Manny Pacquiao hopes to put up a mega-fight in Manila like Ali and Frazier – Boxing news
The Pac-Man, Manny Pacquiao, who is an eight-division world champion and the current World Boxing Organisation Welterweight World Champion (Super Champion), is hoping to provide the boxing fans with another classic fight on Saturday, much like Muhammad Ali
and Smokin’ Joe Frazier’s heroic “Thrilla in Manila.”
Pacquiao is set to take on the current World Boxing Association Super, World Boxing Organisation and The Ring Lightweight World Champion, Juan Manuel Marquez, in their much-anticipated trilogy fight this weekend on November 12, 2011 at the MGM Grand Arena
in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Filipino star wants his fight to be remembered for ages just “Thrilla in Manila.”
The Fighting Pride of Philippines, Pacquiao, who currently rules the pound-for-pound rankings of the world, revealed he was inspired by Smokin’ Joe, who passed away earlier this week due to liver cancer.
“When I was growing up, I heard about this big fight in the Philippines, and I asked my uncle for a DVD because I wanted to watch that fight,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Telegraph Sports.
“My dream is to do a fight like Frazier and Ali had in the Philippines. I hope we can promote a fight that big in the Philippines,” Pacquiao added.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s promoter and the chief executive officer of Top Rank, Bob Arum, believes no event will ever come close to the thriller that Ali and Frazier provided in 1975. However, Arum did remark that Pacquiao and Marquez will also provide an enthralling
battle.
“It's hard to imagine any other event coming close to the thriller that the event in Manila was in 1975, but it would be a great way for Manny to sign off after four more fights,” Arum said.
Ali and Frazier’s ‘Thrilla in Manila’ is often ranked as one of the greatest fights of 20th century boxing and the reason behind it was the rivalry between Ali and Frazier, which is considered as the King of all rivalries.
Pacquiao and Marquez also have pretty much to clear in between them and after what happened in their last two fights, it is fair to say that their trilogy bout will certainly be an explosive one.
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