Philippines, 18 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The Legend of Manny Pacquiao


PhilBoxing.com




KUALA LUMPUR ? Only one fighter in history has won world championships in eight weight classes ? Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino great did the remarkable feat starting as a 106-pound campaigner, won his first title at 112 pounds going up to emerge triumphant at 154 pounds.

On Sunday, the Filipino ring legend climbs the ring anew aiming to recapture the world welterweight championship he first won in 2009, defended thrice, lost twice, regained as many times only to lose it again last year.

Standing on his way is current Argentine World Boxing Association titlist Lucas Matthysse, a powerful puncher who is four years younger than him and, likewise, is considered past his prime.

At 39 and in his 23rd year as a prizefighter, the father of five with wife Jinkee, a former fashion model and Sarangani Vice Governor, Pacquiao has achieved other fighters before him had and will never be attained in the near future ? winning world titles in eight weight divisions.

That?s besides crowning himself, too, the first man to win lineal championship in five different weight classes and win a major world title in four of the original title eight categories, also known as the ?glamor? divisions ? flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.

In so doing, the Pambansang Kamao jumped 48 pounds from where he began, ruling the flyweight (112 pounds), super-bantamweight (122), featherweight (126), super-featherweight (130), lightweight (135), junior-welterweight (140), welterweight (147) and super-welterweight (154).

The Pacman would have actually won title in 10 of the sweet science?s 17 weight classes had he campaigned, too, in the bantamweight and junior-bantamweight. He skipped both and won his second world plum a junior-featherweight after ruling the flyweight class.

Three years following his debut in 1995, Pacquiao wrested the WBC flyweight crown from Thai Chatchai Sasakul via an eighth round KO on December 14, 1998. He followed this up by also stopping South African Lehlo Ledwaba in six on June 23, 2001 for the IBF super-bantamweight title.

Then came Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, who, he, too, TKOed in 11 rounds to claim the RING featherweight throne on November 15, 2003. He met arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez for the second of their four meetings on Mafch 15, 2008 for the WBC super-featherweight championship

Three more short route triumphs followed ? over David Diaz (WBC lightweight in TKO in 9 rounds), Ricky Hatton (IBO junior-welterweight KO in 2 rounds) and Miguel Cotto (WBO welterweight KO in 12) followed before Pacquiao nearly ended Antonio Margarito?s career with a 12-round unanimous decision victory.

In winning the super-bantamweight title, Pacquiao stepped in the ring as a late replacement on two weeks? notice but won the fight by TKO for his second major world title. Held at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, it was his first fight in the United States as well as his first under the tutelage of new trainer Freddie Roach.

He became the first Filipino to be crowned three division world champ after beating Barrera via TKO in the seventh. A week after returning home, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred him the Presidential Medal of Merit at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanan Palace.

The following day Pacquiao became the first Filipino sportsman to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Achievements.

In crowning himself the WBC lightweight titlist, Pacquiao became the first Filipino and Asian to became five-division champion and the first Filipino fighter to ever win a world title in the 135-pound division.

Following his demolition of Oscar DeLa Hoya in a non-title welterweight clash, Pacquiao dropped down in weight to challenge lineal junior-welterweight champion Hatton. He was at his devastating best, scoring the most awesome knockout of his career, a one-shot blow that left his rival out cold in the center of the ring. It was voted knockout of the year 2009.

Cotto was Pacquiao?s first title fight as a welterweight and proved to be his most impressive performance of his entire career. He dropped Cotto in the third and fourth rounds, busted him up, walked him down before stopping him in a tremendous fight viewed as the apex of Pacquiao?s career.

In the history-making battle with Margarito, Pacquiao was outweighed by 17 pounds but still dealt the enemy with savage beating. The encounter should?ve been stopped in middle rounds as Pacquiao inflicting Margarito career-altering eye injury and breaking his orbital bone. He took though heavy shots leading many to believe his best days as a fighter were over.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.