Philippines, 27 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Like Manny Pacquiao, rising rap super-star Ez Mil is fueled by fierce Filipino pride


PhilBoxing.com




Like almost everything else in life, the boxing world came to a virtual standstill in 2020 as Covid-19 ravaged its way across the globe. With many industries grounded to a halt, a fascinating phenomenon emerged on YouTube in the form of young Filipino rapper Ez Mil. Short for Ezekiel Miller, the 22-year old product of Olongapo, Philippines sky-rocketed to viral fame on the heels of his smash hit performance of his song “Panalo”, belted out live on California’s Wish Bus. An anthem for Filipinos around the globe to unite with pride, the song has amassed north of 60 Million views on YouTube and was recently re-mixed in tribute to boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.



Within hours of its being posted on Wednesday, it caught the eye of Senator Pacquiao himself, who shared the video on his social media platforms saying:

“I love the Philippines and my countrymen. We may have different opinions on how to do things, but in the end, we all want the same thing, and that is FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COUNTRY. #PilipinasKongMahal #EzMil”

Much like Pacquiao, Ez Mil is small and slight upon first viewing… but do not let that fool you. His passionate delivery and complex rhyme-schemes have drawn lofty comparisons to rap legend Eminem. If that weren’t enough, it also turns out he has an equally stunning ability to sing which has drawn comparisons to superstars like Drake and Chris Brown. Oh, and no big deal, he just also happens to play guitar, bass, and drums… can dance like the Jabbawockeez, could sing as a front-man for a rock or death metal band, makes and produces all his own music and edits and directs all his own videos.

A fascinating online sub-culture of YouTube “reactors” is in absolute awe of the young artist and have made him one of the top viewed and searched-for rappers on the world’s largest video platform. His quick ascension to global fame saw him recently ink a deal with one of the world’s largest entertainment brokers Virgin Music Artist & Label Services | UMG. His wide array of talents is reminiscent of actor / singer / rapper / virtuoso Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) in that every time you see him, he is absolutely excelling at something completely different while making it look effortless.

This was all kicked off with the aforementioned “Panalo” track, which is Filipino for “Win” or “Victory”.

In 2006 I met and interviewed Manny Pacquiao for the first time at the now famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. It was right around the time Pacquiao had released an album of his own headlined by a track called “Para sa 'Yo”. I knew a little bit about it going in but wanted to quiz him on it.

“Para sa 'Yo ang Laban na Ito,” I said awkwardly, trying my best to not butcher his native tongue of Tagalog as a Caucasian Canadian boxing scribe.

“Yea, that’s my song,” he said very matter-of-factly.

“What does that mean?” I asked sincerely.

“It’s for my countrymen,” he said with a serious look in his eye. “It means ‘I fight for you’.”

While this sounds simple enough, in the following years where I followed him and his historic career closely, it would become a mantra.

For the next fifteen years I spent many a night in Las Vegas watching him soar to new heights in the boxing ring from press row… and with each and every fight the message was the same.

“It’s my job,” he would explain. “My job is to fight for my country to make the people happy.”

They say with great power comes great responsibility… and Pacquiao emulated this in his rise to global stardom and in his assault on the boxing history books.

With each fight the audience grew bigger until within a few years it became clear he was carrying an entire nation on his back. The Philippines would grind to a halt when Manny fought with entire families glued to their television sets.

This diminutive boxer, year after year continued moving up in weight classes to take on seemingly impossible challenges… all out of an incumbent sense of national duty. The spoils are often gifted out to extended family and countrymen alike as he uses money from fight purses to buy homes for the needy and build infrastructure in his home country.

I remember one conversation with a Filipino politician who happened to be in Las Vegas when it was announced Pacquiao would be moving up north of 140-pounds (an unheard-of feat for a man who started at 108-pounds) to face Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

“How?” I asked. “Why? Is this real? Are they serious?” (Like many at the time, I was stunned and in disbelief).

“Yes,” the gentleman answered. “It’s his spirit. He has the warrior spirit of Philippines.”

He told me this as though it was a known, factual entity.

It’s something Ez Mil tapped into in ‘Panalo’ with a chorus that is a call to arms for Filipinos around the world to unite:

We are Filipino

No matter the skin color

We are one at heart

Whether Tagalog, Visayan, or Ilocano [No matter what dialogue you speak]

Nothing can defeat the ferocity of our blood

Shout our wins out loud

Stop talking about the negatives

Wherever you are in the world… this is our future: WIN [PANALO]


With his passion and fierce national pride, it is easy to see why the young rapper caught the eye of the boxing superstar and Filipino Senator.

Could we see the ring legend walk out to the victory anthem in his next fight set for Aug. 21 against undefeated American Errol Spence Jr. (in Ez Mil’s transplanted home-town of Las Vegas, Nevada)?

We don’t know at this point, but it would be a great fit.

Pacquiao is once again taking on a seemingly impossible challenge of fighting one of the world’s best fighters in Spence who is younger, bigger and in his prime (while the boxing senator is a mature 42 years young, past his best and several years removed from fighting).

While another historic win for Pacquiao is far from assured… the underlaying and steadfast sense of duty to national pride makes victory [Panalo] in the broader sense - guaranteed.

Ace Freeman is an accomplished boxing writer and journalist who has been covering the sport for over fifteen years. He is currently writing a book about his time following Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather and can be reached at dantzu@yahoo.com


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ace Freeman.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Guro Dan Inosanto: Guardian of the Filipino Fighting Spirit
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Christian Mbilili vs. Maciej Sulecki
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Unbeaten Philippines Top Prospect Criztian Pitt Laurente Signs with Sanman Boxing
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS PROMISING AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT SARDIUS SIMMONS
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Madoka Wada Halts Chay Rivas in Tokyo, Retains OPBF Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Grand Prix a Grand Concept
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • PHOTOS: Pacquiao Showcases Vintage Form During Media Day Workout at Wildcard Gym
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Christian Mbilli & Maciej Sulecki Collide for Interim Super Middleweight World Title FRIDAY in Quebec City
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Rivas vs Wada: Battle for Women’s OPBF Supremacy Today in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Mexican boxing icon Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Respects Cuban fighters & rivalry
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Claressa Shields Partners with King Moore to Empower Detroit Youth with the “Follow Your Dreams” Program Presented by SMT Financial Partners
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Saturday’s title defense vs. Yuniel Dorticos could be prelude to mega-fight for Gilberto Ramirez against Jake Paul or Unification showdown with Jay Opetaia or Badou Jack
    , Wed, 25 Jun 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 June 2025: Norman Flattens Sasaki; Simsri Edges Araneta; Rodriguez Outpoints Yafai
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • FM Daluz rules 7th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Ancajas awaits call to join card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Macado fights Dulayba in Venue 88
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • “Showtime” Shea Willcox & Rich Allen turned in KO Performances
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Marco Romero To be showcased on Deontay Wilder PPV card this Friday night in Wichita
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Toro Promotions. Inc. to promote its First International pro boxing show in El Salvador on September 20th
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Oklahoma Completes Dream Season; Whips Indiana in Game 7, 103-91 for First NBA Title in Thunder Era
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Japanese Boxer Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss Following Brutal Knockout in WBO Title Fight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Becomes WBF Asia Champion at Age 50
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Ador Torres, Renato Cha, Lemuel De Barbo and Ivan Ognayon Score KO Wins in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes with Junior, Youth and Elite Championships
    , Mon, 23 Jun 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.