-
-
mmanuel Dapidran "Manny" Pacquiao (pronounced /ˈpækjaʊ/; born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions — Flyweight, Super Bantamweight, Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight and Welterweight.[3] In addition, he is the first and only boxer in history to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes — World Flyweight Champion, World Featherweight Champion, World Super Featherweight Champion and World Light Welterweight Champion.[4]
Currently, Pacquiao is the WBO World Welterweight Champion (Super Champion) and The Ring World Junior Welterweight Champion. Also, currently, he is rated as the "Number 1" pound-for-pound best boxer of the world by The Ring,[5] ESPN,[6] Sports Illustrated,[7] NBC Sports,[8] and About.com.[9]
Pacquiao is also the former IBO World Junior Welterweight Champion, WBC World Lightweight Champion, The Ring World Junior Lightweight, WBC World Super Featherweight Champion, The Ring World Featherweight Champion, IBF World Junior Featherweight Champion and WBC World Flyweight Champion. Furthermore, he is also a WBC Emeritus Champion, a WBC Diamond Champion and a WBO Super Champion.
For his achievements, Pacquiao was named The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2009; the Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2009; the Best Fighter ESPY Award in 2009; the HBO Sports and the Boxing Writers Association of America "Fighter of the Decade" in 2000-2009.
Pacquiao was listed in Forbes Magazine as the World’s 6th Highest Paid Athletes with a total annual income of 40 Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) or 2 Billion Pesos (₱2,000,000,000.00). Tied with him on the sixth spot was the NBA player Lebron James and golfer Phil Mickelson. He was also listed as the 57th Most Influential Celebrity in the World by Forbes Magazine and as the Top 22 Most Influential People by Time Magazine.[10][11]
Aside from being a boxer, Pacquiao has participated in acting, music recording, and politics.
On May 10, 2010, Pacquiao was elected as Member of House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines representing the province of Sarangani.[12] He established the record of being the first active boxer to become a congressman in the Philippines.[13]
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Personal life
* 2 Education
* 3 Boxing career
o 3.1 Early Years at Light Flyweight Division
o 3.2 Flyweight Division
o 3.3 Super Bantamweight Division
o 3.4 Featherweight Division
o 3.5 Super Featherweight Division
o 3.6 Lightweight Division
o 3.7 Welterweight Division
o 3.8 Light Welterweight Division
o 3.9 Return to Welterweight Division
o 3.10 Future plans
* 4 Professional Boxing Record
* 5 Titles in Boxing
* 6 Acting career
* 7 Filmography
* 8 Endorsements
* 9 Discography
* 10 Political career
* 11 In popular culture
* 12 Recognitions
* 13 See also
* 14 References
* 15 External links
[edit] Personal life
Manny Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon. He is the son of Rosalio Pacquiao and Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao.[14] His parents separated when he was in sixth grade, after his mother discovered that his father was living with another woman.[14] He is the fourth among six siblings namely: Liza Silvestre and Domingo Silvestre (from first husband of his mother) and Isidra Pacquiao, Alberto "Bobby" Pacquiao and Rogelio Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is married to Maria Geraldine "Jinkee" Jamora,[15] and they have four children namely: Jimuel, Michael, Princess, and Queen Elizabeth. He resides in his hometown General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines.[16] However, as a congressman of lone district of Sarangani, he is officially residing in Kiamba, Sarangani, the hometown of his wife.
Pacquiao is a devout Roman Catholic.[17] Everytime he comes back from a successful fight abroad, he attends a thanksgiving Mass in Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila to kneel and pray.
Pacquiao is also a military reservist with the rank of Sergeant Major for the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army. In his younger days, he dreamed of becoming a soldier, and was enlisted in the military reserve force as an Army Private.[18]
[edit] Education
Pacquiao completed his elementary education at Saavedra Saway Elementary School in General Santos City, but dropped out of high school due to extreme poverty.[19] He left his home at age 14 because his mother, who had six children, was not making enough money to support her family.[19]
In February 2007, he took and passed a high school equivalency exam, making him a high school graduate and eligible for college education.[20] He was awarded with highschool diploma by Department of Education.
Pacquiao enrolled for a college degree at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in his hometown in General Santos City where he is taking up a business management course.
In February 18, 2009, Pacquiao was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) by Southwestern University (SWU) at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City. The Southwestern University, through a board resolution, has chosen to grant Manny Pacquiao the honorary degree for his exemplary performance and achievements in sports specifically in boxing. This also includes his humanitarian acts in helping the victims of typhoon and displaced families brought about by the insurgency problems in Mindanao.[21]
In preparation for his career as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Pacquiao enrolled the Certificate Course in Development, Legislation, and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines - Graduate School of Public and Development Management (DAP-GSPDM). The modules of this 10-day course that he took up were specifically designed to help him get oriented to his duties as congressman and to instruct him on the basics of the legislature.[22]
[edit] Boxing career
[edit] Early Years at Light Flyweight Division
In 1995, the death of a young aspiring boxer and close friend Eugene Barutag spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.[23] Pacquiao started his professional boxing career when he was just 16 years of age and weighed 106 pounds (1 pound above the minimumweight division). His early light flyweight division fights took place in small local venues and were shown on Vintage Sports' Blow by Blow, an evening boxing show. His professional debut was a four round bout against Edmund "Enting" Ignacio, on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program.
Pacquiao's weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round knockout. Pacquiao failed to make the required weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting him at a disadvantage.[24]
[edit] Flyweight Division
First Regional Title
Shortly after the Torrecampo fight, Pacquiao continued undefeated for his next 15 fights. He went on another unbeaten run that saw him take on the vastly more experienced Chokchai Chockvivat. Pacquiao knocked out Chockvivat in the fifth round and took the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Flyweight title.[25]
First Weight Division World Title (First Lineal Title)
After one official defense and two non-title bouts, Pacquiao got his first opportunity to fight for a world title. Pacquiao captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Flyweight title (his first major boxing world title as well as the flyweight lineal title) over Chatchai Sasakul by way of knockout in the eighth round. However, Pacquiao lost the title in his second defense against Medgoen Singsurat, also known as Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third round knockout. The bout was held in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Singsurat got Pacquiao on the ropes and landed a flush straight right to the body coiling Pacquiao over and keeping him there. Technically, Pacquiao lost the belt at the scales, as he surpassed the weight limit of 112 pounds.
[edit] Super Bantamweight Division
Pacquiao with his trainer Freddie Roach at Pacquiao's Christmas and birthday bash, Los Angeles, California
Capturing the WBC International Super Bantamweight
Following his loss to Singsurat, Pacquiao gained weight anew. This time, Pacquiao went to the super bantamweight division of 122 pounds, where he picked up the WBC International Super Bantamweight title. He defended this title five times before his chance for a world title fight came.
Second Weight Division World Title
Pacquiao's big break came on June 23, 2001, against former IBF World Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao stepped into the fight as a late replacement on two weeks' notice but won the fight by technical knockout and won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Junior Featherweight (or Super Bantamweight) belt, his second major boxing world title. The bout was held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao went on to defend this title four times, aided by his expert training from Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.
[edit] Featherweight DivisionComment
-
psetting Barrera — Third Weight Division World Title (Second Lineal Title)
On November 15, 2003, Pacquiao faced Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, in a fight that many consider to have defined his career. Pacquiao, who was fighting at featherweight for the first time, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via technical knockout in the eleventh round. Although this bout was not recognized as a title fight by any sanctioning bodies, after his victory Pacquiao was crowned The Ring World Featherweight Champion (as well as the lineal featherweight champion), making him the first Filipino and Asian to win three major world titles in three different weight divisions. He defended the title once before relinquishing it in 2005.[26]
Controversial Draw Against Márquez
Six months after the fight, Pacquiao went on to challenge Juan Manuel Márquez, who at the time held both the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Featherweight titles. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, on May 8, 2004, and after twelve rounds the bout was scored a draw, which proved to be a controversial decision that outraged both camps.[27]
In the first round Márquez was caught cold, as he was knocked down three times by a more lively Pacquiao. However, Márquez showed great heart to recover from the early knockdowns, and went on to win the majority of rounds thereafter. This was largely due to Márquez's counterpunch style, which he managed to effectively utilize against the aggressive style of Pacquiao. At the end of a very close fight, the final scores were 115–110 for Márquez, 115–110 for Pacquiao, and 113–113.[27] One of the judges (who scored the bout 113–113) later admitted to making an error on the scorecards, because he had scored the first round as "10–7" in favor of Pacquiao instead of the standard "10–6" for a three-knockdown round.[27] Consequently, both parties felt they had done enough to win the fight.
[edit] Super Featherweight Division
Derailed by Morales
On March 19, 2005, Pacquiao once again moved up in weight class, from 126 to 130 pounds, in order to fight another Mexican legend and three-division world champion Érik Morales. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. However, this time around, in his first fight at super featherweight, Pacquiao lost the twelve round match by a unanimous decision from the judges. All three scorecards read 115-113 for Morales.[28]
Capturing the WBC International Super Featherweight
On September 10, 2005, Manny Pacquiao fought Héctor Velázquez at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He knocked Velázquez out in six rounds to capture the WBC International Super Featherweight title, which he went on to defend five times. On the same day, his rival, Erik Morales, fought Zahir Raheem. A lackluster performance saw the Mexican lose to Raheem via unanimous decision.
Avenging the Loss from Morales
The much anticipated rematch between Pacquiao and Morales happened on January 21, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. During the fight, Morales escaped being knocked down twice, once in the second round by holding onto the ropes, and once in the sixth by falling on the referee. Pacquiao eventually knocked Morales out in the tenth, the first time Morales was knocked out in his boxing career.
Pacquiao vs. Larios: "Mano A Mano"
On July 2, 2006, Pacquiao defended his WBC International Super Featherweight title against Óscar Larios, a two-time super bantamweight champion, who had moved up two weight divisions to fight Pac-man. Pacquiao won the fight via unanimous decision, knocking down Larios two times in the 12-round bout at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. The three judges scored the fight 117-110, 118-108, and 120-106 all for Pacquiao.[29]
On July 3, 2006, the day after winning the fight against Larios, the then Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally bestowed the Order of Lakandula with the rank of "Champion for Life" (Kampeon Habambuhay) and the plaque of appreciation to Pacquiao in a simple ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace.[30]
Pacquiao vs. Morales III: "The Grand Finale"
Pacquiao and Morales fought a third time (with the series tied 1-1) on Nov. 18, 2006. Witnessed by a near record crowd of 18,276, the match saw Pacquiao defeat Morales via a third round knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.[31]
After the Pacquiao–Morales rubber match, Bob Arum, Pacquiao's main promoter, announced that Manny had returned his signing bonus back to Golden Boy Promotions, signaling intentions to stay with Top Rank. This prompted Golden Boy Promotions to sue Pacquiao over breach of contract.[32]
Pacquiao vs. Solís: "Blaze of Glory"
After a failed promotional negotiation with Marco Antonio Barrera's camp, Bob Arum chose Jorge Solís as Pacquiao's next opponent among several fighters Arum offered as replacements. The bout was held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 14, 2007. In the sixth round, an accidental headbutt occurred, giving Pacquiao a cut under his left eyebrow. The fight ended in the eighth when Pacquiao knocked Solis down twice. Solis barely beat the count after the second knockdown, causing the referee to stop the fight and award Pacquiao a knockout win. The victory raised Pacquiao's win–loss–draw record to 44–3–2 with 34 knockouts.
Pacquiao vs. Barrera II: "Will to Win"
On June 29, 2007, Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions announced that they agreed to settle their lawsuit, meaning the long-awaited rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera would occur despite Pacquiao being the top-ranked contender for the super featherweight title of Juan Manuel Márquez. Pacquiao defeated Barrera in their rematch via an easy unanimous decision. In the 11th round, Pacquiao's punch caused a deep cut below Barrera's right eye. Barrera retaliated with an illegal punch on the break that dazed Pacquiao but also resulted in a point deduction for Barrera. Two judges scored the bout 118–109, whereas the third scored it 115–112.[33]
Rising To Stardom
In The Ring Magazine, Pacquiao (45–3–2) remained at the top of the super featherweight division (130 pounds). He had been in the ratings for 108 weeks. Pacquiao was also at number two in the pound-for-pound category behind former welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.[34][35]
On November 13, 2007, he was honored by the WBC as Champ Emeritus during its 45th Annual World Convention held at the Manila Hotel.[36]
On November 20, 2007, José Nuñez, manager of WBO Super Featherweight champion Joan Guzmán, accused Pacquiao's handler Bob Arum of evading a match between the two boxers to protect Pacquiao.[37] Guzmán went as far as to directly call out Pacquiao at the postfight press conference of the Pacquiao–Barrera rematch in front of a stunned crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center's media room in Las Vegas.[38]
The 240 member House of Representatives of the Philippines, on August 7, 2008, issued a Resolution, sponsored by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, which recognized Pacquiao as "a people’s champ" — "for his achievements and in appreciation of the honor and inspiration he has been bringing... to the Filipino people." He received a plaque from Speaker Prospero Nograles.[39][40]
Pacquiao vs. Márquez II: "Unfinished Business" — Fourth Weight Division World Title (Third Lineal Title)
On March 15, 2008, in a rematch against Juan Manuel Márquez called "Unfinished Business", Pacquiao won via a disputed split decision. The fight was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. With the victory, Pacquiao won the WBC World Super Featherweight and The Ring World Junior Lightweight (or Super Featherweight) belts (as well as the lineal junior lightweight title), making him the first Filipino and Asian to win three world titles from major sanctioning bodies in three different weight divisions (Pacquiao was a former WBC World Flyweight champion and former IBF World Super Bantamweight champion). However, with his The Ring World Featherweight belt, Pacquiao had de facto won four world titles in four different weight classes at this point.
The fight was a close hard fought battle, during which both fighters received cuts.[41] Throughout the fight Márquez landed the most punches at a higher percentage; however, the decisive factor proved to be a third round knockdown, wherein Márquez was floored by a Pacquiao left hook.[41] At the end of the fight, the judges' scores were 115-112 for Pacquiao, 115-112 for Márquez, and 114-113 for Pacquiao.[41]
In the post-fight news conference, Márquez’s camp called for an immediate rematch. In addition, Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, offered a $6 million guarantee to Pacquiao for a rematch.[42] However, Pacquiao ruled out a third clash with Márquez, saying, "I don't think so. This business is over."[41] The reason that Pacquiao did not want a rematch was because he intended to move up to the lightweight division to challenge David Díaz, the reigning WBC World Lightweight champion at that time.[41] Díaz won a majority decision over Ramón Montano that night as an undercard of the "Unfinished Business" fight.
[edit] Lightweight Division
Pacquiao vs. Díaz: "Lethal Combination" — Fifth Weight Division World TitleComment
Tweet
Comment