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By TK Stewart - Manny Pacquiao, who is one of the few bright lights in the sky of boxing, likes it hot. And it’s a good thing, because as Pacquiao opens training camp in Cebu City, Philippines for his October 6th rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera the forecast for this week is continued hot and steamy weather with the mercury topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a chance of thunderstorms.
But Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t have it any other way.
Over the past decade or so, only Mike Tyson has captured the interest and fascination of boxing fans in the manner that this little Filipino spitfire does and now Pacquiao is learning a thing or two about the type of heat that the magnifying glass of the world can generate.
Just how hot is the demand for Manny Pacquiao and what is it like to live inside the vortex that has become his life? Well, he recently signed a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Nike, joining blockbuster names like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods – which is even more incredible when you realize that Manny Pacquiao barely speaks English.
He has been the subject of drawn out tugs-of-war among the most powerful of American fight promoters and the most astute boxing managers. In his home country his every move is scrutinized, analyzed and examined. He recently ran in a campaign for a congressional seat “to help my people” but he lost that fight, something that has only happened to him inside a boxing ring once in the past eight years.
Whatever Manny Pacquiao does and wherever he goes it is newsworthy in the Philippines, even if it isn’t news at all. Paparazzi, gossip hounds and those that run the rumor mills churn out page after page that tell of Pacquiao’s out of the ring exploits. Even here in America his face graces everything from the cover of The Ring magazine to the marquees of Las Vegas casinos. [details]
But Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t have it any other way.
Over the past decade or so, only Mike Tyson has captured the interest and fascination of boxing fans in the manner that this little Filipino spitfire does and now Pacquiao is learning a thing or two about the type of heat that the magnifying glass of the world can generate.
Just how hot is the demand for Manny Pacquiao and what is it like to live inside the vortex that has become his life? Well, he recently signed a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Nike, joining blockbuster names like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods – which is even more incredible when you realize that Manny Pacquiao barely speaks English.
He has been the subject of drawn out tugs-of-war among the most powerful of American fight promoters and the most astute boxing managers. In his home country his every move is scrutinized, analyzed and examined. He recently ran in a campaign for a congressional seat “to help my people” but he lost that fight, something that has only happened to him inside a boxing ring once in the past eight years.
Whatever Manny Pacquiao does and wherever he goes it is newsworthy in the Philippines, even if it isn’t news at all. Paparazzi, gossip hounds and those that run the rumor mills churn out page after page that tell of Pacquiao’s out of the ring exploits. Even here in America his face graces everything from the cover of The Ring magazine to the marquees of Las Vegas casinos. [details]
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