Those of us of a certain age will no doubt remember the Pac-Man phenomenon of the 1980s.
For those who don’t it, centred around a small yellow semi-circle, who didn’t even have eyes, careering around a single board eating up all before him and scoring points while being chased by four ghosts.
In his own little way that little yellow semi-cicle with a voracious appetite, for all his simplicity, changed the world.
The reason he did so was that people from all walks of life, age groups and genders could appreciate his enthusiasm.
His 2006 incarnation also careers around a squared circle eating up all before him while millions look on in awe.
His name is Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao and it was business as usual this past weekend as he gobbled up the brave but ultimately outgunned Mexican Oscar Larios over 12 rounds in Quezon City.
Pacquiao dominated the rugged Larios over 12 rounds in is native Philippines to stretch his pro record to 43-3-2.
He has lost just once now in almost seven years and is the only fighter to have knocked down all three Mexican modern greats Marco Antonio Barrera,Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Frighteningly, at 27 he may not yet have reached his peak.
What is certain is the fact that he is the most popular Filipino to have ever walked the earth.
He has the ability to turn the normally heaving capital city of Manila into a virtual ghost town just by getting into a ring.
Like his hero Muhammad Ali, Pacquiao’s popularity transcends the sport.
Unlike Ali however, Pacquiao had to fight his way out of extreme poverty before his fists allowed him the collective heart of a nation.
The legend goes that Manny ran away from the rice fields at the age of 12 because his mother didn’t want him to box.
It proved to be an inspired decision.
After a limited amateur career Pacquiao turned pro at 16 and weighed just 106lbs in his first fight.
The early stages of his pro career were wholly unremarkable.
He won three of his first four fights on points against poor opposition and was knocked out by the unheralded Rustico Torrecampo in just his 12th fight.
He regrouped though and won his next 12 (many in spectacular fashion) to land a WBC flyweight title tilt.
Pacquiao stopped Chatchai Sasakul in eight in Thailand to win his first world title, but after just one defence lost that belt in the same country to Medgoen Singsurat.
‘Pac-Man’ moved up to super-bantamweight soon after, and his career went into overdrive.
He overwhelmed top men such as Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, Jorge Eliecer Julio and Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in world title fights at 8st 10lbs, before a crushing win over Emmanuel Lucero landed him a fight with Barrera.
Pacquiao was a 5/1 outsider to beat the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’, but defied the Las Vegas odds-men with a display of chilling ferocity.
Barrera was totally overwhelmed in Texas and stopped after 11 rounds of fistic mayhem.
It was brutal. And the Philippines’ best kept secret was now well and truly out.
In his next fight he drew with Marquez (after dropping JMM three times in the first round) but in March 2005 he suffered a points defeat to Morales.
He avenged that loss in January of this year with a splendid 10-round stoppage win over ‘El Terrible’, and is regarded now as the finest little man in the game.
Pacquiao’s style is all his own.
The way he bounces around defiantly during fights is far more Bruce Lee than Ali, but it’s certainly effective.
He is a bundle of energy who pours forward relentlessly, darting in with wave after wave of two-fisted attacks.
He’s not afraid to take a shot to land his own, and as he showed against Barrera he is no respecter of reputation.
This is why his is loved in his homeland and by fight fans everywhere.
Like his 2D namesake a generation ago he is the hottest thing in the business right now, and that famed voracious appetite shows no signs of abating.
