“PacMan”

• facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao twitter.com/MannyPacquiao/

• Ranked WBO #2 at 147 pounds…
• World championship fights: 13-3-2, 8 KOs...
• “Fighter of the Decade 2000-2009” – Boxing Writers Association of America...
• “2009 Fighter of the Year” - Boxing Writers Association of America...
• “2008 Fighter of the Year” - Boxing Writers Association of America...
• “2006 Fighter of the Year” - Boxing Writers Association of America...
• Former WBO welterweight world champion, three successful defenses...
• Former WBC super welterweight world champion…
• Former WBC lightweight world champion...
• Former WBC super featherweight world champion...
• Former IBF jr. featherweight world champion, four successful defenses…
• Former WBC flyweight world champion, one successful defense…
• Former WBC International super featherweight champion, three successful defenses…
• Former WBC International super bantamweight champion, five successful defenses…
• Former OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) flyweight champion, one successful defense…

At the age of 34, Manny is an 18-year pro - he made his debut at 16. One of boxing’s biggest stars, he has been fighting at the top levels of competition and given some of the most sensational performances in the ring in recent years.

He has won world titles at 112, 122, 130, 135, 147, and 154 pounds.

Manny is not only recognized by most observers as one of the best fighters in the ring today, but is also considered one of the sport’s all-time greats.

His accomplishments in the ring have established him as a certain future first-ballot Hall of Famer, but Manny has reached another level that can be claimed by very few – he has transcended the sport.

He is the national hero of his native Philippines – the entire country of over 96 million people comes to a virtual standstill to watch whenever he fights.

Manny was elected as a Congressman in the Sarangani province in the Philippines. He is also a recording artist and an action-movie star in his home country.

His “rags to riches” story is spectacular and literal – a 14 year-old kid living on the streets of Manila goes on to become one of the world’s most recognizable and revered athletes. He has already been the subject of books and movies, is featured in video games, and on a postage stamp in the Philippines.

He is coming off a sixth-round knockout loss against Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight on December 8. It was their fourth fight, and one of the best of the year.

After the fight, Manny said, "I was careless. He's not an easy opponent. I did my best, but that's boxing. That's sports. I thought I got him in the last couple of rounds, but I got hit by a strong punch. I never expected that punch."

Manny was voted “2009 Fighter of the Year” and “Fighter of the Decade 2000-2009” by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

BWAA president Jack Hirsch wrote on their webpage [excerpts]: If there were any doubt that Manny Pacquiao is the biggest star of his sport, it was put to rest by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. By an overwhelming margin, Pacquiao took home not only the BWAA’s newly named “Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year” award, but went one better by also winning “Fighter of the Decade” honors. For Pacquiao, it was his third BWAA “Fighter of the Year” award, tying him with Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield for the most in the history of the organization. [End BWAA item]

The Associated Press reported [excerpts]: Manny Pacquiao was honored as the fighter of the decade by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America on Monday....

The reigning pound-for-pound king was chosen fighter of the decade over Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera. [End AP item]

Manny has fought 18 current or former world champions: Juan Manuel Marquez four times (D12, W12, W12, KOby6), Timothy Bradley Jr. (L12), Shane Mosley (W12), Antonio Margarito (W12), Joshua Clottey (W12), Miguel Cotto (TKO12), Ricky Hatton (KO2), Oscar de la Hoya (TKO8), David Diaz (TKO9), Marco Antonio Barrera two times (W12, TKO11), Jorge Solis (KO8), Erik Morales three times (KO3, TKO10, L12), Oscar Larios (W12), Jorge Julio (KO2), Agapito Sanchez (TD6), Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (TKO6), Medgoen Lukchaopormasak (KOby3, and Chatchai Sasakul (KO8).

His webpage address is mannypacquiao.ph.

Key Fights – 2012 – in his last fight on 12-8-12 in Las Vegas, NV, he lost by knockout (6^th round) against in his fourth fight against former WBA-WBO lightweight, WBC super featherweight, and IBF-WBA featherweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1): the bout headlined at the MGM Grand – it was a fast-paced thriller with dramatic shifts of momentum, and ended with a one-punch knockout; Manny outworked Marquez in the 1^st and 2^nd rounds, but Marquez came back and scored a knockdown with a right hand that dropped Manny flat on his back in the 3^rd; Manny recovered and rallied in the 4^th round; he scored a knockdown with a left hand when Marquez’ glove touched the canvas in the 5^th, then staggered Marquez with a right hook moments later – Marquez was also cut on the bridge of his nose and his mouth was bloodied; Manny stepped up his attack and was wearing down Marquez in the 6^th round, but Marquez scored a knockdown with a right hand late in the round that dropped him face-first, and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:59; after five rounds, Manny led by scores of 47-46 on all three scorecards…

LOST WBO W WORLD TITLE - on 6-9-12 in Las Vegas he lost a 12 round split decision against former WBO jr. welterweight and two-time WBC super lightweight world champion Timothy Bradley Jr. (28-0): the fight headlined at the MGM Grand, and ended with a controversial decision; Bradley gave a strong effort, but Manny appeared to dominate most of the fight; Manny started fast – he outworked Bradley, scored repeatedly with hard left hands, and built a lead on the scorecards – after four founds, Manny led by scores of 39-37 on all three scorecards; Bradley fractured his right ankle in the 2^nd round and twisted his right ankle badly in the 5^th, but still gave a hard-working, determined effort in the middle rounds and after eight rounds, the fight was scored 78-74 Pacquiao, 76-76, 76-76; Manny continued to outwork Bradley and rocked him repeatedly with left hands in the late rounds, but Bradley boxed and moved more and had several rallies, which apparently swayed the judges; nearly everyone who saw the fight thought Manny won by decisive scores, but the judges scored 115-113, 115-113 Bradley, 115-113 Pacquiao; after the fight, Manny said, “I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough. I've been watching his fight tapes - there were no surprises. He never hurt me with his punches, most of them hit my arms. I don't know what happened.”…

2011 – 3^RD WBO W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 11-12-11 in Las Vegas he won a 12 round majority decision in his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1): the fight headlined at the MGM Grand, and it was close and exciting; Manny kept a fast pace and generally outworked Marquez, but Marquez scored with accurate counterpunches, landed the harder punches, and had several rallies; Manny started fast – he swept the 1^st round on all three scorecards, won the 2^nd on two scorecards, then swept the 3^rd round; Marquez swept the 4^th and 5^th, but Manny came back and swept the 6^th; after six rounds, the fight was scored 58-56, 58-56 Pacquiao, 57-57; Marquez swept the 7^th round, but Manny finished the fight strongly; he won the 8^th, 9^th on two scorecards - Manny was also cut over his right eye by a clash of heads in the 9^th – then won the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th rounds on two scorecards, as well; scored 115-113, 116-112 Pacqiuao, 114-114…

2^ND WBO W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 5-7-11 in Las Vegas he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight world champion Shane Mosley (46-6-1): the bout headlined at the MGM Grand and drew a capacity crowd of 16,412; Manny dominated the fight - he constantly pressed forward, outworked Mosley, and landed the harder punches; Manny scored a knockdown with a left hand that left Mosley dazed in the 3^rd round, and Mosley fought to survive after that; Mosley was credited with a knockdown in the 10^th round, but replays clearly showed that it was a push and no punch landed; scored 120-107, 120-108, 119-108…

2010 – WON VACANT WBC SW WORLD TITLE - on 11-13-10 in Arlington, TX, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former WBA, IBF, and WBO welterweight world champion Antonio Margarito (38-6): the fight headlined at Cowboys Stadium and drew a crowd of 41,743; Manny dominated the entire fight - Margarito had a huge size advantage, but Manny kept him off balance with movement, consistently outworked him, and landed the harder punches; Margarito was swollen under his right eye in the 5^th round, and later cut and bruised in the same area (it was discovered after the fight that his orbital bone was broken); Margarito rocked Manny in the 6^th, but it was one of the few rallies that he had; Manny steadily wore him down and staggered him with a series of punches in the 10^th round; Manny looked to the referee to stop the fight in the 11^th round, but the fight continued; Manny dominated the 11^th and 12^th, but with less ferocity, and Margarito’s right eye was swollen shut at the final bell; scored 120-108, 119-109, 118-110; after the fight, Manny said, “I did my best. He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe he took those punches.”…

1^ST WBO W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 3-13-10 in Arlington he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former IBF welterweight world champion Joshua Clottey (35-3): the fight headlined at Cowboys Stadium, drew a crowd of 50,994, and Manny dominated; he consistently outworked Clottey and landed the harder punches, and Clottey fought very defensively for the entire fight; scored 119-109, 119-109, 120-108; after the fight, Manny said, “It was not an easy fight. He’s a good fighter. I threw a lot of jabs in the beginning to counter his hook and uppercut. I felt his power. He’s so strong. I could tell he was looking to land the big shot throughout the fight.”…

2009 – WON WBO W WORLD TITLE – on 11-14-09 in Las Vegas he won by TKO (12^th round) against defending champion Miguel Cotto (34-1): the fight headlined at the MGM Grand – it was the most highly-anticipated boxing event of the year, and drew a capacity crowd of 16,200; the early rounds were close and exciting - Cotto was disciplined and sharp and scored with solid combinations, but Manny scored a knockdown with a right hook in the 3^rd round; Manny scored another knockdown with a left hand that left Cotto dazed in the 4^th – Cotto courageously fought on and rallied in the 5^th round, but Manny staggered him with a left hand in the 6^th, steadily wore him down, and dominated most of the rest of the fight; Cotto boxed and moved in the late rounds, but Manny landed the harder punches, rocked him repeatedly in the 9^th round, and Cotto’s mouth and nose were bloodied, his face battered and swollen; Cotto won the 10^th on two scorecards, but Manny swept the 11^th round, then rocked Cotto again early in the 12^th and the referee stopped the fight at 0:55; after 11 rounds, Manny led by scores of 109-99, 108-99, 108-100; after the fight, Manny said, “In the first three rounds I tried to measure his power. I’m talking to him during the fight because I’m trying to fight toe-to-toe with him. Before the fight his camp was saying he’s bigger and stronger. I just wanted to let them know that in the fight we were going to see who’s stronger and tougher. I don’t want to compare my achievements to any fighter in boxing. I’m just doing my job to give a good fight. My goal is to give happiness to all those who watch us. I always think to myself that I’m an ordinary fighter. I think this was one of the toughest fights in my boxing career. I took a lot of boxing from Cotto. But after this I have a concert at Mandalay Bay - eight songs with my band from the Philippines.”...

On 5-2-09 in Las Vegas he won by knockout (2^nd round) against former IBF jr. welterweight and WBA welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton (45-1): the fight headlined at the MGM Grand and drew a capacity crowd of 16,262, and Manny quickly overwhelmed Hatton; he scored two knockdowns in the 1^st round – the first with a right hook, the second with a left hand; he scored another knockdown with a left hand that dropped Hatton flat on his back, out cold, late in the 2^nd round and the referee stopped the fight at 2:59; after the fight, Manny said, “I’m surprised this fight was so easy, but I did work hard since the beginning of March in training camp. Nothing personal. I am just doing my job, but this is as big a victory for me as when I beat Oscar De La Hoya. He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left. That’s why we worked on the right.”...

2008 –on 12-6-08 in Las Vegas he won by TKO (8^th round) against former WBO jr. lightweight, WBO and IBF lightweight, WBC super lightweight, welterweight, and two-time super welterweight, and WBO middleweight world champion Oscar De La Hoya (39-5): the fight headlined at the MGM Grand; De La Hoya was a 2-1 favorite to win, but Manny dominated the fight; De La Hoya won the 1^st round on one judge’s scorecard, but none after that; Manny kept him off-balance with movement, consistently outworked him, and rocked him with hard left hands in every round; Manny rocked De La Hoya repeatedly in the 7^th round - which two judges scored 10-8 for him – and De La Hoya’s left eye was swollen shut; De La Hoya did not continue after the 8^th round; after eight rounds, Manny led by near-shutout scores of 80-71, 80-71, 79-72; after the fight, Manny said, “I was able to defend against his jab and he wasn’t able to connect, and I was able to connect with everything. Speed was the answer to this fight. The only thing I was surprised by was that my trainer picked the round we would win in.”...

WON WBC L WORLD TITLE - on 6-28-08 in Las Vegas he won by TKO (9^th round) against lefthanded defending champion David Diaz (34-1-1): the fight headlined at Mandalay Bay; Diaz, a 1996 U.S. Olympian, gave a tremendous effort, but Manny dominated the entire fight and gave him a severe beating; he rocked Diaz repeatedly and cut him badly over his right eye in the 4^th round; Manny scored a knockdown with a left hand that dropped Diaz face-first to the canvas in the 9^th, and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:24; after eight rounds, Manny led by scores of 80-71, 80-71, 80-72; after the fight, Manny said, “I feel much stronger and more powerful at 135. This is where I plan to stay. Diaz caught a lot of punches. I’m surprised he didn’t go down earlier. It’s hard to fight a southpaw, but I jabbed, jabbed to set him up for the knockout.”...

WON WBC SF WORLD TITLE - on 3-15-08 in Las Vegas, NV, he won a 12 round split decision in the rematch against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez (48-3-1): it was a fast-paced, exciting fight and the momentum shifted back and forth; Manny swept the 1^st round on all three scorecards, but Marquez came back, staggered him with a right hand-left hook combination in the 2^nd, and swept the round; Manny scored a knockdown with left hand that dropped Marquez flat on his back late in the 3^rd round, rocked Marquez again later in the round and won the round 10-8 on all three scorecards, then swept the 4^th round on all three scorecards, as well; Marquez rallied and swept the 5^th, 7^th, and 8^th rounds, but was nicked over his right eye in the 5^th, and cut badly over the same eye by a clash of heads in the 7^th; Manny was also cut badly over his right eye; Manny staggered Marquez with a left hand early in the 10^th round, then rocked him against with series of punches moments later and swept the round, but Marquez finished the fight very strongly – he swept the 11^th round and won the 12^th on two scorecards; scored 115-112, 114-113 Pacquiao, 115-112 Marquez...

2007 – 5^TH WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE DEFENSE - on 10-6-07 in Las Vegas, NV, he won a 12 round unanimous decision in the rematch against 33 year-old former three-time WBO jr. featherweight, IBF jr. lightweight and WBC super featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera (63-5): the bout headlined at Mandalay Bay and drew a crowd of 10,112, and Manny dominated the fight; Barrera had his moments – he rocked Manny with a right hand in the 3^rd round and scored with a hard left hook and left uupercut in the 5^th, but Manny pressed forward and consistently outworked him; Manny staggered Barrera and cut him under his right eye in the 11^th round, and Barrera was penalized one point for punching on a break later in the round after he staggered Manny with a right hand; scored 118-109, 118-109, 115-112; after the fight, Manny said, ““It was a good fight, and it was different from the first fight. He’s a good, smart boxer. I’m satisfied with the result. I knew he would have to box me this time around. I thought the people were happy with that fight. I’m trying to make people happy, to give a good fight. I hope that people liked this fight tonight. We did our best. I was careful in this fight. He’s still a good fighter. I was just lucky in the first fight that it happened like that.”...

4^TH WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE DEFENSE - on 4-14-07 in San Antonio, TX, he won by knockout (8^th round) against Jorge Solis (32-0-2): the fight headlined at the Alamodome and drew a crowd of 14,793; the early rounds were tactical and close, and both were effective at times; Manny was cut over his left eye by a clash of heads in the 6^th round, but rocked Solis later in the round; Manny stepped up his pace in the 7^th round, then scored two knockdowns in the 8^th – both with left hands – and he was counted out at 1:16; after the fight, Manny said, “In the early rounds I took it easy, but when I got a cut I was throwing more combinations and pretty soon I knocked him out.”...

2006 – 3^RD WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE DEFENSE - on 11-18-06 in Las Vegas, NV, he won by knockout (3^rd round) against former WBC super bantamweight, two-time featherweight, and super featherweight world champion Erik Morales (48-4): the fight headlined at the Thomas & Mack Center and drew an announced crowd of 18,276; Morales gave a tremendous effort, but Manny gave a sensational performance, dominated the fight, and quickly overpowered him; Manny rocked Morales with a right hook in the 1^st round and scored a knockdown with a straight left hand in the 2^nd; Manny staggered Morales, then scored a knockdown with a series of punches in the 3^rd round – Morales came back with a furious attack and rocked Manny, but Manny scored another knockdown and Morales was counted out at 2:57;

2^ND WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE DEFENSE - on 7-2-06 in Manila, PHIL, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former WBC super bantamweight world champion Oscar Larios (56-4-1): the fight headlined at the historic Araneta Coliseum, the site of the “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975; Larios had some early success and staggered Manny in the 3^rd round, but Manny came back and cut Larios over the left eye later in the round; several rounds were close, but Manny had the edge in most and and gave Larios a severe beating; Manny scored one knockdown in the 7^th round and another in the 12^th, and won by scores of 120-106, 118-108, 117-111; after the fight, Manny said, “Their plan was for me to finish the match early, but my plan was that I would not rush, as long as I’m ahead on points. Sometimes if you rush, you may have a problem, because he can squeeze in a punch.”...

1^ST WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE DEFENSE - on 1-21-06 in Las Vegas he won by TKO (10^th round) against defending champion Erik Morales (48-3): the rematch headlined at the Thomas & Mack Center, and drew announced crowd of 14,618; it was an exciting fight, and both gave tremendous efforts; the early rounds were close, but Morales rallied and swept rounds 3 through 5 on all three scorecards and after five rounds, led by scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47; but Manny came on strongly in the 6^th - he consistently landed the harder punches and swept rounds six through nine on all three scorecards; Manny scored two knockdowns in the 10^th - the first with a straight left hand, the second after a series of punches - and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:33; after nine rounds, Manny led by scores of 86-85, 87-84, 87-84; after the fight, Manny said, “The first fight was tough for me to go to the body because I had the bloody eye. The big difference is that I could see, I could see his punches coming. I saw I hurt him every time I hit him in the body. I wasn’t expecting to knock him out. I was lucky that I was to get to his body and his head.”..; Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reported, “Pacquiao...put on a spectacular performance in a sensational action fight.”...

2005 - WON VACANT WBC INTERNATIONAL SF TITLE - on 9-10-05 in Los Angeles, CA, he won by TKO (6^th round) against Hector Velazquez (42-10-2): Velazquez started fast and gave a good effort, but Manny outworked him, landed the harder punches, and dominated most of the fight; Manny staggered Velazquez with a right hook in the 6^th round, then scored a knockdown moments later; Velazquez got up at the count of eight, but the referee stopped the fight at 2:59; after five rounds, Manny led by scores of 49-46, 49-46, 48-47; after the fight, Manny said, “This is exactly what we trained for. It was the body shots that set him up for the K.O.”…

On 3-19-05 in Las Vegas, NV, lost a 12 round unanimous decision against former WBC super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight world champion Erik Morales (47-2): it was one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year, and it was boxing at its best; the event drew a capacity crowd of 14,623 to the MGM Grand, and it was a ferocious battle that repeatedly brought the fans to their feet; it was a very close fight, and the momentum shifted back and forth - Manny started fast and won the first and third rounds on all three scorecards, but Morales weathered the early storm and rallied in the middle and late rounds; Morales won the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds on two scorecards, then the eighth, tenth, and eleventh on all three; Manny was cut over the right eye in the 5^th round - ruled by a punch - but he won the seventh round on two scorecards, and swept the ninth and twelfth; both stood toe-to-toe in the final round and punched nonstop until the bell; all three judges scored the fight 115-113; after the fight, Manny said, “I couldn’t see out of one eye, and it was very hard. If I am not cut on one eye, I think I can knock him out. But I did my best and gave everyone a good fight.”…

2004 - on 12-11-04 in Taguig City, PHIL, he won by TKO (4^th round) against Fahsan Thawatchai (44-7-1): the event drew an estimated crowd of 25,000 at The Fort, and Manny gave a devastating performance; he scored one knockdown in the 2^nd round, another in the 3^rd, and two more in the 4^th - Fahsan was out cold, and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 1:26…

IBF, WBA F WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE - on 5-8-04 in Las Vegas, NV, he had a 12 round draw against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez (42-2): Manny scored three knockdowns in the 1^st round, and Marquez’ nose was injured badly and bled throughout the fight; but Marquez showed tremendous heart and determination, gradually recovered, and boxed effectively for much of the fight; Marquez swept rounds three through six on two judges’ scorecards - he rocked Manny and cut him over the right eye in the 5^th, and staggered him in the 6^th; the second half of the fight was exciting, and the momentum went back and forth - Manny landed the harder punches, but Marquez kept a busier pace and won four of the last six rounds on one scorecard, and five on another; the final scores were 115-110 Marquez, 115-110 Pacquiao, 113-113; after the fight, Manny said, “I’m disappointed. I thought I won, I didn’t think it was close. I thought I took his fight away from him.”…

2003 - in his last fight on 11-15-03 in San Antonio, TX, he won by TKO (11^th round) against former three-time WBO jr. featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera (57-3): the fight was at 126 pounds, and Barrera, considered by many observers to be the world’s best featherweight, was a 4-1 favorite to win; but Manny gave a sensational performance; he was knocked down in the 1^st round - replays showed that he was tripped when the punch was thrown - but dominated the rest of the fight; Manny scored a knockdown in the 3^rd round, then rocked Barrera with several punches later in the round; he relentlessly pressured Barrera, landed the harder punches and wore him down; Barrera’s left eye was swollen in the 4^th round, and he was cut over the same eye by a clash of heads in the 7^th; Barrera was also penalized one point for punching on the break in the 9^th round; Manny scored another knockdown in the 11^th round - Barrera got up, but Manny rocked him with a series of punches and Barrera’s corner stopped the fight at 2:56; after 10 rounds, Manny led by scores of 97-88, 97-90, 97-90; after the fight, Manny said, “I really focused through this fight. “Very early, I knew I was going to knock him out. When I knocked him down in the third, I thought it was over. But he came back. I’m surprised he lasted that long.”…

4^TH IBF JF WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 7-26-03 in Los Angeles, CA, he won by knockout (3^rd round) against previously undefeated Emmanuel Lucero (21-0-1): it was a spectacular one-punch knockout; Lucero was an awkward opponent - he pressed forward, dipped almost to the canvas at times and lunged at Manny with wide punches; Manny landed a single left hand in the 3^rd round that sent Lucero staggering across the ring, out on his feet, and the referee stopped the fight at 0:48 as Lucero slumped to the canvas; after the fight, Manny said, “He was way too low. He looked like an amateur fighter.”…

On 3-15-03 in Manila, PH, he won by TKO (5^th round) against Serik Eshmagametov (13-18-1): the fight drew an announced attendance of 50,000 to Manila’s historic Luneta Park; Manny scored a knockdown in the 1^st round, but Eshmagametov rallied and scored a knockdown in the 4^th; Manny came back strongly, scored two knockdowns in the 5^th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:52…

2002 - 3^RD IBF JF WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 10-26-02 in Davao, PH, he won by TKO (1^st round) against Fahproakob Sithkwenim (36-2): the fight was held at Rizal Memorial College gymnasium; Manny scored four knockdowns in the 1^st round, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:36; after the fight, Manny said, “I really prepared for the fight. I was really surprised why he got down when I hit him with a right cross. I studied his punch and he always brought down his left hand.”…

2^ND IBF JF WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 6-8-02 in Memphis, TN, he won by knockout (2^nd round) against Jorge Julio (44-3): the fight was the co-featured bout with the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson main event; Manny scored two knockdowns early in the 2^nd round and bloodied Julio’s nose; Julio got up both times, but Manny rocked him again and the referee stopped the fight at 1:09; after the fight, Manny said, “I hope that now people will start to respect me a little more. The plan was to come out and let him feel my power early. I knew after the first knockdown that it was a matter of time.I didn’t think it would be that easy.”…

2001 – 1^ST IBF JF WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 10-11-01 in San Francisco, CA, he had a technical draw (6^th round) against WBO world champion Agapito Sanchez (33-7-1): it was a very dirty fight with continuous mauling and repeated fouls; Manny was cut badly over the right eye in the 2^nd round by a clash of heads, and later on his left ear; Sanchez was penalized one point in the 3^rd round for pushing the laces of his gloves against Manny’s cut, and another point in the 4^th for low blows; Sanchez was also cut over his left eye in the 5^th; the referee stopped the fight on Manny’s cut at 1:20 of the 6^th round and went to the scorecards - 58-54 Pacquiao, 57-55 Sanchez, 56-56; after the fight, trainer Freddie Roach said, “Tremendous miscarriage of boxing justice. Sanchez repeatedly made intentional fouls.”…

WON IBF JF WORLD TITLE – on 6-23-01 in Las Vegas, NV, he won by TKO (6^th round) against defending champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (33-1-1): Manny took the fight on two weeks’ notice and gave a sensational performance - he bloodied Ledwaba’s nose in the 1^st round, knocked him down in the 2^nd, then rocked him several times in the 3^rd and 4^th; Manny scored two more knockdowns in the 6^th, and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 0:59; after the fight, Manny said, “This is a dream come true. My dream was to be champion again. He did not hurt me at all. He did not even hit me hard. I was in control the entire fight.”…

4^TH WBC INTERNATIONAL JF DEFENSE – on 4-28-01 in Kidapawan City, PH, he won by TKO (6^th round) against Kumanpetch Kiatvoraphong (38-2): it was a wild fight in front of nearly 20,000 fans; Manny was floored by low blows two times in the 4^th round, and one time in the 5^th, and Kumanpetch was penalized one point; but Manny came back strong in the 6^th – he staggered Kumanpetch with a right hand, then rocked him with a series of punches, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:46…

3^RD WBC INTERNATIONAL JF DEFENSE –on 2-24-01 in Antipolo, PH, he won by TKO (5^th round, 1:06) against Cholho Kang (19-4-3): Kang, a North Korean based in Japan, is also known as Tetsutora Senrima…

2000 – 2^ND WBC INTERNATIONAL JF DEFENSE –on 10-14-00 in Manila, PH, he won by TKO (10^th round) against previously undefeated British Commonwealth champion Nadel Hussein (19-0): Hussein, born in Lebanon and based in Australia, fought very aggressively; Hussein scored a knockdown in the 4^th round, but was also penalized one point; Manny came back in the 5^th round and cut Hussein over and under the left eye, and the fight was eventually stopped on the cuts at 1:48 of the 10^th; after nine rounds, Manny led by scores of 87-80, 87-83, 87-85; Hussein and his trainer, former three-time world champion Jeff Fenech, protested bitterly that Manny received a long count after his knockdown and that Hussein’s cuts had been ruled from a clash of heads; the crowd threw bottles and coins into the ring and Fenech challenged a heckler to a fight; after the fight, Manny said, “His punches are really strong. This is my toughest fight so far.”…

1^ST WBC INTERNATIONAL JF DEFENSE – on 6-28-00 in Quezon City, PH, he won by TKO (1^st round, 1:42) against previously undefeated Sungkwon Chae (23-0)…

1999 – WON WBC INTERNATIONAL JF TITLE – on 12-18-99 in Manila he won by TKO (2^nd round) against former Philippines champion and world title challenger Reynante Jamili (41-5): the fight headlined at the Fiesta Fistiana, the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s annual fund-raiser for retired and disabled boxers; Manny scored three knockdowns, and stopped Jamili in the 2^nd round; after the fight, Manny said, “I feel great. I have great trainers who told me to relax and take it slow.”…

LOST WBC FL WORLD TITLE – on 9-17-99 in Thammarat, TH, he lost by knockout (3^rd round) against against Medgoen Lukchaopormasak (19-0): Manny lost the title at the weigh-in when he did not make weight, and Medgoen won the vacant title; Medgoen scored a knockdown with a body punch in the 3^rd round, and Manny was counted out at 1:32…

1^ST WBC FL WORLD TITLE DEFENSE – on 4-23-99 in Manila he won by knockout (4^th round) against Gabriel Mira (19-7-1): the fight headlined at Araneta Coliseum - the site of the “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975 - and drew 15,000 fans; Mira started fast and rocked Manny two times in the 2^nd round, but Manny rallied to knock down Mira later in the round; Manny scored another knockdown in the 3^rd, and three more in the 4^th, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:45…

1998 – WON WBC FL WORLD TITLE – on 12-4-98 in Phuttamonthon, TH, he won by knockout (8^th round) against defending champion Chatchai Sasakul (33-1): it was a spectacular one-punch knockout; Sasakul dominated the early rounds with his speed and sharp combination punching, but Manny rocked him in the 4^th round; Sasakul recovered quickly and continued to box effectively, but Manny scored a knockdown with a left hand in the 8^th round, and Sasakul was counted out at 2:54; after seven rounds, Sasakul led by scores of 70-64, 69-64, 68-65…

WON OPBF FL TITLE – on 6-27-97 in Manila he won by knockout (5^th round, 2:46) against Chokchai Chokwiwat (34-2)…

He debuted at the age of 16 on 1-22-95...

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Manny was born in General Santos City, Philippines, and grew up in a family with six children...his parents were vegetable farmers...Manny built a house for his mother close to his own...

When Manny was 14, he moved to Manila...he started boxing and made the Philippines’ national amateur team - his room and board were paid for by the federal government, and he reportedly had 64 amateur fights (60-4)...he said, “When I was younger, I watched so many videos of Larry Holmes, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and others. I used to rent the videos.”…

He turned pro at 16 and won the Oriental-Pacific flyweight title when he was 18; he invited his brother Bobby to come to Manila and took him to the boxing gym...brother Rogel was also a talented boxer, but suffered a head injury in a motorcycle accident and no longer boxes...

Manny has starred in several popular Filipino action movies, and is a successful recording artist...

From wikipedia.com [excerpts]: He is the son of Rosalio Pacquiao and Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao. His parents separated when he was in sixth grade, after his mother discovered that his father was living with another woman. He is the fourth among six siblings: Liza Silvestre-Onding and Domingo Silvestre (from first husband of his mother) and Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan, Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao and Rogelio Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is married to Maria Geraldine “Jinkee” Jamora, and they have four children: Emmanuel Jr. “Jimuel,” Michael, Princess, and Queen Elizabeth “Queenie.” He resides in his hometown General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines. 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. Within the ring, he frequently makes the sign of the cross and every time 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 15^th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army. When younger he had considered becoming a soldier, and was enlisted in the military reserve force as an Army Private.

Pacquiao completed his elementary education at Saavedra Saway Elementary School in General Santos City, but dropped out of high school due to extreme poverty. He left his home at age 14 because his mother, who had six children, was not making enough money to support her family.

At the age of 14, Pacquiao moved to Manila and lived, for a time, on the streets. He started boxing and made the Philippine national amateur boxing team where his room and board were paid for by the government. Pacquiao reportedly had an amateur record of 64 fights (60-4).

In 1995, the death of a young aspiring boxer and close friend Eugene Barutag spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career. Pacquiao started his professional boxing career when he was just 16 years of age, stood at 4’11”, and weighed 98 pounds (7 pounds under the minimumweight division). He admitted before American media that he put weights in his pockets to make the 105-pound weight limit.

In February 2007 he took, and passed, a high school equivalency exam making him eligible for college education. He was awarded with a high school diploma by the Department of Education. Pacquiao enrolled for a college degree in business management at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) in his hometown in General Santos City.

On 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 in recognition of his boxing achievements and humanitarian work.

In preparation for his career as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Pacquiao enrolled in the Certificate Course in Development, Legislation, and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines – Graduate School of Public and Development Management (DAP-GSPDM).

A film based on Pacquiao's life, Pacquiao: The Movie, was released on June 21, 2006, featuring Filipino actor Jericho Rosales as Manny Pacquiao and was directed by Joel Lamangan. Pacquiao is featured in the boxing video games Fight Night Round 2, Fight Night Round 3, Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion.

Pacquiao became the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp.

Pacquiao became the first Filipino Olympic non-participant to be Team Philippines’ flag-bearer during the August 8 opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium. Swimmer Miguel Molina, 2005 Southeast Asian Games’ Best Male Athlete, yielded the honor to Pacquiao, upon the request of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the national sports officials on the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Pacquiao plays basketball as a cross-training to keep himself in shape. He is playing in the semi-professional basketball league, Liga Pilipinas, with the team he owns, the MP-Gensan Warriors. He made his debut in the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference II in January 16, 2009. He wears jersey number 17.

Pacquiao has been included by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people for the year 2009, for his exploits in boxing and his influence among the Filipino people. Pacquiao was also included by Forbes Magazine in its annual Celebrity 100 list for the year 2009, joining Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and fellow athletes Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. Forbes also listed Pacquiao as the World's 6^th Highest Paid Athlete, with a total of 40 Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) from the second half of 2008 to the first half of 2009. Tied with him on the sixth spot was the NBA player LeBron James and golfer Phil Mickelson. Pacquiao was again included in Forbes’ list of Highest Paid Athletes from the second half of 2009 to the first half of 2010; he was ranked 8^th with an income of $42 million. Pacquiao had also won the 2009 ESPY Awards for the Best Fighter category, beating fellow boxer Shane Mosley and Brazilian mixed martial arts fighters Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. [End wikipedia.com item]

From Time Magazine, Asia edition, Nov. 16, 2009, by Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor [excerpts]: Pacquiao has a myth of origin equal to that of any Greek or Roman hero. Aban-doned by his father and brought up by a tough-as-nails mother, the poor boy who loves to box is rejected by a local squad but then journeys many islands away, to the country’s metropolis, Manila, to make it big. Then he leaves the Philippines to make it even bigger, conquering the world again and again to bring back riches to share with his family and friends. Now, in his hometown of General Santos City on the island of Mindanao, he and his family own commercial buildings, a convenience store, cafés and a souvenir shop that sells everything from DVDs of his fights to T-shirts to bobblehead dolls. In Manila, his children attend one of the most exclusive and expensive private schools. He is generous to a fault, spending thousands of dollars a day feeding and entertaining guests. For his last fight, he distributed $800,000 in tickets to friends.

He left home at 14 because his mother Dionisia, who did odd jobs and factory work and hawked vegetables by roadsides, wasn’t really making enough to feed her six children. He had to go off and earn money elsewhere, doing anything to relieve the burden on his mother - even if she wanted him by her side. As it was, he was often absent from school because the family needed him to help sell snacks and trinkets on the potholed lanes where nearly naked children with matted hair still chase rusting bicycle wheels for fun. Pacquiao liked school, correcting and grading his classmates’ homework. He “never cheated during a quiz - he wouldn’t try to look sideways, this way or that,” says one of his schoolteachers from the Saavedra Saway Elementary School. A decent education, however, requires several years and a lot of money. The Pacquiaos had trouble accumulating even a little.

And so young Manny plotted his trip in secret. Dionisia Pacquiao is slender and slight, like her son, and has his easy smile. “Manny has a strong mind and a strong body,” she says. “Just like his mother. Except I am stronger.” But she was heartbroken when he left for Manila. Dionisia recalls receiving a letter from him “saying how sorry he was [for leaving home] ... I was very, very sad. But after a while, I accepted his destiny.”

Pacquiao was not one to pick quarrels. But he did not shy away when friends got into free-for-alls: what he calls, with an almost pop-eyed relish, bukbukan - unrestrained fistfighting. He loved boxing. Dionisia recalls an 8-year-old Manny wrapping towels around his hands to mimic gloves. Rey Golingan, a General Santos City businessman, remembers the young Pacquiao attending the weekly bouts in the main plaza. “Manny was always there at the fights, waiting to be paired with someone,” says Golingan. But his consistency wasn’t matched by any obvious talent. “Honestly, I didn’t see any potential in Manny. He was just another kid who knew if he won a few fights he might get 100 pesos [less than $3],” says Golingan. “He was always very courageous and had natural speed and power. But he wasn’t a clever boxer ... He was [always] flailing around.”

When he got to Manila, Pacquiao first worked as a laborer. His enthusiasm for boxing, however, had him returning to the ring, fighting in run-for-cover, barely legal matches pulled together in one of Manila’s cramped suburbs. He lingers over the names of boxers he knew who died after such fights, then moves on. The death of a friend reportedly spurred Pacquiao to turn professional. [End Time Magazine item]

STRENGTHS: A lefthander with good skills, speed, and movement…has good punching power in both hands...physically strong, tough and determined...is always in top condition…is experienced against top opposition…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 61 fights...368 total rounds...138 world championship rounds...

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 6 rounds...

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 70 %...

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 11 (8-2-1)…11 rounds – 1 (1-0)...10 rounds – 5 (5-0)...