![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/head.logo.768w.jpg\"\/){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nGibbons\u2019 \u2018Thrilla\u2019 regrets<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
Gibbons\u2019 \u2018Thrilla\u2019 regrets<\/p>\n
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Nov 2025<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/marcial-colmenares.post-fight.330w.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons was over the moon in heralding the recent success of the \u201cThrilla In Manila\u201d 50th anniversary celebration that was spearheaded by Manny Pacquiao. But he had three regrets. Gibbons said it would\u2019ve been a dream come true if President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. witnessed Eumir Marcial\u2019s valiant win over Eddy Colmenares, if Mark Magsayo fought Italy\u2019s Michael Magnesi in a co-main event and if \u201cThrilla\u201d referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla was able to attend the festivities. Otherwise, it was a perfect setting although Gibbons said delays were a pain as the Smart Araneta Coliseum extravaganza started late and ended past midnight. But there were unexpected glitches that caused the time lags, including repairing the ring\u2019s steel turnbuckles that morning and synching broadcast feeds, both local and international. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe President made time in his schedule to come to Araneta as he wanted to watch Nico (Ali Walsh) and Eumir,\u201d said Gibbons. \u201cThe delays pushed back the sequence of fights and we had to ask if we could hold up Georgiy Yunovidov\u2019s bout. At first, the Russians wouldn\u2019t agree but finally, they did. But it took away time from the President\u2019s schedule to stay after Nico\u2019s match so he missed Eumir.\u201d <\/p>\n
Marcial\u2019s win by majority decision was the card\u2019s best version of a \u201cThrilla\u201d reprise. He survived two trips to the canvas, one in the third round and another in the 10th, to preserve his unbeaten record. Two judges, Jun Bae Lim and Arnie Najera, had it 95-93 while Jerrold Tomeldan saw it even, 94-all. The three judges scored it 10-8 in the 10th but a 10-9 would\u2019ve been justified since Marcial dominated until the last few seconds when he was dropped. It would\u2019ve been a unanimous verdict if the score in the 10th was 10-9. Marcial battled like a proud warrior and wouldn\u2019t accept defeat before his countrymen. <\/p>\n
Gibbons said it would\u2019ve been a treat if Magsayo faced Magnesi in a WBC superfeatherweight title eliminator in a co-main event with Melvin Jerusalem\u2019s WBC minimumweight championship defense against Siyakholwa Kuse. However, it would\u2019ve entailed a big bump in the budget to bring Magnesi over. <\/p>\n
Finally, Gibbons said he missed Padilla\u2019s presence. Padilla, who lives in Las Vegas, was two hours away from leaving for the airport to board a flight to Manila when he fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. The fear was Padilla had suffered a stroke or heart attack but he was later cleared to go home. On the hospital bed, he videoed a message of thanks to Pacquiao and the \u201cThrilla\u201d anniversary organizers, shown on a big screen during the Gala Dinner where his granddaughter Karylle spoke and accepted a trophy of recognition in his behalf. Karylle sang the National Anthem before the Jerusalem-Kuse fight on the \u201cThrilla\u201d card and the next day, flew to Las Vegas to present the trophy to Padilla. <\/p>\n
Photo: MP Promotions’ Sean Gibbons (extreme left) and Manny Pacquiao (2nd from left) pose with fighters Eddy Colmenares (3rd from left) and Eumir Marcial (4th from left) who gave the audience the best fight of the night. <\/p>\n
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson<\/a>.<\/p>\n Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:UNDEFEATED KNOCKOUT MONSTER VERGIL ORTIZ JR. DESTROYS ERICKSON LUBIN IN SECOND-ROUND<\/a>
Sun, 09 Nov 2025Manny Pacquiao Arrives in LA to Oversee Son Jimuel’s Highly Anticipated Pro Debut<\/a>
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Robert Racasa Shines for the Philippines on First Day of World Memory Championships<\/a>
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 09 Nov 2025P20k for 42k winners in 3rd SDSPPO<\/a>
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Weights Set for Tomorrow\u2019s Sanman Boxing Show in General Santos City<\/a>
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz vs. Erickson Lubin: Can Lubin Tip the Ortiz\/Ennis Apple Cart? <\/a>
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Gibbons\u2019 \u2018Thrilla\u2019 regrets<\/a>
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin Set for Explosive Showdown in Fort Worth<\/a>
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Ring Officials Announced for Michael Hunter Vs Eli Frankham – York Hall, 5th December<\/a>
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaim\u00e1n: The Baseball in the Sulaim\u00e1n Family<\/a>
By Mauricio Sulaim\u00e1n, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Shields signs $8 million multi year contract with Salita Promotions<\/a>
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 08 Nov 2025A TIBUTE TO VICTOR CONTE<\/a>
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Lhuillier Lauds RP Blu Boys\u2019 Triumph in Japan Tilt<\/a>
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 08 Nov 2025FIDE Rated Chess Tournament Pasig Police Board Patrol Checkpoint Challenge <\/a>
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 08 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO VS. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. ONCE AGAIN<\/a>
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 07 Nov 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gibbons\u2019 \u2018Thrilla\u2019 regrets
Gibbons\u2019 \u2018Thrilla\u2019 regrets By Joaquin HensonPhilBoxing.comSat, 08 Nov 2025 MP Promotions president…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":232134,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[2560,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-253120","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-boxing","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/232134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}