Outside Source
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this titanic boxing event—where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier threw down into the 14th round of their rubber match for heavyweight gold and glory—Manny Pacquiao has gotten involved in promotion an event around it. The 46-year-old, who recently introduced his organization of Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MP Promotions) to the U.S., will be staging “Thrilla in Manila 2” on Oct. 29 in the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
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Headlining this boxing event is a 12-round WBC mini-flyweight championship affair pitting Melvin Jerusalem (24-3, 12 KOs) against Siyakholwa Kuse (9-2-1, 4 KOs). The division is also called minimumweight and strawweight by other boxing promoters. Jerusalem, who has won four straight all on the scorecards, posts an equal number of knockouts to decisions on his career ledger. Of note, he once held the WBO mini-flyweight belt, and lost it only to secure the WBC-s version of that strap a year later. Meanwhile, this will the first major title shot for Kuse, whose six-fight win streak including a WBC Silver and an African belt along the way leads into this main attraction.
Filipinos All the Way Down
The lineup, which currently has 11 confirmed matches, will also feature the Philippines debut for Nico Ali Walsh (12-2, 1 NC; 5 KOs), grandson of “Thrilla in Manila” headliner Ali. A pro since 2021, Walsh came up short in a couple recent decisions to Sona Akale and Juan Luis Guerra—for the former, he avenged the loss less than a year later. He faces 34-year-old Thai boxer “Kittisak Klinson,” (14-11, 7 KOs) born Patumpong Saengarun, who has lost three of four leading into this bout.
Regional talent will account for the majority of the card, with 10 of the 13 matches containing at least one Filipino athlete thus far. Other title tilts on the card include the co-main attraction, where Eumir Marcial (6-0, 4 KOs) and Eddy Colmenares (11-2-1, 11 KOs) duke it out for the vacant WBC International middleweight crown. Additionally, local champ Arvin Magramo (19-2-1, 11 KOs) faces fellow countryman Bernald Robles (12-0-1, 5 KOs) for the WBC’s International light flyweight belt. Finally, Albert Francisco (14-1, 10 KOs) and Ramel Macado Jr. (10-1, 5 KOs), both of the Philippines, vie for the vacant WBC international flyweight strap.
”Thrilla in Manila 2” Current Lineup
Melvin Jerusalem vs. Siyakholwa Kuse – WBC mini-flyweight title
Eumir Marcial vs. Eddy Colmenares – vacant WBC International middleweight title
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Kittisak Klinson – middleweight
Marlon Tapales vs. Fernando Toro – super bantamweight
Carl Jammes Martin vs. Aran Dipaen – super bantamweight
Arvin Magramo vs. Bernaldo Robles – WBC International light flyweight title
Albert Francisco vs. Ramel Macado Jr. – vacant WBC International flyweight title
Eman Bacosa vs. Nico Salado – lightweight
Ronerick Ballesteros vs. Speedy Boy Acope – lightweight
Jubert Buhat vs. Ariel Antimaro – super bantamweight
Roderick Bautista vs. Adrian Dulayba – flyweight
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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