THE other half of the famous couple responsible for bringing here the classic ?Thrilla in Manila? celebrated her birthday on the day Manny Pacquiao won by unanimous decision over Mexican Oscar Larios on the same arena where the epic Ali-Frazier fight happened 31 years ago.
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos turned 77 Sunday and observed the special day celebrating, especially after watching Pacquiao win over his tough Mexican rival.
?I guess my birthday proved to be lucky for Manny Pacquiao,? said Mrs. Marcos, radiant in her red terno.
It was during the term of the late Pres. Marcos that boxing?s most memorable fight took place at the Big Dome on Oct.1, 1975.
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier engaged in a brutal fight that ended after 14 rounds when Eddie Futch, the legendary trainer, refused to let Frazier answer the bell for the final round.
?It?s all over, Joe. No one will forget what you did here today,? were Futch?s consoling words to Frazier then.
Mrs. Marcos was proud at having staged one of boxing?s most memorable fights.
?That put the Philippines in the sporting map. Whenever one would mention Manila, the first thing that they?ll remember is that one classic fight,? said the former First Lady.
The fight, which Ali described as ?the closest thing to death? was recently voted by ESPN as one of the greatest of all time alongside another classic, the 1985 undisputed middleweight fight between Marvelous ?Marvin? Hagler and Thomas ?The Hitman? Hearns.
The Pacquiao-Larios fight was the biggest boxing bout to be held at the Big Dome since the ?Thrilla in Manila.?
Incidentally, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s American trainer, was a disciple of Futch himself.
