Today in Ph History, Dec. 17, 1978, Manny Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon

Manny Pacquiao, the first boxer in history to win 10 world titles in eight different weight divisions, was born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon.

Coming from a poor family, Pacquiao, better known as “Pacman,” “the Destroyer” and “Pambansang Kamao,” started his professional boxing career on January 22, 1995 with his maiden fight against Edmund Enting Ignacio and won on the fourth round. He was only 16 years old then and weighed 106 pounds (light-flyweight).

The death of his close friend, Mark Penaflorida, in 1994 spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.

Eventually, from his home-based General Santos City, he went to Manila and, managed by Polding Correa, quickly rose from the ranks with promoter Rod Nazario as business manager.

He became the Oriental flyweight titleholder by stopping Thai veteran Chockhai Chokwiwat in 1997, and a year later captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown in a sensational come-from-behind knockout over Chatchai Sasakul in Bangkok.

Pacquiao lost via knockout to Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon 3-K Battery, but he never lost his sense of direction and remained determined to get on top.

He went to the United States in 2001, searching for greener pastures. After running out of opponents in Asia, he found himself invading the lucrative but discriminating American market.

Pacquiao’s big break came against former International Boxing Federation World super bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, in a fight held in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 23, 2001.

He won the fight by technical knockout to become the new IBF World super bantamweight champion (his second major boxing world title). Pacquiao went on to defend this title four times, aided by his expert trainer Freddie Roach.

He won over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.

Pacquiao lost his first fight at super featherweight against Erik Morales via unanimous decision in a 12-round match, but knocked Morales out in the 10th round of their rematch fight in 2006. He also knocked Morales out in the third round of their third and last fight held in November 2006.

He bagged the WBC super featherweight crown by outpointing Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2008 and the WBC lightweight belt by stopping David Diaz a few months later. Before the year ended, Pacquiao forced Oscar De la Hoya to surrender in a monumental battle in Las Vegas.

In 2009, the Pambansang Kamao made history by claiming the IBO light-welterweight diadem by knocking out Ricky Hatton and the WBO welterweight title by blasting Miguel Cotto into submission.

On March 13, 2010, at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey via unanimous decision to retain his WBO Welterweight World Title belt.

On November 13, 2010, Pacquiao defeated Antonio Margarito via unanimous decision in a fight for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Title that gave him the chance to win a world title in his eighth weight class, the light middleweight or super welterweight division.

On May 7, 2011, Pacquiao successfully defended his WBO welterweight title against three-division world champion Shane Mosley via.

On November 12, 2011, Juan Manuel Marquez lost to Pacquiao via majority decision his WBO Welterwieght Title.

On Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao lost to Marquez in their WBO world welterweight rematch. Pacquiao was knocked down at 2:59 of the sixth round.

Aside from boxing, Pacquiao has participated in acting, music recording, and politics.

In May 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines, representing the province of Sarangani. He is the only active boxer to become a congressman in the Philippines.

He is also a military reservist with the rank of Sergeant Major for the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army.

Reference:
Philippine News Agency archives
Photo credit: Wikimedia

Source: kahimyang.com