MANILA -- Filipino boxing icon and former senator Manny Pacquiao is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila" by holding another boxing event at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The fight card, co-presented by the International Boxing Association (IBA), will take place in the same iconic venue as the legendary heavyweight fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
"Hindi ko ma-imagine na yung 'Thrilla in Manila' ay kwinento lang sa akin at napanood ko lang sa replay yung fight, because it happened nung 1975 and I was born in 1978, so 'di pa ako pinanganak nu'n," said Pacquiao on Wednesday.
"But I'm so blessed and happy na ako ang nagdala ng 50th celebration ng 'Thrilla in Manila'... so I'm thankful," he added.
The fight card will be headlined by a WBC strawweight world title bout between Filipino champion Melvin Jerusalem and South Africa's Ayanda Kuse. Also featured is Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, who will face Eddy Colmenares.
Rising Filipino stars Arvin Magramo, Carl Jammes Martin, and Marlon Tapales are also set to appear.
“May mga iilan tayong world championship na fights; nandiyan si Jerusalem, si Marcial, Martin, at Tapales. Marami tayong magagaling na boksingero na makikita natin sa laban na ito,” Pacquiao added.
As for his own potential bout against American boxer Rolando Romero, Pacquiao said: "Still negotiating, pero we're just finalizing."
The 50th anniversary celebration of the "Thrilla in Manila" will take place on October 29 at the Big Dome.