NEW YORK?Murad Muhammad, the street-smart New Jersey promoter behind uncrowned world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao?s rise to US stardom, said he was in Muhammad Ali?s security team when the Louisville Lip?also known as the Greatest?visited Manila for the “Thrilla” in 1975.
Muhammad, 54, said during his visit, he was introduced to Jorge (Nene) Araneta, owner of the Big Dome where Ali fought and stopped Joe Frazier in the celebrated “Thrilla In Manila.” He added that he knew about Araneta naming his mall after Ali.
“One thing I remember about the Philippines was the beautiful shirt made of fiber where you could wear cuff links,” said Muhammad, referring to the barong Tagalog. “I?d love to go back after all these years. I?d love to meet my old friends again. At the moment, my priority is to build up Manny in the US, to make him a millionaire fighter. Perhaps, sometime down the road, we could promote Manny in a big fight in Manila.”
