NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao has received so many awards and citations you’d think he had to be dragged out of bed to make sure he attends another of those monotonous affairs.
But not the one the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) put up Friday at the stylish Copacabana in midtown Manhattan to commemorate its 82nd awards night where Pacquiao arrived on board a black stretch limousine that picked him up at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel.
“I am deeply honored to be given this award,” said Pacquiao, voted by the BWAA as the recipient of the Edward J. Neil Trophy (2006 Fighter of the Year).
He was joined in the main table by wife Jinkee, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, his son Todd DuBoef and matchmaker non-pareil Bruce Trampler.
As usual, Pacquiao rattled off a few names and spoke in halting but passable English although the 28-year-old super-featherweight from General Santos City, Philippines admitted that there’s still room for improvement.
After asking the audience to pardon his English-speaking skills, Pacquiao was asked to stay at the dais so photographers who attended the $ 175-per-plate dinner could get a good shot of him holding the plaque with the former middleweight champion of the world Jake LaMotta, known as The Raging Bull, just one short punch away.
In the time that he received the plaque, he hardly let his hands off it as BWAA members, guests and fellow fighter waited for their turn to pose for pictures with the world’s most exciting fighter regardless of weight.
“We might not see another Fighter of the Year awardee from the Philippines in the near future,” said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal. “The next time will likely be after 100 years.”
Winning the coveted awards is so hard that no Asian fighter has ever been named Fighter of the Year since the group of scribes began giving out awards in 1938 with Jack Dempsey as the top honoree.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s chief strategist since mid-2001, was named top trainer for 2006.
The four fighters who have won the award three times include Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Pacquiao, also named by The Ring magazine as its Boxer of the Year for 2006, is returning to the ring in late-September or early October against a foe to be named within the next few days.
Interestingly, Brooklyn-based Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic, being eyed as an opponent, was in attendance and even posed for a picture with Pacquiao.
So was World Boxing Association lightweight king Juan Diaz, who stood beside Pacquiao for a souvenir shot.
Diaz, who banged up Filipino Randy Suico last year, is also being considered but a fight with him will only take place next year.
“We’ll fight each other if the money is good,” said Pacquiao.
