BERKELEY, Calif. - WBC Super Featherweight boxing champion and Philippine national hero Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao held a public workout on May 31 at the West Wind Karate School to promote his upcoming lightweight title bout on June 28 against WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz.
Within three hours over 1,000 men, women and children were packed inside, chanting, “Manny! Manny! Manny!” and holding Filipino flags and signs reading, “Manny We Love You!”
At 29, Pacquiao is a 13-year pro, holding WBC Championship belts in three different weight classes (Flyweight, Jr. Featherweight and Super Featherweight). With an average bout length of 5.3 rounds and a 76 percent knockout rate, Pacquiao has been deemed the most exciting boxer in the sport today, and arguably the best pound for pound fighter behind WBC Welterweight Champ Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao will be soon be moving up in weight class for the fifth time in his career. When asked about the significance of his upcoming bout against Diaz, Pacquiao said: “This will be my hardest-fought battle… But this is my drive for five. Five world titles in five different weight classes, and I will not be denied. I am fighting for history, for destiny and for my people of the Philippines.”
The public workout had Diaz and then Pacquiao perform different boxing routines: gloveless shadowboxing, handbag punching combinations, speed bag routines, jump rope and abdominal work. At the conclusion of Diaz’s workout, he jokingly commented to the large, predominantly Filipino crowd, “I know you guys are here to see me and not Manny.”
Pacquiao then stepped into the ring with legendary trainer Freddie Roach. The sound of glove against bag left the audience in a hypnotic state, with elderly Filipina women occasionally screamed phrases in Tagalog, prompting Pacquiao to blow kisses to them.
Also in attendance was up and coming Filipina American boxer Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton. The 2006 San Francisco Golden Gloves Champ also did a workout with Roach, who trains both fighters. Julaton began her pro career in November 2007, knocking down opponent Rita Valentini twice in four rounds.
Julaton said she hopes that her and Pacquiao’s success gives exposure and inspiration to Filipino and Asian American boxers, adding that Pacquiao’s achievements come from his dedication to the sport: “After training he’s still out there on the speed bag for like ten minutes straight… he really lives it and breathes it.”
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