Manny Pacquiao

t “All of my countrymen are hoping that I win this fight...it will be a great honor for me to go back to the Philippines with the victory.” POUND POUND for Millions danced in the streets and a national holiday was announced by Philip- pines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to mark the latest victory of the island nation’s great 21st century hero: boxing great Manny Pacquiao. The fighter also known as “Pac-Man” won in a knockout, beating British boxer Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton on May 2 and becoming the In- ternational Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine World Light Welterweight champion. It was a world record-tying sixth division title and fourth consecu- tive win in a different weight class. All that plus a 49-3-2 record are why some may think of him as the best fighter of a generation. The man who used to sell donuts and ice water on the streets transformed his humble beginnings into world stardom, and near legendary status in his home country. While carrying the weight of the Philippines on his shoulders in the boxing ring, Pacquiao has also made his marks in politics, business and acting. He can even carry a tune: check out his singing on YouTube. You may even come across one of his three hit singles. In- deed, Pacquiao’s worst defeat came out- side of the ring, when he lost his bid for a Philippines congressional seat in 2007. Regardless, his popularity has contin- ued to soar. Pacquiao plans to retire from boxing this year and intends to make a congressional run again in 2010. (See TIME’s 100 most influential people.) Fast Facts • Nicknames include Pac-Man, The Mexi-cutioner, The People’s Champion and National Fist. • Is the former World Boxing Foundation lightweight world champion, super featherweight champion and flyweight world champion, as well as the Interna- tional Boxing Federation super bantamweight world champion. Has held the Ring Magazine titles for featherweight, super featherweight and light welterweight divisions. Also rated #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by Ring Magazine. • Started his boxing career at age 16, weighing just 106 lb. His early fights took place in small, from TIME Magazine, by BEVAN SCHNEK

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Transcript of Manny Pacquiao

“All of my countrymen are hoping that I win this fight...it will be a great honor for me to go back to the Philippines with the victory.”

POUND

POUNDfor

Millions danced in the streets and a na-tional holiday was announced by Philip-pines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to mark the latest victory of the island nation’s great 21st century hero: boxing great Manny Pacquiao. The fighter also known as “Pac-Man” won in a knockout, beating British boxer Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton on May 2 and becoming the In-ternational Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine World Light Welterweight champion. It was a world record-tying sixth division title and fourth consecu-tive win in a different weight class. All that plus a 49-3-2 record are why some may think of him as the best fighter of a generation.

The man who used to sell donuts and ice water on the streets transformed his humble beginnings into world stardom, and near legendary status in his home country. While carrying the weight of the Philippines on his shoulders in the boxing ring, Pacquiao has also made his marks in politics, business and acting. He can even carry a tune: check out his singing on YouTube. You may even come across one of his three hit singles. In-deed, Pacquiao’s worst defeat came out-side of the ring, when he lost his bid for a Philippines congressional seat in 2007.

Regardless, his popularity has contin-ued to soar. Pacquiao plans to retire from boxing this year and intends to make a congressional run again in 2010. (See TIME’s 100 most influential people.)

Fast Facts• Nicknames include Pac-Man,

The Mexi-cutioner, The People’s Champion and National Fist.

• Is the former World Boxing Foundation lightweight world champion, super featherweight champion and flyweight world champion, as well as the Interna-tional Boxing Federation super bantamweight world champion. Has held the Ring Magazine titles for featherweight, super featherweight and light welter-weight divisions. Also rated #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by Ring Magazine.

• Started his boxing career at age 16, weighing just 106 lb. His early fights took place in small,

from TIME Magazine, by BEVAN SCHNEK