There is no doubt that Philippine Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today. The fearless, quick-fisted, hard punching featherweight who always seems to be wearing a smile has captured much of the imagination of the boxing public with tremendous talent in the ring and a vivacious personality to go along with it. We are thrilled to have Manny as our guest this week on ?In This Corner?
Like one out of every three Filipinos, Manny Pacquiao was raised in extreme poverty. Boxing would be a way for Manny to help pull himself and his family out of this impoverished state. Manny?s meteoric rise to a world championship at age 19 and his winning a second title less than 3 years later made him the stuff of legends in the Philippines. A victory over another legend, Marco Antonio Barrera, in November 2003 would make him a superstar around the boxing world.
Many people beg borrow and steal to try and get out of the kind of poverty Pacquiao faced growing up in the poor and sometimes lawless General Santos area of the Philippines. Manny had a different method however, he chose selling, selling anything he could to help out his struggling family. This tremendous work ethic and drive he developed as a child would serve him well once he entered the ring. Manager Rod Nazario has known Manny since childhood says that not much has changed in Pacquiao?s persona, he?s still the same happy gregarious lad he was as a kid, with no less work ethic, but maybe a little less hungry, literally speaking that is!
Pacquiao won his first world title as a 112-pound flyweight in Thailand in 1998. Team Pacquiao then set their sights on America. To do that they would need an experienced and recognized boxing promoter, enter Murad Muhammad. It would prove to be a winning combination. With 2 championships under his wing, Pacquiao had made a major impact in boxing. His sensational, one-sided win over Barerra would catapult him to a whole different level consideration as one of the best fighters in the world. Manny now has his sights on going down as one the sports best ever.
Inside the ring this lefty is a unique blend of speed and power, add to the mix and overabundance of enthusiasm and confidence and you have the Pac Man. Training this young fighter is a pleasure for trainer Freddy Roach, and watching this little Philippine in action is a pleasure for all boxing fans.
Ranked as the Number 1 Featherweight by Fightnews.com, Pacquiao really packs a wallop, combine that with plenty of speed and you have this offensive juggernaut. ?In This Corner? went inside the ring with Manny who displayed many of the skills that make up his favorite past time, boxing.
On May 8, 2004 Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez thrilled boxing fans for 12 rounds at the MGM Grand. Despite going down three times in the opening round, Marquez would battle back and the fight ended up in a somewhat controversial draw.
One thing not controversial at all was that it was one great fight! Boxing fans are hoping the two will do it again soon.
At age 25 with a record of 38-2-2 and 30 knockouts and having won a pair of World Championships, Pacquiao has already accomplished so much more than anyone could have expected coming from his roots in the Philippines. Maybe the only one who would have expected this would be Manny himself. We thank Manny Pacquiao for joining us on ?In This Corner?.
