Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight champion of all-time, will be remembered in a one hour tribute on Viva Sports presentation of the top rating weekly boxing show ?The Main Event? on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on Pinoy Box Office (PBO) over Sky Cable, nationwide.
It will be the first in a four part series which will include highlights of the ?Thrilla in Manila, the training of both boxers at the Folk Arts Theater and much more.
"The Main Event" will be replayed at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
As the appointed Liaison Officer of Ali we traveled to Kuala Lumpur for the heavyweight title defense against British heavyweight champion Joe Bugner and spent ten days with Ali in Kuala Kumpur, then flew to Honolulu to accompany Ali and his entourage to Manila for ?The Thrilla in Manila? and spent hours with him as he jogged early morning, worked out at the Folk Arts Theater in the afternoons and often sat and chatted with him about his position on civil rights, the Vietnam war and issues that he confronted in his lifetime.
The special will includes footage of his arrival, his workouts and the courtesy call on President Marcos and the First Lady Mrs. Imelda Marcos at Malacanang where Marcos briefly explained why he brought the fight to Manila.
Then Games and Amusements Board chairman Louie Tabuena spoke about the negotiations to bring the ?Thrilla in Manila? to Manila.
It?s a tribute full of memories of the legendary figure who towered above the rest both as a skilled fighter and a man who cared deeply for the disadvantage and the dispossessed.
It's an enthralling reflection of the life and times of Ali.
Muhammad Ali (R) with the author during the runup of the Ali-Frazier Thrilla in Manila on Oct. 1, 1975.
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