Sometimes in the sport of boxing a fighter needs to be perceived a certain way to maximize exposure and marketability for all parties involved. The media, the networks, the promoters and even the fans will only pay attention to certain facts based on how a fighter is sold to them and a lot of things get lost between the cracks and skeletons are shoved into a closet to hopefully never see the light of day again.
Fortunately for all of you, I have plenty of spare time on my hands and because of that here are the five things boxing wants you to forget about Manny Pacquiao.
5. He Was Discovered By Murad Muhammad.
The image of Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to successful boxer/promoter partnerships (or sucker/pusher). The two have worked together almost exclusively for the better part of the last ten years and Pacquiao climbed to his highest peak under the guidance of Arum and Top Rank, but in reality, Arum only did part of the work.
Originally it was Murad Muhammad who had his eye on Pacquiao at the turn of the millennium and brought him to America, even setting Pacquiao up for some of his earliests successes such as winning his first world title all the way up to the wins against Marco Antonio Barrera and the first fight with Erik Morales. The relationship soured between Pacquiao and Muhammad shortly after the Morales fight with Pacquiao taking Muhammadi to court in a move that lead to the door being wide open for the Pacquiao/Arum relationship to begin.
4. Freddie Roach Predicted He?d End Up Broke.
When it comes to Manny Pacquiao, it would be impossible to not bring up Freddie Roach as an integral part of his climb to boxing superstardom. The two are incredibly close and Roach has always had his fighter?s best interests in mind for matters in and out of the ring. Roach is also known to not pull his punches for anybody, and that included Pacquiao when Roach went on the record with Brin Jonathan-Butler saying Pacquiao needed to keep fighting because “He goes through money like you wouldn?t believe. He can?t say no. Of course he?ll have to keep fighting. He does now. He won?t be able to stop ? it?s his life.?
Indeed, Pacquiao?s generousity and spending habits have gotten him in a lot of trouble in the past including a tax scandal that had his assets temporarily frozen and spending millions of dollars on his political aspirations. It?s a shame if it ever comes down to Pacquiao on the rocks bumming for money, especially considering it would have to take maybe six or seven wildfires for him to burn all the cash he made in the last few years of his career.
3. Wapakman!
Manny Pacquiao is a very successful athlete and who has done the impossible and beaten the odds his entire life. He survived extreme poverty to gain extreme wealth, he went from having a fifth grade education to holding a seat in the Filipino senate and went from a no-name fighter to one of the greatest the sport has ever seen. There may seem there is nothing he can?t do, but there is, namely acting.
In 2009 at the peak of his popularity, Pacquiao starred in Wapakman, a movie that was only released in the Philippines that is so hilariously bizarre it is a shame it didn?t make it across the pond to the US. In the film, Pacquiao stars as a more-or-less super hero version of himself where he dresses up in a terrible outfit and has a martial arts sequence with a CGI crab. You can check out the madness here and thank me later.
2. He Nearly Breached His Contract With Top Rank.
In 2006, Pacquiao nearly changed the course of history when he signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy Promotions over a steak dinner and a suitcase full of cash courtesy of the Golden Boy himself, Oscar De La Hoya. The problem was that Pacquiao was still under contract with Top Rank and was only months away from his third fight with Erik Morales and Top Rank was none too happy about Pacquiao?s treachery and immediately sent their legal team to dispute the deal.
Pacquiao remained with Top Rank, but the proposed settlement lead to Top Rank and Golden Boy co-promoting fights in 2007 which in turn lead to Pacquiao?s unprecedented rise in the later half of his career. Had Pacquiao signed with Golden Boy, it is hard to imagine if he?d have the success he experienced in the years that followed without the master planning of Bob Arum and Top Rank.
1. He Has Won Seven World Titles?Not Eight.
Manny Pacquiao is one of a kind and his feats in the ring may not be replicated in our lifetime. His career is legendary and marvelous and was one of the few fighters of this generation to actually make a name of himself outside of the sport. Pacquiao made millions, used his influence to win political office and set numerous records inside the ring with the most notable being that he won titles in seven weight classes.
That?s right?seven, not eight.
It is not a matter of opinion, Pacquiao has officially held titles in only seven weight classes throughout his career and that?s a fact. The misconception comes from his 2009 Junior Welterweight bout with Ricky Hatton where no belt was on the line but Hatton was considered the lineal champion at the time Pacquiao bludgeoned him into a coma. Lineal titles are not official titles and they never have been.
With that logic, Pacquiao should be a nine division champion because he beat the lineal champion at Featherweight when he knocked out Marco Antonio Barrera. It is an amazing feat nonetheless and one that will not be replicated for some time and winning titles in eight divisions rolls off of your tongue better than seven does, but facts are facts.
