MANILA, Philippines – It was Manny Pacquiao?s big break on American soil. And it almost didn?t happen.
The Filipino boxer, then 22 years old, had been looking to take his career stateside. He had held the WBC flyweight title for less than a year before losing it on the scales and being stopped in three rounds by Medgoen Singsurat.
He rose up three divisions to junior featherweight afterwards, but with few quality 122 pounders in Asia, Pacquiao set his sights abroad.
He was in the right place at the right time when his phone rang in June of 2001. IBF junior featherweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba needed a new opponent for his title defense on the undercard of Javier Castillejo vs Oscar de la Hoya pay-per-view event after Enrique Sanchez injured his hand in training.
Accepting the fight, however short notice it was, would prove to be one of the best decisions of Pacquiao?s career. He stopped Ledwaba in six rounds, launching Pacquiao?s career in America.
