it known not to be seen together at any given time , except when they called on President Marcos and First Lady Imelda at Malacanang Palace where they were forced to arrive together albeit on separate cars and stay together in one room for a couple of hours .
Outside of the Araneta Coliseum ( re-named Philippine Coliseum for that particular historic event ) everything was quiet – President Marcos declared the day a special holiday to allow every Filipino o watch what later turned out the “ Fight of the Century .”
The Thrilla in Manila was won that morning of October 1 , 1975 !
The air-conditioned coliseum was hot owing to the capacity
Boxing
28,000 people , including the First Couple , that occupied every space available they can sneak their way in . As the fight progressed , the atmosphere was oven-hot as crowd grew to standing room only 32,000 .
The 15-round collision turned to be a three-stage contest with Ali , as he was known to , started like a house on fire in the first five rounds and Frazier bulldozing his way in the next five . The last four sessions were the deciding rounds
The drama that was ‘ The Thrilla in Manila ’ as the duo battled their way in fierce exchanges as there was no tomorrow which it really was .
When the smoke of battle was gone in the 14th , Frazier ’ s manager-trainer decided he and the millions inside and outside the arena had seen enough and called it a day to the strong objection of ‘ Smokin ’ Joe , of course . His pupil , to Eddie ’ s mind and everybody else ’ s , has sustained terrible beating .
Joe had the warrior ’ s heart , a big fighting will that was telling him to go on .
At that moment , Futch remained he saner voice to tell Joe that he must not . “ Joe , I ’ m going to stop this ,” he was heard of saying while Joe stood on his stool to resume fighting .
“ No , Eddie , no . Don ’ t do this to me , “ Joe shouted back in a barely comprehensible words . Joe kept pleading heard by newsmen sitting in the press row below his corner . But at that moment and as always in his long years spent as father to his wards , Futch knew best .
In soft , authoritative voice , he said , “ Sit down , son , it ’ s all over . The world will never forget what you did here today .”
In he opposite corner , Ali
SPORTS
bloodied , too , and gasping for breath , rejoiced upon hearing Frazier ’ s corner had thrown in the towel then collapsed on his stool as if hit by a sniper ’ s shot .
He later said in his dressing room that had Frazier answered the bell signalling the start of the 15th , it could have been him to quit on his stool . “ T ’ was like death . Closing ’ thing to dying ’ that I know .”
With the only strength left in them , the two fighters struggled on their way to their respective dressing room . Ali was draped around the shoulders of two of his handlers as they entered the room .
Joe wept inside his room consoled by Futch . Bob Goodman , promoter Don King ’ s press liaison , asked if Joe can meet media men in the traditional post-fight press conference . Joe agreed and readily went to the press con .
When Goodman went to Ali ’ s room and asked if he can , Drew Brown yelled at him , “ You insane ? Look at him !” Ali was slump on a sofa , his skin I gray color . “ Joe ’ s already there , Goodman said . Only upon hearing this that Ali stood up to join the meeting with the media . ●
Manny willing to honor rematch clause but …
There is no doubt that Jeff Horn ’ s victory over Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao served as a big boost to Queensland ’ s economy .
And a windfall , too , not only for that Australian State ’ s but also the whole of Australia ’ s tourism which is already basking in the glow of almost 17,000 out-ofstate visitors who have descended on Brisbane for the weekend when the crossed paths last July 2 .
This was the consensus expressed by the host government ’ s officials , led by Brisbane City Mayor Graham Quirk , and even Top Tank Promotion boss man Bob Arum after Horn kept his undefeated record with a unanimous , albeit controversial , win before a 50,000 crowd at the Suncorp Arena .
Arum was quoted by Australian media as saying the fight that would bring boxing back to its rightful place in global sport . “ It is a transformational fight for not only Australia but the world . Even before the historic encounter , it was boing Under .
Not only , and this everybody in boxing world knows , because of the new World Boxing Organization welterweight crown – owner , but also because of
Pacquiao , who , in the first place , was chosen to dance with the former schoolteacher on the merit of his immense popularity and vast drawing power .
True it was Pacquiao , the only man in the universe to cfrown himself champion 11 times in eight weight division , who sought that a rematch clause be part of the contract , but it is now this same clause that Horn ’ s camp is urging the Filipino to honor , not the not other way around . Precisely because of the potential benefits the outcome of the bout would bring .
The Pacman was willing , and is , in fact , still willing to honor the rematch and fight Horn again next month – November 12 to be exact . But had , or has Horn and the Australian fight organizers accorded him the respect he deserves owing to his status as a respected fighter and a highranking government official of his country -- a senator at that ?
Never . From the time Manny and his party arrived in the host city , everything he got from whatever he did that did not pass their criteria , were met by ridicule and insult .
Like during the final pre-fight
press conference when he kept using hi mobile phone , everybody ganged up on him not realizing that as a lawmaker he had to monitor minute-by-minute what was happening in the country . When he left Manila , war had just erupted in Mindanao and a strong typhoon hit his hometown General Santos City .
During the victory parade after stashing away with the 147- pound belt , Horn poked fun at his victim to the delight of his fans .
The WBO , despite early dilly-dallying , granted Pacquiao ’ s plea for a review of the judges ’ questionable decision but came up approving the verdict via a seldom heard of point-system of scoring without considering that 55 of 67 boing writers polled after the fight voting that Manny was the clear winner .
Many of those who participated in the survey expressed belief that the Filipino ring icon was robbed of victory .
Then when Pacquiao looked to agree with going on with the rematch came Horn ’ s trainer Glenn Rushton saying his camp will request drug testing to ” level the playing field ” because he was not satisfied with the drugtesting protocol applied in the first match .
And now that the cat is out that Manny has begged to move the rematch next year , Horn and his camp has started shopping for opponent which seem hardly to be found .
Which , according to one boxing writer is understandable . “ Who ,” he reported , “ is a boxer in his right mind would agree to fly to Brisbane and be a victim of what Pacquiao suffered ?” ●
- Eddie Alinea