Melvin Jerusalem vs. Siyakholwa Kuse, billed as Thrilla in Manila: 50th Anniversary and IBA Pro 11, was a professional boxing event held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines on 29 October 2025. It was promoted as commemorating the 50th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, held at the same venue on 1 October 1975.
The main event saw Filipino boxer Melvin Jerusalem defeat South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse by unanimous decision to retain his WBC mini flyweight championship. On the undercard, Ali's grandson Nico Ali Walsh fought Thai boxer Kittisak Klinson to a draw, 2025 SEA Games gold medalist Eumir Marcial defeated 11-0 Eddy Colmenares, and Filipino bantamweight Carl Jammes Martin extended his unbeaten streak to 27–0 by beating Aran Dipaen. As part of the IBA Pro circuit, interim WBA bridgeweight champion Georgiy Yunovidov lost his title to Chris Thompson, while Vadim Tukov defeated Sena Agbeko.
Background
The event was announced in December 2024 as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila" at Araneta Coliseum in 1975, the third and final match of the trilogy between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The event would be promoted via Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions and the International Boxing Association (IBA), and provisionally scheduled for 4 October 2025.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons suggested that depending on the results of matches leading up to it, the card could feature as many as three title matches involving Filipino boxers, such as mini flyweight Melvin Jerusalem and superfeatherweight Mark Magsayo. Invites were extended to dignitaries associated with the original fight and Ali, including promoters Bob Arum and Don King, referee Carlos Padilla Jr., Larry Holmes (who defeated Ali in 1980), Ali's daughter Laila, and Frazier's daughter Jacqui Frazier-Lyde. Muhammad Ali's son Nico Ali Walsh was slated to face Thai boxer Kittisak Klinson, Walsh stated in a press conference that "fighting in Manila, where my grandfather made history, is a dream come true."
Originally, the co-main event was to be a WBC super-featherweight title eliminator between former WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo and reigning WBC Silver super-featherweight champion Michael Magnesi. In late-August 2025, it was reported that the bout had been dropped from the card and was likely to be contested at a Premier Boxing Champions event instead. The match was later considered for the undercard of Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia in February 2026, but dropped after the match became promoted by The Ring instead of PBC, and Magsayo began to push towards challenging the lightweight division instead.
Reception Tagline named as (Thrilla in Manila 2) received different reviews from both of the boxing fans and critics in the Philippines. In particular veteran writer Ding Marcelo of SPIN.ph express his opinion about the idea Just the thought that somebody had the gall to call a coming fight "Thrilla in Manila" is an insult as it dishonors the memory of that classic encounter between Ali and Fraizer in 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum. Pacquiao should be the last person to invoke the names of Ali and Frazier for a card headlined by Melvin Jerusalem, who is staking his World Boxing Council mini-flyweight crown against a still unnamed opponent. But if Pacquiao is short of a marketing tagline for a card headlined by a guy named Jerusalem, I have a suggestion. How about: “A Trip to Jerusalem.” While MP Promotions liaison officer/representative Mark Lontayao & sport analyst Pow Salud opposed to the said writer. The "Thrilla in Manila"- The 50th anniversary is an insult? Absolutely not. At worst, one could say it's "not enough" to match the original. But to call it an insult is unfair as fans will witness an affordable ticket for the event featuring a world title defense by Melvin Jerusalem and a stacked card showcasing the brightest young Filipino stars. Pacquiao's Blow by Blow has consistently staged events with selling afordable tickets, making this tribute a genuine gift to boxing fans – not a cash grab, not a marketing ploy.
Jerusalem's longtime trainer and former boxer Michael Domingo quickly defended his boxer after learning of the columnist's remarks. — "Why would he say that? Melvin is a world champion who has brought honor to the Philippines. This will be his third title defense. We only have two world champions in the country right now. We should be supporting our world champions, so they’ll be more inspired. But that’s his opinion. As for us, we’ll just stay focused on the fight" Domingo said.
IBA.Pro 11 Boxing Tournament
Russian boxer Georgiy Yunovidov is set to challenge Chris Thompson of South Africa for the IBA.PRO Intercontinental in the heavyweight title. The ten-round fight have taken place on October 29 in the Philippines as part of the IBA.PRO 11 tournament and will be dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the legendary show "Thriller in Manila". The organizers of the upcoming evening in the Philippines will be the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the famous boxer Manny Pacquiao. Initially, Yunovidov's opponent was supposed to be American John Cantrell, but the boxer is unable to perform due to medical reasons. In connection with the replacement of the opponent, the status of the fight has also changed – the title of the IBA.PRO Intercontinental, and not the full belt of the IBA.PRO, will be at stake. In addition, as part of the IBA.PRO 11 event, WBA Gold champion Vadim Tukov will be facing American boxer of Ghanaian origin Sena Agbeko in a ten-round fight for the Intercontinental middleweight belt IBA.PRO. Agbeko is known for his fights against Osleys Iglesias, Vladimir Shishkin and David Morrell.
Event personnel Broadcast team Role NameCommentatorQuinito HensonAnthony SuntayAndy ClarkeRing announcerTed LernerBobby ModejarTimekeeperKim DanganRomulo Santiago Official PhotographerWendell AlineaJay Otamias Ringside PhysiciansDr. Clark Joel FernandezDr. Noel Nathaniel Napa Source:
Officials Referees and Judges: Danilo lopez Eduardo Noblesa Elmo Coloma Nowel Haduca Sammy Bernabe Elmer Costillas Vergilio Garcia Gregorio Ortega Arnie Najera Jojo Llanera Silvestre Abainza Jerrold Tomeldan Samantha Bulner Zanashir Taznaa Jun Bae Lim Nobuto Ikehara Cesar Castañon
Broadcasting Country Broadcaster Official social media partner (host) PTV SportsBlow by BlowABS-CBN SportsCignal TVOne SportsPilipinas Live (delayed broadcast event) Powcast Sports IBA Pro Boxing (YouTube) SupersportConnect-ime DAZN (Streaming media)
Undercards Fights Summaries
Match No.1 (Eman Bacosa vs Nico Salado) Start of the opening bout in a six-round match the son of the legendary Manny Pacquiao, unbeaten Eman Bacosa entered as the naturally the bigger guy of the two, pressing the action at the opening round using his size and reach advantage to outworked Nico Salado. While on the second round Salado retaliates pressuring with his own flurry of power punches closing the distance forcing Bacosa into a defensive state. Round four Bacosa was able to find his rhythm using his jabs hitting Salado several times setting up for a strong combination to Salado's head earning Bacosa a knockdown. Through the final round Salado pursuing to be the aggressor but was still outworked by Bacosa's combination and was able to hurt Salado until the final bell ending the match both showing respect and honor to one another. All three judges scored (Danilo lopez 58–55, Eduardo Noblesa 60–53, Elmo Coloma 58–55) in favor to Bacosa as the winner via unanimous decision.
Match No.2 (Albert Francisco vs Ramel Macado Jr.) Albert Francisco faced Ramel "the sharp" Macado Jr. in an eight-round professional boxing match for the vacant WBC International Silver Flyweight championship. As both boxers put up an entertaining exchanges from the start to finish, Macado had the lead on the early rounds but Francisco came back winning the latter rounds the bout ended in via Majority Draw as judges (Samantha Bulner and Silvestre Abainza both scored a draw of 76-76, while Jerol Tomeldan had it 77-75 for Francisco).
Match No.3 (Ronerick Ballesteros vs Speedy Boy Acope) In an eight-round bout Ballesteros put on a dominant performance in a decisive stoppage defeating Acope via TKO as referee Sammy Bernabe stopped the fight in the 0:50 of the fifth round, claiming the vacant Philippine Youth lightweight title. Acope known for his speed fought hard but couldn't overcome Ballesteros power. With this victory Ballesteros improved his unbeaten record to 6 wins and 4 KO's, while Acope suffers the second defeat of his career.
Match No.4 (Arvin Magramo vs Berland Robles) Defending WBC International light flyweight champion Arvin Magrmo defeated Robles via ten round split decision in a tough, action-packed fight where Magramo's relentless pressure and volume punching, especially after a strong start, ultimately won in a close contest, though Robles showed resilience and came back but got a one-point deduction from referee Nobuto Ikehara for excessive holding on the tenth-round that would have tip the scale on the champion's favor leading to a narrow win. As Judges: Zanashir Taznaa 96-93 and Jojo Llanera 95-94 for Magramo, only judge Arnie Najera 95-94 for Robles earning his first career defeat.
Match No.5 (Marlon Tapales vs Fernando Toro) Former 2-Division and Unified super-bantamweight world champion "The Nightmare" Marlon Tapales proved above tough Venezuelan underdog Fernando Toro in their ten-round contest. Tapales showed his superior technical ability and experience in an entertaining yet one-sided match up landing heavy combinations to the body followed by a strong blow to the head putting his opponent on his knees. Referee Nowel Haduca counted out Toro earning Tapales a six-round emphatic knockout victory.
Match No.6 (Vadim Tukov vs Sena Agbeko) Russian Unbeaten super-middleweight prospect Vadim Tukov outpointed American Sena Agbeko on their eight-round bout in the IBA.Pro contest. As both men landed heavy punches from the opening round but it was the cleaner shots of Tukov (16–0, 9 KOs, 2-0 IBA Pro) that secured and favored him a unanimous decision victory on the judges: (Vergilio Garcia 78–74, Elmo Coloma 78–74, Gregorio Ortega 79–73) scorecards against the tough Agbeko (29–4, 23 KOs, 0-1 IBA Pro) becoming the new IBA.Pro Intercontinental middleweight champion.
Match No.7 (Nico Ali-Walsh vs Kittisak Klinson) Nico Ali Walsh (11–2–1, 5 KOs), grandson of legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali—who fought at the same arena against Joe Frazier 50 years ago—faced Thai fighter Kittisak Klinson (10–2–1, 6 KOs) in a competitive eight-round middleweight bout. Klinson started strongly, pressuring Ali Walsh back to the ropes and landing heavy punches. Amid the cheering crowd chanting “Ali, Ali, Ali,” Walsh showcased flashes of his grandfather's showmanship, even performing the famous “Ali shuffle,” much to the audience's delight. Despite a strong finish from Ali Walsh, the fight ended in a majority draw, with judges scoring it as Nowel Haduca 76-76, Vergilio Garcia 77-75 for Klinson, and Eduardo Noblesa 76-76.
Nico Ali-Walsh stated after the match ~ "First off I want to thank God for this opportunity," following the conclusion of the bout. "Thank you to everyone for coming out. The Filipino fans are amazing. Thank you to my Opponent, to Umar Kremlev, Manny Pacquiao, Mr. President Bong-Bong Marcos for the opportunity. Of course i wanna thank my family, my parents and coaches."