Pacquiao Receives His Doctorate From University in Cebu

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer and Philippine sports hero Manny Pacquiao will receive a degree of Doctor of Human Kinetics conferred on him by the Southwestern University of the Philippines in Cebu.

The honor recognizes Pacquiao’s contribution to sports, particularly boxing, where he has won world titles in four different weight divisions and a Ring Magazine title in a fifth making his Asia’s all-time greatest..

Human Kinetics is a study on sports fitness and health that supports academic excellence in sports that has grown considerably in recent years.

Southwestern University president Dr. Eldigario Gonzales justified the honor being conferred on Pacquiao by noting that his achievements in boxing validated the worthiness of his award.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz that Pacquiao who was shooting his TV show on GMA Tuesday, would leave for Cebu on Wednesday morning to receive the doctorate degree and would then fly to Davao City “for some meetings over there.” Koncz did not elaborate about the meetings.

When told that Ricky “The Hitman”Hatton was beginning training Tuesday for his showdown with Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, Koncz said Pacquiao has been “staying in shape physically by playing basketball over the last two weeks and also jogging.”

Although Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles on February 24 before proceeding to England for promotional tour stops in London and Manchester , Koncz said Pacquiao woul not train at the Wild Card Gym during the couple of days prior to his departure for London .

Koncz said Pacquiao would “start training in earnest” on March 3 and indicated there was no need for concern over Pacquiao’s physical conditioning.