BIZ BUZZ: ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ 50 years later
People of a certain age can still vividly recall the legendary bout between bitter rivals and boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that was held on Oct. 1, 1975, at Araneta Coliseum.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fights of all time, the duel that saw Muhammad Ali coming out on top brought international attention to the Philippines and cemented The Big Dome’s legacy as a world-class venue.
Fifty years later, Araneta Coliseum remains one of Asia’s largest indoor arenas and one of the world’s largest clear span domes, with a maximum seating capacity of 20,000.
Since opening in 1960—a brainchild of Araneta Group visionary J. Amado Araneta—the coliseum has hosted various world-class events, from world-title boxing matches to international concerts and a whole slew of sporting events.
Thus, it is but right that Araneta City has been chosen as the centerpiece venue for the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Thrilla in Manila, a commemoration led by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Araneta City will mark the special occasion by holding immersive exhibits in the Big Dome lobby and hosting live boxing exhibitions on Oct 29 featuring top fighters from around the world, in a bid to bring back the spirit of the original “Thrilla,” the group said.
“This year is really special for us,” said Irene Jose, COO of Uniprom Inc., the entertainment arm of Araneta City. “The Smart Araneta Coliseum has been part of so many unforgettable stories, from legendary concerts to historic fights. We’re proud to be the venue where the Thrilla in Manila happened, and we’re honored to be at the heart of its 50th anniversary celebration.”
