Manny Pacquiao Biography
Summary
"Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao" (, /pa'kjaw/ in Cebuano and Tagalog, also in Bikol; born December 17, 1978), more commonly known as "Manny Pacquiao", is a Filipino professional boxer.
He is currently the WBO World welterweight champion, IBO and "Ring Magazine" light welterweight champion, and is rated by "Ring Magazine" as the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
He is also the former WBC World lightweight champion, WBC World super featherweight champion, IBF World super bantamweight champion, and WBC World flyweight champion. Furthermore, he is the former "Ring Magazine" featherweight and super featherweight champion.
The Filipino boxing superstar is the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. In addition, he is the only boxer to win the lineal championship ('the man who beat the man') in four different weight classes. Aside from being a boxer, Pacquiao has participated in politics, acting, filmmaking, and music recording.
Personal life
Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao and currently resides in his home town General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines. He is married to Jinkee Pacquiao, and they have four children. Pacquiao received only an elementary school education. Recently, he took a high school equivalency exam, which he passed, and enrolled for a college degree at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University. He is also a military reservist with the rank of sergeant major.
Boxing career
Early career
Pacquiao started his professional boxing career when he was just 16 years of age and weighed 106 pounds (light flyweight). His early fights took place in small local venues and were shown on Vintage Sports' "Blow by Blow", an evening boxing show. His professional debut was a four round bout against Edmund 'Enting' Ignacio, on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program. Close friend Mark Penaflorida's death in 1994 spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.
His weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds, before losing in his twelfth bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round knockout. Pacquiao had not made the weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting him at a disadvantage.
Shortly after the Torrecampo fight, Pacquiao settled at 112 pounds, winning the WBC World flyweight title (his first major boxing world title as well as the flyweight lineal title) over Chatchai Sasakul by way of knockout in the eighth round. However, Pacquiao lost the title in his second defense against Medgoen Singsurat, also known as Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third round knockout. The bout was held in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Technically, Pacquiao lost the belt at the scales, as he surpassed the weight limit of 112 pounds.
Following his loss to Singsurat, Pacquiao gained weight anew. This time, Pacquiao went to the super bantamweight division of 122 pounds, where he picked up the WBC International super bantamweight title. He defended this title five times before his chance for a world title fight came.
Pacquiao's big break came on June 23, 2001, against former IBF World super bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao stepped into the fight as a late replacement and won the fight by technical knockout to become the new IBF World super bantamweight champion (his second major boxing world title). The bout was held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao went on to defend this title four times, aided by his expert training from Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.
First fight with Barrera
On November 15, 2003, Pacquiao faced Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, in a fight that many consider to have defined his career. Pacquiao, moving up in weight and in his first fight ever in the featherweight division, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via technical knockout in the eleventh round.
Although this bout was not recognized as a title fight by any sanctioning bodies, after his victory Pacquiao was crowned "Ring Magazine" featherweight champion (as well as the lineal featherweight champion), and he held that title until relinquishing it in 2005.
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Manny Pacquiao.
