Philippines, 09 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Thrilla in Manila - Fifth of a Series


PhilBoxing.com




The never-ending drama that started since the fight between defending heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and challenger Joe Frazier was announced, spilled on to the days the protagonists held their build up regimen and even to the day of their confrontation and beyond.

Most of which occurred at the instance of Ali like calling "Smokin" Joe a ?gorilla?, spying on the challenger's training sessions at the Folk Arts Theater and even going to the Hyatt Hotel where Frazier and part were billeted carrying a gun and challenging him to come down.

One member of Ali's entourage that flew in two weeks before the October 1, 1975 Christened "Thrilla In Manila? and Super Fight III was a beautiful black girl Veronica Porche, who halfway through their stay in the Philippines would create quiet a stir that led to eventual end of the champ's marriage to second wife Belinda.

The fiasco started at a dinner tendered by then President Marcos and First Lady Imelda in Malacanan Palace where the Chief Executive noticed, in particular, the presence of Veronica, who until then was known as Ali's mistress.

Top photo: Ali's wife Belinda with their four children.


Ali's girlfriend Veronica Porche and his mother Odessa.

Mrs. Marcos came to the party late in the night. When she arrived, the President mistakenly introduced her to Veronica, saying the girl was Ali's wife. Everybody who was privy to the Ali-Veronica relationship were stunned with Ali merely thanking the President for his action.

Ali's wife, Belinda (Khalilah) was known to have tolerated her husband's extra-marital activities. Reports were that she even had adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude on the matter.

Not this one though. As soon as she read the news from media reports from Manila, she thought this became too open to ignore.

Embarrassed no end and humiliated in the international media, Belinda boarded a plane to Manila and went straight to the Manila Hilton, Ali's home while in the country.

Members of Ali's party and media men outside the room heard commotion and shouting inside. It was reported later that Belinda, all of her six-foot frame threw everything she could lay her hands on to her beleaguered husband.

As fast as when she arrived, Belinda was seen rushing from the hotel got into her limo and flew back home. Their marriage over, Belinda emerged the winner of sort as she ended up richer by $ 2 million besides getting, too, their houses.

The incident prompted one newsman to comment: "More people were now talking about Veronica-Belinda than Ali-Frazier."

The next day, Ali turned the already volatile situation to worse by calling a press conference to try to extricate himself from the hole he dug himself to. He told journalists of the "needs of a man" and the "desires of a champion."

Ali showed no adverse effect of what happened the past 24 hours in his talk wih local and foreign journalists. He appeared jolly and even exchanged jokes with newsmen.

"I live on controversy," he said. "I'm used to pressure. That stuff you write, I laugh at it. It's goof publicity. It will sell out the fight."


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • A Filipino and an American Homecoming
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Tragedy Strikes Again: Arturo Gatti Jr., Son of Boxing Legend, Found Dead at 17 in Mexico
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Golden State Making a Bid for NBA Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT START IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • RED-HOT CUBAN MIDDLEWEIGHT YOENLI HERNANDEZ: “I’M READY WILLING AND ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO FACE THE BIG NAMES IN MY DIVISION.”
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS ENNIS GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LIMA AHEAD OF 154LB DEBUT – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV MEET FOR FIRST FACE-OFF IN SHEFFIELD AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Amateur Boxer Tyrone Welch Dies After Match in Saginaw
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • AJ Lim Captures Fourth PCA Men’s Singles Title, Extends Dominance in Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18: JOE FRAZIER VS. GEORGE FOREMAN FIRST ENCOUNTER - THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • 5th Zhengxing Cup Philippine Xiangqi Rapid Open tournament on October 12
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Joey Canoy back in training; preparing to face IBF champ Beaven Sibanda in February
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TEAM AND FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT’S “BOXFEST XVI”
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Tyson Fury back in 2026?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • SAVE THE DATE: MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Team Cebuana Lhuillier Finishes Strong in PCA Men’s Team Tennis Championship Finals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Three Heavyweight Champs Were Ringside for the Thrilla Event
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • Cutman Excellence Shines in Dubai: Denis Kolesnir and Jose Mohan Lead Groundbreaking Cutman Seminar
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • BEN WHITTAKER JOINS MATCHROOM BOXING: LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION SIGNS LONG-TERM DEAL AND WILL FIGHT ON DAZN
    , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • What’s Gervonta “Tank” Davis' Next Move After Jake Paul Fight?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Mon, 06 Oct 2025
  • Jino Rodrigo recovering from hospital after TKO loss to Cain Sandoval
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 06 Oct 2025
  • Global Stars Set to Shine as 2025 Hanoi Open Pool Championship Breaks Off in Vietnam
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 06 Oct 2025
  • Riyadh Season and Matchroom announced partnership
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 06 Oct 2025
  • IM Datu rules first leg of Daily Fantasy Chess Grand Prix
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 06 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.