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Revision as of 22:22, 3 March 2005 by 202.57.93.42 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, (born December 17, 1978) the "Pacman", is the reigning People's Featherweight Champion of the World (2003 to present), former IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (2001 to 2004), and former WBC Flyweight Champion (1998 to 1999). Only 25 years of age, he has already compiled an impressive 39 Wins, 2 Losses, and 2 Draws record, with 30 wins coming by way of knockout.
The boxer who hails from General Santos City (The Tuna Capital of the World), Philippines is also dubbed "The Destroyer" by his peers in the boxing world, because of the way he dominates and sweeps over his challengers and opponents. He has a devastating left punch that has the ability to end a match in an instant.
Pacquiao started to impress the boxing world on his first American soil debut fight against the classy and highly-ranked South African fighter Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, whom he overpowered and knocked-out in the 6th round. Pacquiao captured the IBF 122lbs. Super Bantamweight Title and continued to defend it flawlessly, demolishing 5 tough, classy challengers in a row, which included the then unbeaten Jorge Eliecier Julio and Emmanuel "The Butcher" Lucero.
The match that defined his career however, came against his childhood boxing idol the venerable and legendary Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico. Pacquiao had been dreaming and training his entire career for this match. Fortunately, his perseverance and hardwork paid off as he pummelled Barrera into submission in a stunning 11th round TKO when Barrera's corner threw in the towel. With this victory the "Pacman" captured the People's Featherweight Title. Pacquiao's performance established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, and put the Philippines on the boxing world's map again where he follows in the footsteps of past Filipino boxing stars such as Gabriel "Flash" Elorde and Pancho Villa.
Pacquiao's march to greatness continued as he went on to challenge another respected and technical Mexican boxer, Juan Manuel Marquez, holder of the WBA and IBF Featherweight Title. Experts predicted that Marquez, a dangerous counter-puncher, would prevail over Pacquiao because of his superior boxing skills. The fight turned out to be one of the greatest Featherweight clashes in the history of boxing. Pacquiao's superior handspeed and punching power was displayed early as he stormed Marquez with lightning jabs and straight lefts that sent the Mexican Champion to the mat three times in the first round alone. Marquez, however, beaten and bloodied, proved that he had the heart of a Champion as he rose to the challenge and continued to use his counter-punching and boxing skills to push the match into the 12th round.
The match ended in a controversial draw. Some say that Pacquiao should have won by at least 2 points by virtue of his 3 knockdowns over Marquez in the 1st Round, while others believe that it was a fair decision because Marquez seemed to have equalized by points because of his accurate counter-punching after the earlier rounds. But it was the discrepancy in the score cards that caused massive clamour from boxing fans around the world: one of the judges admitted that he forgot a certain rule on the awarding of points whenever a boxer gets knocked down 3 times in a single round. This mistake proved fatal to Pacquiao's quest for greatness, because it was certain that he only needed a point or two to capture the current WBA and IBF Featherweight Championship of the World.
Recently (December 2004), Manny Pacquiao won against Fahsung Pirang of Thailand, knocking him out in the fourth-round. The devastating ax-like left uppercut to the jaw knocked down the Thai fighter with both feet off the canvass and ended the fight completely as referee Ferdinand Estrella did not bother to count the senseless Fahsan.
In a riveting and historic match up he will collide with three-time world champion Erik Morales in a scorching showdown at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on March 19, 2005. Both fighters go to an immediate attack, put on pressure and fire blistering punches. Morales and Pacquiao have been in many thrilling championship battles and are recognized by boxing pundits as the two top action and best pound for pound fighters.
External Links
Manny Pacquiao Fan Site, with news and photos
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