Seeing how much his father’s fight with Muhammad Ali remains beloved in Manila, Joe Frazier Jr. beamed with pride as he was in attendance for Thrilla in Manila 2.
For Joe Frazier Jr., his father stood for more than just boxing when he met Muhammad Ali 50 years ago for the Thrilla in Manila at the now-iconic Araneta Coliseum.
Decades later, Frazier Jr. has seen just how much impact his father and Ali were able to leave.
More than just inspiring the current generation of boxers in the Philippines and across the world, Frazier Jr. believed that his father impacted the athletes in a way that made them better people, which also bled into how they treat their opponents.
“I've seen so far, there's great battles, great competition. But the biggest thing I've noticed as far as that, they have a friendly demeanor about them, respect for one another, and that's what my father embodied, is that respect before and after the fight, so I can really appreciate that,” Frazier Jr. said during Thrilla In Manila 2, an anniversary event to honor the original fight between the two boxing legends.
“Just the culture of Manila has been amazing. It speaks volumes, first and foremost, to who my father and Ali were as people. Not just [as] boxers, the legacy and the energy that they left behind to still be honored in this way, just shows the impact that they made on a bigger level than boxing.”
Frazier Jr. was also with Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh, who fought on the Thrilla in Manila 2 fight card, to represent the original event which catapulted the Big Dome to international fame.
[RELATED: Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico left in awe of Philippine crowd after Thrilla In Manila 2]
Looking forward to the future of the boxers he saw in Araneta, Frazier Jr. had sage words of advice to those who want to get to the level of his father.
“Yeah, just keep striving, keep the dedication, the hunger, but most importantly, keep the respect. Because they're in the ring, but everybody's battling two things, they all have a fight with inside, and a fighter to embrace inside, so like I said, it's always bigger than boxing,” he said.
“But I appreciate what they're doing in the ring, because they're putting their lives on the line, so at all times, just have respect for your opponent, and know that you both are battling something bigger than just in the ring,” he continued.
Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari-Yuzon sang the national anthem at the Thrilla In Manila anniversary event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum over the weekend. | Photo: Smart Araneta Coliseum
Karylle represents grandfather
Meanwhile, Filipino singer Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari-Yuzon was also at Thrilla in Manila 2 to commemorate her grandfather Carlos “Sonny” Padilla Jr., who was the referee in the original Thrilla in Manila bout five decades ago.
Karylle sang the national anthem in honor of the retired referee, who couldn’t make it to the event due to health issues.
After taking part in the momentous occasion, Karylle spoke about what it meant for her and her grandfather.
“Of course, as a family, we are all proud of him. He really wanted to be here, but he had a health issue two hours before he left for the airport. So, we wish him a speedy recovery. A lot of people are praying for him, so I'm very, very grateful,” said Karylle.
Karylle added that it was a no-brainer to step up and sing the national anthem in the Thrilla In Manila anniversary event.
“So, it's a shame that he's gone. That's why, even if it's so hard to go up there and sing the national anthem, I said, it's for my grandfather, right? I mean, that's one of the things that you will do it for the love of your family,” she said.
“So that, somehow, his legacy will continue here. I mean, it's a small thing. It's nothing like what he did, of course. But, so that he will be remembered, even if he's not here.”
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.