MANILA, Philippines ? For sports analyst Joaquin ?Quinito? Henson, Manny Pacquiao?s character in and out of the boxing ring is reminiscent of the first Filipino to ever become a world champion: Francisco ?Pancho Villa? Gilledo.
In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Henson said that very much like Pacquiao, Gilledo was known for his ?never-say-die attitude? in the ring and his remarkable punching power.
?He dazzled the world of boxing with his charisma, his power and his fantastic boxing skills?All out ang kanyang atake, never say die. And it?s the same kind of style that Manny Pacquiao has,? said Henson.
Before becoming popular among US boxing aficionados, Gilledo rose from obscurity to win the world flyweight boxing championship by knocking out Jimmy Wilde in 1923.
Henson said Gilledo?s popularity in America is comparable to Pacquiao?s, who has won the hearts of boxing fans for his string of victories over tough opponents, including Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Erik Morales and Miguel Cotto.
?In fact, if you were to go back in th
e history books, you?ll see that the reception that Pancho Villa got in the US is exactly the same reception that Manny Pacquiao is getting in the whole world,? said Henson.
Generous fighters The similarities do not end there.
Aside from winning world titles in the flyweight division, both Pacquiao and Gilledo were known to be generous.
?They like to share their wealth and their good fortune with friends and family,? said Henson.
An example of Gilledo?s generosity was that he shelled out $1,000 (a tidy amount in the 1920’s) to buy tickets for his Filipino fans in the US so that they may be able to watch his bout. Pacquiao has done the same in his recent fights.
Just like Pacquiao, who earns millions of dollars for each of his recent bouts, Gilledo received record earnings for his fights. In 1924, he received a fight purse of $10,500, a fortune during those days.
Both fighters were forced to drop out from school because of poverty.
Henson said Gilledo stopped at Grade 7, while Pacquiao cut short his schooling at Grade 6.
?Of course, Pancho Villa died at a young age. Manny Pacquiao went on to earn his diploma in high school and is now working for a degree in college,” he said.
The Negros Occidental native Gilledo first became popular in the Philippines shortly before 1920?s when he became the country?s top flyweight boxer.
In 1922, he was brought to the US where he beat the likes of Frankie Genaro, Johnny Buff, attracting the attention of boxing fanatics.
It was in 1923 when he became a full-fledged boxing star by knocking out boxing great Wilde in the 7th round to win the World Flyweight Championship.
Gilledo successfully defended his title for the next two years until his life was cut short by complications following a tooth extraction. He was 23.
In a span of 6 years since he started fighting professionally, Gilledo compiled a record of 92 wins (24 by knockout), 8 losses and 4 draws.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, and 16 years later, he was inducted to the inaugural Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.
