In the sport of boxing, there is no quit. There is no shade from the flashing lights and eyes of the world. There is only the fighter and the fight, fixed in a true moment of honesty with no room for faking. Months of tribulation coming down to one night, to stand toe-to-toe in front of someone who wants to take your head off.
This is where the spirit of a fighter appears, where the willful are separated from the gutless. It tests the backbone of true champions to dig deep after facing devastating blows and still prevail through pure determination.
There is perhaps no other fighter in the sport today that personifies the excitement and heart of a champion as much as the man they call “Pacman.”
Philippine national icon and World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will face off against David Diaz in a 12-round rumble for the WBC lightweight title on June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
With the apparent retirement of WBC welterweight champion Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao now stands alone as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, and he will get a chance to make history by becoming the first Asian boxer to win major titles in four different weight classes.
The bout will feature the two voracious southpaws going head-to-head, in what promoters are calling a “lethal combination.” Although Pacquiao is a favorite at 4-to-1 odds, many, including Pacquiao himself, question his ability to adjust to the bigger and stronger Diaz.
“It has been over three years since I have changed weight divisions, and I will be doing it against the lightweight division’s world champion,” Pacquiao said in an interview in early June. “I’m taking this fight seriously because I don’t want to underestimate David Diaz; he’s a good fighter too. He’s strong, and I don’t want to be overconfident.”
Any apparent strategy in Pacquiao’s corner notwithstanding, some say the fight has the potential of becoming a straight up brawl.
“Two world champions at the top of their game, matching each other in speed, power, stamina and courage, is a recipe for a great fight,” said Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
With the rapid rise of fighting leagues such as the Ultimate Fighting Championships and Pride Fighting, many believe boxing may be in jeopardy of becoming an uneventful pastime. But with droves of Pacquiao fans flocking to his fights annually, and a Filipino/Filipino American community eager to support their native hero, boxing fans can rest assured that as long as Pacman is around, their sport is not going anywhere.
From Cigarettes to Stardom
Pacquiao, “The People’s Champion,” has amassed this huge following over the years, both in the Philippines and the United States, as the gritty yet humble fighter of the people that has never forgotten his roots.
Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao was born in 1978 in the southern Philippine island of Bukidnon. When Pacquiao was in sixth grade, his parents split up, and his father left them in General Santos City to work as a farmer in another province.
The second of four children, Pacquiao soon became the man of the house, prompting him to drop out of grade school. With his family in need of money, Pacquiao paced the streets of Bukidnon selling bread and cigarettes to help his family get by. It was during this time that Pacquiao began to occasionally fight in “street brawls” for small purses.
Pacquiao’s interest in boxing began to flourish, and at the age of 14, he befriended Abner Cordero, a member of the Philippine National Boxing Team. With his family stricken by poverty and no shoes to cover his feet, Pacquiao approached Abner’s father, Dizon Cordero, for training to become a boxer.
After 64 amateur fights, Dizon Cordero saw Pacquiao’s potential. At the age of 15, with no money, job or place to stay, Pacquiao boarded a shipping boat headed to the capital city of Manila to pursue his dream of becoming a boxing champion.
To make ends meet, Pacquiao worked in construction during the day and trained rigorously at night. On January 22, 1995, at the age of 16, Pacquiao began his professional boxing career, defeating light flyweight Edmund Ignacio in a four-round bout via decision.
Pacquiao continued to progress, winning his first 11 fights and increasing his weight from 106 to 113 pounds. Pacquiao eventually settled in the flyweight division at 112 pounds, a decision that would soon pay off.
In December 1998, he won the WBC flyweight title with an eight-round win over Thailand fighter Chatchai Sasakul — his dream to become a world champion had come true.
Pacquiao’s Rise to the Top
Pacquiao began to work thoroughly on a weight-training program and soon moved up to 122 pounds, winning the WBC International super bantamweight title in June 2001, a win that catapulted Pacquiao into the top boxing ranks.
Pacquiao gained further notoriety in June 2002 in a Mike Tyson undercard bout and IBF junior featherweight title defense by defeating Jorge Julio at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Julio was left bloodied and battered, causing the referee to stop the fight.
After four successful title defenses, Pacquiao took the next step by fighting legendary Mexican fighter Marco Antonio Barrera in November 2003. Regarded as the world’s best featherweight, Barrera was a 4-1 favorite to win against Pacquiao. But Pacquiao dominated the seasoned veteran, branding cuts over his eyes and knocking him down in the third and 11th rounds before Barrera’s corner threw in the towel.
Pacquiao continued his onslaught of victories and knockouts, KO’ing many established contenders, including Mexican icon Erik Morales in a three-match series that led Ring Magazine to name Pacquiao the 2006 Fighter of the Year.
In his last bout on March 15, Pacquiao defeated defending WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a close split decision rematch, which featured Pacquiao delivering the only knockdown of the night in the third round and gave him his third title in a different weight class.
With 35 of his 46 wins coming by way of knockout, Pacquiao has already established himself as a legend of the ring. Combining a fearless and immovable fighting spirit with unparalleled punching power in both hands, Pacquiao brings an appeal that has thrilled crowds all over the world, leading Ring Magazine to refer to him as “the most exciting fighter in boxing.”
Becoming an Icon
Pacquiao’s success has made him a national hero in the Philippines. He has appeared in commercials, TV shows, movies and has been the subject of a biographical film. Also a recording artist, Pacquiao has produced songs that cater to his fans, such as “This Fight is for You.”
In 2007, Pacquiao made a run for a congressional seat in the Philippine district of South Cotabato. Some believe this move was provoked by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s dislike for the district’s incumbent Darlene Custodio. Pacquiao lost by 37,000 votes, but continues to express interest in politics.
Beyond the glory
In a public workout in late May, Pacquiao stood center ring smiling and waving to an audience of over 1,000 as they packed a small gym in Berkeley, Calif. Pacman’s people had been in full force all day, crowding the entrances from the early morning to midday, and as he graciously stood and signed autographs past the allotted time, they knew he was there for them. This was not just a photo op — it was an act of admiration from a champion of the people who understands that he does not just fight for himself, but for the heart and soul of a nation.
“When I am in the ring, I am also fighting for my people,” Pacquiao said. “I want to make my country proud and make my fans happy. It is very important to me because my country is important to me. That is why I must win.”
The bout is scheduled to air on HBO Pay-Per-View live at 9 p.m. EST on June 28. Tickets are available for purchase at mandalaybay.com or ticketmaster.com.
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