Stars of the show
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 30 Oct 2025
In celebrating the Golden Anniversary of the “Thrilla In Manila,” Manny Pacquiao made sure relatives of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier came to town and there would be a heavyweight fight on the Smart Araneta Coliseum card that was held yesterday.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons got his marching orders and waved his magic wand. Ali’s wife Lonnie and Frazier’s son Joe, Jr. were among the celebrity guests at the “Thrilla” Gala Dinner in the Novotel Grand Ballroom last Tuesday. On the Araneta card, Russian Georgiy Yunovidov took on South African Chris Thompson in a heavyweight eight-rounder.
Gibbons said he chanced upon Frazier in Chicago and secured his commitment to attend the celebration. Frazier would’ve come with his wife but she’s expecting their child so couldn’t travel. He’s often mistaken to be former pro boxer Joe Frazier, Jr., a name his brother Hector took to honor their father.
“I promote boxing events and I’m a spiritual counsellor,” said Frazier. “I wasn’t born when the ‘Thrilla’ happened but my dad often talked about it. He never liked to fly but made an exception to travel to Manila. My father loved the Filipino people. I’d like to come back, see more of the country and learn about the culture.”
Lonnie, 68, was married to Ali from 1986 until his death in 2016. She was Ali’s fourth wife after Sonji Roi, Belinda Boyd and Veronica Porche. One of Ali’s four children with Belinda, Rasheda, also came for the celebration. Rasheda has a twin sister Jamillah and her son Nico Walsh, a middleweight boxer, was on yesterday’s card.
“I’m amazed that there’s an Ali Mall named after Muhammad,” she said. “I’ve driven past it. After 50 years, Ali Mall still exists and it’s a lasting tribute. Whenever Muhammad talked about the ‘Thrilla,’ he would always mention the warmth of the Filipino people. Muhammad was a people person. I remember him sharing potato chips with Charley Rose, the talk show host who sat in front of us during the NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden in 1999.”
Another foreign guest Gene Kilroy, 85, flew in to witness the festivities. Kilroy was a pall bearer at the funeral of Ali’s parents and his aunt Coretta. He was at Araneta when the “Thrilla” took place and said an idea to “ice” Ali probably won the fight.
“It was like 150 degrees in the venue, steaming hot,” said Kilroy. “So I gave this little kid a 100 dollar bill to get me a bucket of ice. The guy next to me said I’d never see him again. But the kid came back with a pack of ice which I gave to Ali’s cornerman Angelo Dundee before the fight. Angelo rubbed the ice all over his body and it cooled him. I think if the ice went to Frazier instead, he could’ve won.” Kilroy served as Ali’s business manager from 1966 to 1981 and described their relationship as a genuine friendship.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OLYMPIC BOXING 1: 1904 OLYMPICS AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 20 Nov 2025Pacquiao, Nine Other Pinoys in Latest Ring Ratings
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 20 Nov 2025QUOTES FROM MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS LOS ANGELES OPEN WORKOUT AT WILD CARD BOXING CLUB AND LAS VEGAS OPEN WORKOUT AHEAD OF NOV. 29 FIGHT NIGHT AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
Thu, 20 Nov 2025Super Featherweight Sluggers ‘Tsendy’ Erdenebat and Abraham Montoya Agree to Meet in Short-Notice Co-Featured Bout on Proboxtv’s Friday Night Fights
Thu, 20 Nov 2025Cartagenas, Yu top 4th DCHS Fun Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 20 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 NOVEMBER 2025: Espinosa Defeats Khegai; Benn Gets Even With Eubank Jnr; Catterall Stops Essuman
By Eric Armit, Wed, 19 Nov 2025Paras to challenge Malajika for IBO World super flyweight title on Nov. 29 in South Africa
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 19 Nov 2025Lebron James is first player to play 23 seasons in NBA history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 19 Nov 2025Team Tira Tira Sampaloc Tres is SJDM Woodpusher Society 3X3 Rapid Chess Tournament Champion
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 19 Nov 2025RUN IT BACK! GOLDEN BOY KICKS OFF 2026 FIGHT SCHEDULE WITH NIGHT OF HIGH STAKES REMATCHES
Wed, 19 Nov 2025Boxlab Promotions “Night of Champions XIII” Undercard Bouts Announced
Wed, 19 Nov 2025Porres-Narukami fight moved to Nov. 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 19 Nov 2025Rematch for the ages
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 18 Nov 2025"Limping" Boston Showing Famed Celtics Pride
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 18 Nov 2025IIEE-Trocio Engineers defeated Splashers Lawyers in the BPBL Opening
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 18 Nov 2025