Philippines, 03 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao celebrates 24th year as prizefighter


PhilBoxing.com





LAS VEGAS: On Tuesday, January 22 (Manila time) marks the exact 24th anniversary of Manny Pacquiao?s professional boxing career.

It was on that day in 1995 when a skinny 17-year-old boy from General Santos City in far away Mindanao, who only weighed 98 pounds, seven pounds under the required 105-pound to fight as a light-flyweight, that he had to put coins in his underwear to make the weight.

Of course no one knew at that time in Occidental Mindoro that the boy, who was introduced to fight a certain Enting Ignacio, whom he beat by points, in a four-round curtain-raiser would someday become the toast of the boxing world as the only man in the history of sweet science to win championships in eight weight divisions.

Meaning in all those 24 years of swapping punches against who crossed his path, the Pride of the Philippines has scaled a total 47 pounds to reach the 154-pound super-welterweight (junior middleweight) category.

On Saturday (La Vegas time), Pacquiao is defending his World Boxing Association welterweight belt against title pretender Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand Arena and at age 40 will try to emulate similarly ring legends George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins, among others, whose greatness were measured not only by their accomplishment in their prime, but, likewise late in their career.

Foreman, it can be remembered, regained the heavyweight title in 1994 at age 45, as he established a remarkable new milestone. It lasted until 2013, when Hopkins upped the ante by annexing a piece of the light heavyweight title at 48.

Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) last fought in July 2018, when he TKOed then defending titlist Lucas Matthysse in Malaysia that earned him the WBA version of the 147-pound division.

The fighting senator is set out to prove he has much gas left in the tank and keeping the title will certainly make that point clear.

The controversial Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) will attempt to earn his first victory since January 2017 when he lost by unanimous decision to Mikey Garcia, can somehow upset Pacquiao. Broner battled Jessie Vargas to a majority draw last April.

​ Broner is a counterpuncher, and the Filipino great has had problems with counterpunchers like Floyd Mayweather Jr., who outclassed him and Juan Manuel Marquez.

The trash-talking American challenger though doesn?t have the skills of Mayweather or the timing of Marquez to catch Pacquiao on the way in, so no advantage, training consultant Freddie Roach said.

Besides, Broner looks struggling with volume punchers like the Filipino who?s fast with combinations, especially at 147 pounds class, according to Pacquiao?s conditioning coach Justin Fortune.

Broner doesn?t hit back with more than one punch,? Fortune said of the challenger?s capability to respond to quick-punching opponents.

?One thing?s sure though is Broner?s got a great chin, but Manny ?got an answer to that,? Fortune said, adding a decision would be easy for Manny. An KO is not that remote, too.?


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
    , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • TKO and Zuffa Boxing sign streaming agreement with Paramount
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Boxing Ephemera, Pacquiao’s Mouthguard, and the Meaning of It All
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • A turning point for global sport: IBA President Umar Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr join forces
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Rosia captures PBF super fly title
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Tancontians starred 2025 Sports Heroes Night
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” guest list
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 28 Sep 2025
  • Why Do So Many Boxers Play eGames?
    , Sun, 28 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.