Several days after setting foot in Manila, President Marcos and his First Lady, Imelda, invited Muhammad Ali and Jose Frazier to a dinner in Malacañang with the Chief Executive himself acting as “referee” in a battle of words between the duo, which turned out to be a prelude to what will happen when they eventually squared off atop the ring on October 1 at the Philippine Coliseum.

The President was still presiding over a meeting with a group from Mindanao at the study room when the “Smokin” Joe, with his entourage in tow, arrived past 10 in the morning.