Filipino Fighters Unite for Pacquiao’s “Thrilla in Manila” 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 28 Oct 2025
Jerusalem (L) and Marcial (R).
World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem and a stellar lineup of Filipino fighters could not hide their excitement over Manny Pacquiao’s historic move to stage the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila.”
“The moment I learned about Senator Manny Pacquiao’s wish to celebrate the Thrilla and have me as its main event, I felt overjoyed,” said Jerusalem, who will make the third defense of his WBC 105-pound crown against South African contender Siyakholwa Kuse on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the very venue where the original “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place on October 1, 1975.
“I am so excited to be part of this landmark moment in Philippine sports,” Jerusalem added. “To defend my world title on the same stage where Ali and Frazier once fought is an honor I will never forget.”
Like Jerusalem, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and unbeaten professional Eumir Marcial expressed his delight at being featured in the anniversary card being promoted by Pacquiao’s Blow-By-Blow team—reviving the grassroots boxing program that first launched Pacquiao’s own career in the 1990s.
“I have always wanted to be associated with my longtime idol, Manny Pacquiao,” Marcial said. “Getting the opportunity to fight under his promotional banner is something I’m very proud of.” Marcial is set to face Venezuelan knockout artist Eddy Colmenares in a middleweight special attraction.
Jerusalem, who is fighting for the second time under the Blow-By-Blow banner, said the partnership continues to inspire him to perform at his best. “Every time I step into the ring representing the Philippines and Blow-By-Blow, I want to make the fans proud,” he said.
Also throwing their full support behind Pacquiao’s golden celebration are super-bantamweight standouts Marlon Tapales and Carl Jammes Martin who will appear in separate bouts on the undercard. Former world champion Tapales faces Fernando Toro of Venezuela while
Martin takes on Thailand's Aran Dipaen. Their participation underscores the event’s theme of Filipino pride and global excellence, honoring both the past and future of Philippine boxing.
Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion and global boxing icon, said the 50th anniversary celebration is a tribute to the enduring legacy of the Ali–Frazier classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in boxing history.
“Until now, half a century later, when you ask fight fans about the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ their eyes light up and they tell you about the action, the courage, and the drama of that unforgettable event,” Pacquiao said.
“I believe that fifty years from now, the Thrilla will still stand as one of the greatest and most inspiring moments in sports history.”
The “Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary” celebration, headlined by Jerusalem’s title defense and Marcial’s featured bout, is expected to draw a packed house at the Araneta Coliseum and millions of fans watching worldwide—once again reminding the world why the Philippines remains a beating heart of global boxing.
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