September 1 - 15 , 2017 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 29
The battle of nerves between heavyweights Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that started when the two first fought in 1971 , reignited in 1974 in their rematch was relived anew in the twin press conferences held separately in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur and New York .
On July 2 , 1975 and on February 17 , the time promoter Don King let it known that “ The Saga of Our Lifetime ” Super Fight III will be held in the Philippines on October 1 , of the same year , Ali , again , tormented ‘ Smokin ’ Joe with words and motions of derisions but through it all , Frazier remained calm and refused to be baited .
Tensions between the duo would not hit up though until two weeks before the fight , upon the protagonists ’ arrival in Manila . Frazier was he first to set set foot on the host city soil at the dawn of September 13 followed by Alito days later .
Except for son Marvis , no member of Joe ’ s family was in the arrival party . Wife Florence and their four daughters aged 13 , 11 , 7 and 5 , will be hitting the Manila International Airport a week into the fight .
Others in the challenger ’ s party were manager-trainer Eddie Futch , assistant trainer George Benton , sparring partners Jimmy Young , Stan
Ward , George “ Scrapiron ” Johnson , Joe Gholdston and Dwayne Bobbick , Daisy Channault , long time pedialcook ; Leegrant Pressley , chauffer and right-hand man ; Milton Bailey , Cutman ; and the security group made up of Eddie Hurrell , Ralph Taylor , Willie Monroe and Ridgemont Lewis .
Also in the Philippine Airlines Plane that had a stopover in Honolulu was the brand new Everlast ring for the October 1 bout , which was delivered immediately after custom clearance to the Araneta Coliseum ( re-Christened Philippine Coliseum fore purpose of the fight )
Meanwhile , the official main press center at the first floor of the Philam Life Bldg along U . Ns . Avenue just opposite the Manila Hilton ( Now Holiday Inn ) where Ali and party will be billeted , became fully operational the day Frazier arrived . That early , some 183 applications for accreditation had already been under processed .
Some 82 applications had already been approved , mostly locals , ready for release . Don King telexed a list of 70 American media men will be arriving together on September 22 . British correspondents have notified arrival plans a week before the fight . And so , did Japanese
Pradera Verde will make its PAL Ladies Interclub debut in Cebu City on Sept . 19 and is immediately expected to crowd Manila Southwoods- Masters and host Cebu CC for the centerpiece Championship division diadem .
With a young team bannered by seasoned internationalists Yuka Saso and Harmie Constantino , Pradera looms as a solid threat to gatecrash what had been a two-team race in the past between SW-Masters and Cebu CC .
Saso , a many-time Philippine team member , and Constantino , a former national champion , are solid anchors on any team and will have reliable support from fellow outstanding agegroupers Annika Cayabyab , Michela Effendi , Kristine Torralba , Tomita Arejola , Kyla Nocum and Nicole Abelar .
The team will be coached by Norman Sto . Domingo .
Southwoods remains to be the team to beat even with Pauline Del Rosario turning pro and Abegail Arevalo needing to sit this one out because of studies in the United States at San Jose State .
Sofia Chabon and Mika Fortuna will spearhead Southwoods-Masters ’ bid for a seventh straight title , while the Gabasa sisters Irina and Junia will lead Cebu CC in their quest to snap SW- Masters ’ stranglehold of this event .
Course familiarity will
Remembering Thrilla in Manila Arrival
boxing writers .
The promoter , likewise , cabled Manila the list of King ’ s celebrity guests . Including comedians Flip Wilson and Dick Gregory , movie veterans Rock Hudson and George Raft ; jazz singer Sonny Bono ; and novelist Norman Mailer .
The first live broadcast of Super Fight III went out loud and clear from Manila also that day . Don King ’ s advance man Hal Conrad also arranged TV syndication service a half-hour documentary aired over 80 US . Cities on the Thrilla , highlighting shots of the Philippine Coliseum , Folk Arts Theater and scenes along Roxas Boulevard .
Pradera third force in PAL Ladies Interclub
come into fore in a layout such as Cebu Country Club , which is tree-lined and will definitely penalize errant shots .
Cebu CC , built in 1928 , has winding fairways and is so tough that is hosted several international pro events , most recently the first three legs of the Aboitiz Invitational .
This year ’ s PAL Ladies Interclub sponsors are Primax Broadcasting Network , Mareco Broadcasting Network , Fox Sports , Asian Air Safari , Travelife Magazine , People Asia , Tourism Promotions Board , Bombardier , PLDT and Mastercard .
Support also comes from The Filipino Channel , Asia Brewery , Alaska Corp . and Philippine National Bank .
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By : Julian Ray Fortaleza
Answers from last week ’ s issue
1 . In the 10th Floyd landed 20 / 28 punches 2 . Pacquiao beat Morales in the rubber match 3 . The Cavs have 1 NBA championship
New Questions
1 . How many punches did Marcos Maidana land against Mayweather in their first fight ? 2 . Who won the 3rd fight between Israel Vasquez and Rafael Marquez ? 3 . How many championships does Robert Horry have ?