President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was among the sizable crowd for the golden celebration of ‘Thrilla in Manila’ Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Marcos sat ringside beside his wife and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
Marcos returned to the country early Wednesday morning after a three-day trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 47th Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.
Then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and First Lady Imelda Marcos were also at ringside at the same venue for the Thrilla in Manila on Oct. 1, 1975, where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled for 14 brutal rounds in what’s widely considered the greatest fight in boxing history. Ali won by TKO at the end of the 14th round.
Pacquiao, the sport’s only eight-division champion who is in the same conversation for the greatest boxer of all time along with Ali, and other legends, made the move to stage Thrilla’s 50th anniversary in Manila.
Marcos and Pacquiao showed up in time for the fight of Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali-Walsh, against Thai Kittisak Klinson.
The presidential couple immediately left the venue after the bout that ended in majority draw in favor of Klinson.