Video credit to HBOsports
Manny Pacquiao has come along way from selling doughnuts on the streets to selling pay-per-views inside the ring. It's hard not to marvel at the People's Champ's rags to riches story. A hero not so different from those we usually see in the movies. Born of humble beginnings he persevered and honed his skills to become the best version of himself that he can be. He overcame all the obstacles that hindered his path and paved the way for Philippine Boxing. His career, though not one of perfection is undeniably one of the greatest in the history of the sport. A tale that will be told by Filipinos and boxing purists for quite a long while.
Most pundits believe that Pacquiao is a lock for the Boxing Hall of Fame. The great fights he has given us are countless. Some of the fights that will be remembered more than others would be his bouts against Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Oscar dela Hoya. With the help of trainer Freddie Roach, fans have seen him develop from a heavy hitting southpaw into one of the most dynamic fighters in boxing. Winning world titles in different divisions against formidable foes helped make Manny one of the most popular athletes in the world.
As he enters his 64th fight against Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Macao, one can't help but wonder how many more times we will see the great champion fight inside the boxing ring. Aside from boxing, he has devoted himself to various other fields such as politics, basketball, and religious endeavors. Pacquiao is not just a boxing hero but also many other things to Filipinos and his fans. More than anything he has been a great inspiration. A living proof that hardwork, faith, perseverance, and humilty will help us achieve our dreams. That there is always hope for those that dare to dream and take action.
There is a saying that " All good things must come to an end". Eventually there will be a time when Pacquiao will retire from boxing. When? That is a question that only he and father time can answer. What we can do as spectators is to enjoy the boxing brilliance that he displays and appreciate that we were able to watch one of the best of all time do his stuff.
By Mang Jose
http://masarapmagingpinoy.blogspot.com
