A PacMan of Power Punches and Perseverance

by Smart Sports Staff

Bearing his typical Filipino height of five feet and six and a half inches, who would have imagined Manny Pacquiao being looked up upon, admired, and highly regarded as one of the world’s bests?

Maybe no one, but he sure has already made a mark – one that is forever etched. For starters, “Pacman” is currently the WBC World Lightweight Champion. He was likewise a former WBC World Super Featherweight Champion, IBF World Super Bantamweight Champion, and WBC World Flyweight Champion. He was the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight divisions. He recently took over as the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound number-one ranked boxer in the world on June 9, 2008, as well, after Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced his retirement from boxing. All these accomplishments, however, did not happen overnight. It took him years, not to mention buckets of blood and sweat, to reach his current stature.

His professional debut was a four-round bout against Edmund Enting Ignacio in 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision. His big break came in 2001, against IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. The "People's Champ" stepped into the fight as a late replacement and won the fight by technical knockout to become the IBF Super Bantamweight champion on a bout held at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. He defended this title four times and fought to a sixth-round draw against Agapito Sanchez in a bout that was stopped early after Pacquiao received a headbutt.

The Bukidnon-born boxer’s further rise to international prominence began after his career-defining fights with Mexican boxing idols, hence his moniker “The Mexicutioner.” Pacquiao, moving up in weight and in his first fight ever in the featherweight division, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via a TKO in the 11th round at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Although this fight was not recognized as a title fight by any sanctioning bodies, Pacquiao was recognized as world champion by Ring Magazine after his victory, and he held that title until relinquishing it in 2005.

Only six months removed from his win over Barrera, Pacquiao went on to challenge another respected Mexican counterpuncher, Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez, then holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight titles. The fight held at the MGM Grand ended in a controversial draw after he knocked down Marquez three times in the first round but lost most of the latter rounds. One of the judges later admitted to making an error in the scorecards because he scored the first round as "10-7" in favor of Pacquiao instead of the standard "10-6" for a three-knockdown round.

Once again moved up another division from 126 to 130 lbs to fight another Mexican legend, three-time division champion Erik Morales on March 19, 2005, at the MGM Grand. However, this time around, at his first fight in the superfeatherweight division, Pacquiao lost the 12-round match by a unanimous decision from the judges.

The “Pambansang Kamao” defeated Morales via a 10th-round TKO in a much-anticipated rematch on January 22, 2006 in Las Vegas at Thomas and Mack Center. Pacquiao and Morales fought for a third time (with the series tied 1-all) on November 18, 2006. Witnessed by a near-record crowd of 18,276, the match saw Pacquiao defeating Morales via a third-round knockout.

As if these bouts weren’t enough, Pacquiao is now preparing for his “dream match” with American boxing superstar Oscar dela Hoya. The clash will be a 12-round, non-title fight contested at the 147-pound welterweight limit. "Manny Pacquiao is considered the best fighter in boxing today and I always want to fight the best," comments De La Hoya. "I am glad we were able to make this fight happen because while Pacquiao is at the pinnacle of his success and has defeated all of the top fighters he has faced, I am going to show the world that it stops with me. December 6 can't get here soon enough."

With a boxing record of 47 wins (35 by KO), 3 losses, and 2 draws to boot, Manny Pacquiao has indisputably become an international sports legend and a major highlight in the Pinoy sports chronicle. Too bad for his successors, they have some very large shoes (and gloves) to fill.