Manny Pacquiao life and biography

Manny Pacquiao, born Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer and reigning WBC International Super Featherweight champion. He is a former world champion at IBF Super Bantamweight, and WBC Flyweight divisions. Pacquiao has a record of 45 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 35 wins coming by way of knockout. His brother, Bobby Pacquiao is also a Super Featherweight boxer.

Pacquiao started his professional boxing career in 1995 at 106 pounds at the age of 16. 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 first professional fight was a four-round bout against Edmund Ignacio on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, thus 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.

Pacquiao went on to defend his title four times before the match that many consider to have defined his career, against the Mexican boxing idol, Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico. Pacquiao, moving up in weight and in his first fight ever in the featherweight division brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via a TKO in the 11th round at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

In a bout held at Taguig City, Philippines, Pacquiao fought against Fahsan (2K-Gas Battery) Por Thawatchai. Pacquiao sent Por Thawchwai to the canvas three times en route to a knockout in the fourth round. A left uppercut to the jaw knocked down the Thai fighter that lifted his feet off the canvas and ended the fight.

Pacquiao once again moved up another division from 126 to 130 pounds in order to fight another Mexican fighter, three-time division champion Erik Morales on March 19, 2005 at the MGM Grand. However this time around at his first fight in the superfeatherweight division, Pacquiao lost the 12 round match by a unanimous decision from the judges.
Pacquiao defeated Erik Morales by TKO in a much-anticipated rematch on January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas at Thomas and Mack Center.

Trainer Freddie Roach had previously voiced concerns about the late night lifestyle and warned that the boxer was in danger of losing both his edge and focus. Roach noted that there are too many distractions surrounding Pacquiao in the Philippines.

At the end of 2006, he was named by both HBO and Ring Magazine as the fighter of the year, with HBO also naming him as the most exciting fighter of the year.
In The Ring magazine, Pacquiao (45-3-2) remains at the top of the junior lightweight division (130 pounds). He had been in the ratings for 108 weeks. Pacquiao is also at No. 2 in the pound-for-pound category behind welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather.

For some time, many have speculated that Manny Pacquiao will enter politics after he ends his boxing career. While boxing is far from over for him, he admitted that he is thinking about starting a career in politics. He quietly visited the Philippine Commission on Elections, escorted by Arnold “Ali” Atienza (son of then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza), to transfer his residence from General Santos City to Manila. This fueled speculations that he may seek an elective post in the nation’s capital, which even gave him the title “Adopted Son” when he was winning his earlier bouts.

Being known as an Arroyo supporter, his name is also being floated as a candidate of the Lakas CMDparty for the mayoralty race of General Santos City against incumbent Mayor Pedro Acharon. Instead, he was recently sworn-in as a member of the Liberal Party under the Atienza wing, thus further fueling his political ambition.

On May 17, 2007, Pacquiao suffered a lopsided election defeat to incumbent representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio with a deficit of about 37,000 votes according to the NAMFREL tally. Meanwhile, WBC head Jose Sulaiman stated that Pacquiao “doesn’t appear to be having the same dynamic impact at the ballot box, as he does in the ringed square.” The defeat became a depressing matter for the boxer himself as he lost a huge sum of money when his supporters allegedly funneled campaign funds to their own pockets. Pacquiao’s personal money was part of the campaign budget. Ironically, Pacquiao’s fans rejoiced over his defeat. Some even declared his loss as a “victory” for boxing. On May 20, 2007, Manny Pacquiao formally conceded to his congresswoman Antonino-Custodio, vowing to return to boxing and spend more time with his family.

On an unrelated event, Pacquiao denied rumors on July 7th, that he failed to pay taxes for a luxury vehicle to the Philippine Bureau of Customs when he bought a Porsche Cayenne two weeks before his match with Erik Morales.

On April 12, 2007, the COMELEC cancelled his commercial appearances in accordance with existing Philippine election laws. Airing of the commercials resumed after the elections.

Manny Pacquiao Titles
Major:
* WBC world flyweight champion
* IBF world super bantamweight champion
* WBC world super featherweight champion
* WBC world lightweight champion

Minor:
* OPBF flyweight champion
* WBC international super bantamweight champion
* WBC international super featherweight champion
* IBO world light welterweight champion

The Ring Magazine titles:
* World featherweight champion
* World super featherweight champion
* World light welterweight champion

Lineal Championship titles:
* World flyweight champion
* World featherweight champion
* World junior lightweight champion
* World junior welterweight champion

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