Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol – Filipino pride and boxing’s finest Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) has never shunned the top possible opponents available. His record speaks for itself. He fought and defeated the best, impressively and convincingly. Pacquiao’s ring exploits are hard to match, much less surpass. He was the lineal champion in four different weight divisions, namely; at flyweight, featherweight, super featherweight, and light welterweight, a feat rarely seen in boxing, Pacman is also one of only two fighters who has ever won six world championships in as many weight categories. He shares this distinction with “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, whom he demolished in eight rounds of total beat-down. If Pacquiao goes on to beat Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico this November, he puts himself on top of the boxing world, not just of this generation, but probably of all time, as he gets his unprecedented seventh world championship in as many weight divisions.
Pacquiao fought legends, future hall-of-famers at that, and beat them. He made Oscar De La Hoya quit on his stool and almost killed Ricky Hatton within two pulsating rounds. When Pacquiao demolished Erik “El Terrible” Morales, another shoe-in for Canastota, many boxing scholars considered it as his greatest achievement so far in his then already illustrious career. Others said that it was his victory against the “Baby-Faced Assassin,” while some others believed that it was his draw and victory against Marquez, a fighter whom both Morales and Barrera have successfully avoided during their primes (although Barrera eventually locked horns with Marquez).
Pacquiao, often referred to as the “Storm Across the Pacific”, is vastly famous not just in the Philippine islands, but in various parts of the globe as well. NBA stars and Hollywood celebrities watch his fights – some even dig at any opportunity to just watch him train. As the great HBO Godfather Larry Merchant would suggest, he is Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, and Bruce Lee, all rolled into one. His enormous fame accorded him numerous commercial endorsements unparalleled in the history of the Philippines. He also plays basketball and billiards, and records albums. One of his favorite pastimes is “sabong,” the local term for cockfighting. As a matter of fact, he owns a farm of fighting cocks, many acres in size.
It’s difficult to assess which among this long list of accomplishments deserves to be considered as his greatest achievement. Undoubtedly, Pacquiao has achieved so much, and maybe he’s still bound to add more achievements to that list. How about you? What do you think is his greatest achievement, thus far?
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