So how did the thrilla in manilla..

"lolo" is that grandfather..? did he share his memories regarding the fight, having been so close to the events..? perhaps he got a hear og see something, that others might not have. i actually thought, that the influence of this fight, would be quite big. So im a bit surprised. Yes.."lolo" is tagalog for grandfather.... I am 31...my lolo passed when I was 28.... Even at his old age...at family gatherings the middle of the couch was always "reserved" for him anytime there was a fight on TV...especially a Pacquiao fight. When we talked it was always tagalog from him but english from me....he would tell me how it was great to see a filipino fighter so popular not just in the P.I but equally embraced here in the States...he would bring up old memories of how his commander gave him a "berry important assignment" one night....which of course was the head of personal security for Ali. He would joke to us that he actually had to make it up to my granmda the following weekend because they were scheduled to have a date at the beach that night.... Anyway, he told me he remembered it being unusually hot and humid that night, and that even though the fighters were black, the filipinos loved the fact that Manila was chosen for such an event....the whole country was buzzing about it...it was a message to the world that even though the P.I is looked at as a 3rd world country with some of the most corrupt governing bodies, it was still considered to host a potentially historic fight. He would talk about how nervous he was escorting Ali to the ring and hoping he diddn't trip on anything and look like a "bobo" (clumsy idiot). He also said that EVERY MAJOR POLITICIAN in the P.I that night had placed huge betting amounts on the fight.... It really is too bad that he missed post DLH...my lolo diddn't per say love watching Pacquiao fight....he was very proud that a pinoy was becoming recognized....but he was a fiercely loyal boxing fan....his favorite fighter wasn't even Ali...his favorite fighter was JCC Sr. (he called him "dat mexican guy") Never said if boxing actually became more popular though....

Very influential, because in October 1, 1975 as the fight was going on, Rosalio and Dionesia Pacquiao decided to fall in love. :hail::hail::hail: I just turned 15 a week before, got a ticket as my gift from my mom and boxing there was still the same. What really got me into boxing was Erbito Salavarria, a champ back in the late 60s/early 70s and a neighbor mine. I caught a glimpse of Elorde's fights on TV from time to time, I was like 5 up to when I was 8 years old but really didn't pay attention, it's probably because I was still young...

From what my grandpa told me....it was more of an event to watch because it had involved 2 of the best fighters of that generation. It diddn't really influence more filipinos to take up the sport of boxing because back then...filipinos diddn't really consider themselves "big enough" to box...and never really had the mentality of fighting for money and glory. BTW...thanks for bringing up some really great memories of my "lolo"....he was the chief of police for Manila at the time...and was actually the lil brown guy that Ali was following into the ring...Ali had actually "put hands" (on his shoulders to the ring) on him...literally... "lolo" is that grandfather..? did he share his memories regarding the fight, having been so close to the events..? perhaps he got a hear og see something, that others might not have. i actually thought, that the influence of this fight, would be quite big. So im a bit surprised.

effect you guys in the phillipines, when it comes to boxing..? did it mean boxing became more popular..? did it result in more fighters and gyms..? did you yourself get inspired to box .? From what my grandpa told me....it was more of an event to watch because it had involved 2 of the best fighters of that generation. It diddn't really influence more filipinos to take up the sport of boxing because back then...filipinos diddn't really consider themselves "big enough" to box...and never really had the mentality of fighting for money and glory. BTW...thanks for bringing up some really great memories of my "lolo"....he was the chief of police for Manila at the time...and was actually the lil brown guy that Ali was following into the ring...Ali had actually "put hands" (on his shoulders to the ring) on him...literally...