“Thrilla” guest list
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Sep 2025
Events are now being finalized before the “Thrilla In Manila” Golden Anniversary celebration featuring at least 11 fights at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 29. The pre-celebration consists of a 10-bout card at the San Andres Sports Complex on Oct. 26 and a gala dinner where the 1975 Ali-Frazier match will be shown on a big screen at a watch party in Novotel Hotel on Oct. 28. Manny Pacquiao is the prime mover of the “Thrilla” festivities.
Liza Elorde is organizing the gala night and among the VIP guests coming from abroad are WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC vice president and head of the International championship administration Mauro Betti, “Thrilla” referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla and his eldest daughter Suzy Tuano, Ali’s fourth and last wife Lonnie (Yolanda Williams), retired referee Kenny Bayless and wife Lynora, Ali’s daughter Rasheda and husband Bob Walsh, Ali’s former business manager Gene Kilroy who was a pall bearer at the legendary champion’s funeral in 2016 and Canadian boxing enthusiast Eric Schmidt.
Padilla, 91, confirmed he’s coming from his Las Vegas home. Lonnie, 85, took over management of Ali’s business affairs when they wed in 1986. She is involved in several charitable projects, advocating children’s rights and Parkinson’s disease research. Rasheda’s mother is Belinda Boyd, also known as Khalilah Ali. Boyd was Ali’s wife during the “Thrilla” but the Louisville Lip brought his girlfriend Veronica Porche, whom he later married, to Manila instead. When Boyd found out about Porche, she flew from Chicago to Manila, confronted Ali in his hotel suite, caused a commotion then took the first flight back home. Porche was 18 when Ali started their affair in 1974.
Rasheda’s son Nico, 25, is slated to take on Thailand’s Patumpong Saengarun in an eight-round middleweight match on the Oct. 29 undercard. Bayless, 75, is considered one of the best referees ever and worked over 10 Pacquiao fights. Kilroy, 84, was at ringside in 1975 and paid a boy $100 to deliver a bucket of ice cubes before the fight. Kilroy slid the ice cubes into Ali’s trunks in between rounds to cool him from the high humidity.
Lawyer Romy Macalintal, 78, will be invited to attend the gala night. He sat down with Ali for two hours before the “Thrilla” and showed a scrapbook containing articles and photos of the-then Cassius Clay from the 1960s. “If it’s possible, I could make a seven-minute power point presentation of my meeting with Ali,” said Macalintal. “I’m sure no one had that same experience of a lifetime. This would be my only way of thanking Ali for his kindness. Ali accommodated an unknown fan without a prior appointment and only an old scrapbook to show. If that’s not kindness then what is? Others can tell stories about Ali based on what they read. I based mine on my personal encounter with him.” (From The Philippine Star)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 30 Jan 2026ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026