Manny Pacquiao

About Manny Pacquiao

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, (born December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines), simply known as Manny Pacquiao or Pac-Man, is a Filipino professional boxer. He is the WBC and Ring Magazine Super Featherweight Champion, the former world champion at IBF Super Bantamweight, and WBC Flyweight divisions. Pacquiao took over as the Ring Magazine pound for pound #1 ranked boxer in the world on June 9, 2008, after Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced his retirement from boxing. Pacquiao is the first Asian boxer to win three world titles in three different weight divisions. He will challenge David Díaz in his next bout for Diaz's WBC Lightweight title on June 28 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

Pacquiao started his professional boxing career in 1995 at 106 pounds (Light flyweight) at the age of 16 with his best friends namely Ryan Diwa, Joel Alconvidas, Erick Alcantara, Christopher Hernandez and James Linatoc. His early fights usually took place in small venues and were shown on Vintage Sports' Blow by Blow evening boxing show (hosted by John Ray Betita). His professional debut was a four-round bout against Edmund Ignacio on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program.

His weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round technical knockout (TKO). As well-known sportscaster Joaquin "Quinito" Henson observed, Pacquiao clearly had not made weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting Pacquiao at a disadvantage.[citation needed]