Pacquiao Honored as “Fighter of the Decade”

Right now, Top Rank HQ is humming. “Stadium Slugfest” is about to go down today at the legendary Yankee Stadium beginning with OUR EXCLUSIVE LIVESTREAM of the non-televised undercard bouts at 6:45 PM EST. Next up is the battle between up-and-coming fighters VANES MARTIROSYAN and Joe Greene. And then comes the showdown the boxing world has been buzzing about: super welterweight champ YURI FOREMAN versus challenger and former champ MIGUEL COTTO. Both of those bouts begin at 10 PM EST on HBO.

In the shadow of all the pre-“Stadium Slugfest” activity have been two important events honoring two key figures in the Top Rank family. The first celebrated the man without whom none of this would be possible, Top Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum. He was feted by the Friar’s Club June 3 in New York City. One of those celebrating the larger-than-life promoter that evening was Top Rank fighter Manny Pacquiao, who received HIS OWN SPECIAL RECOGNITION the next night on June 4, also in NYC. The BOXING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA crowned the seven-time world champ “Fighter of the Year” and “Fighter of the Decade.” The awards were made all the sweeter for Pacquiao when his beloved mentor, Freddie Roach, was dubbed “Trainer of the Year.” A hearty congrats to all.