Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is set to bring history full circle with Thrilla in Manila 2, a commemorative bout marking 50 years since Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s legendary fight at the Araneta Coliseum on October 29. Co-promoted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and Pacquiao’s own MP Promotions (Blow by Blow), the anniversary event will feature a new generation of fighters, led by Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh, who faces Thailand’s Kittisak Klinson in the main event.
Announced during a press conference on October 1 at Araneta Mall — the same day and venue that hosted Ali and Frazier’s brutal 1975 match — the event aims to reintroduce Manila as a global boxing destination. Pacquiao, who fought and won at the same venue in 2006 against Oscar Larios, described the event as a homecoming for the sport that shaped both his life and Filipino national identity.
“The Thrilla in Manila lit a fire in my heart as a kid, pushing me to dream big,” Pacquiao said. “Bringing Thrilla in Manila 2 to the Philippines with IBA Pro is my way of passing that fire to the next generation.”
The original Thrilla in Manila in Araneta Coliseum was a cultural moment that placed the Philippines on the world map of boxing, uniting the country through the spectacle of sport. Fifty years later, Pacquiao’s version symbolizes a continuation of that spirit, proving that boxing still runs deep in the Filipino consciousness.
The upcoming event celebrates Ali and Frazier’s legacy and how the Philippines has evolved into a symbol of resilience and heart in the boxing world. Thrilla in Manila 2 will stream live worldwide, with tickets now available via Ticketnet.
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