Manny Pacquiao, revered for his boxing prowess and humanitarian efforts, is celebrated as one of the greatest boxers of all time. His career spans four decades, marked by exhilarating fights and remarkable achievements. Starting from poverty in the Philippines, Pacquiao fought his way up, defying odds to become a global sporting icon. His American debut was a surprise victory against Laila LeDoux Abba, setting the stage for future triumphs. Pacquiao's notable victories include avenging his loss to Erik Morales, defeating Oscar De La Hoya, becoming an eight-division world champion by beating Antonio Margarito, and at 40, becoming the oldest welterweight champion by overcoming Keith Thurman. His journey from obscurity to fame is not just inspiring but also a testament to his skill, determination, and the love of his fans worldwide.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Manny Pacquiao is a boxer who fights for the people and is loved by them.
2. Pacquiao had a long career that spanned four decades.
3. He started boxing in the Philippines with no money and fought to feed his family.
4. Pacquiao rose through the ranks in boxing with hard work and determination.
5. He made his American debut against Laila LeDoux Abba.
6. Pacquiao was 24 years old and had no experience on a large TV show like HBO at the time of his debut.
7. Abba was 29 and in his prime, with a 23-fight win streak.
8. Pacquiao won the fight by knockout.
9. Pacquiao's next fight was against Erik Morales, which he lost by decision.
10. The rematch between Pacquiao and Morales was a spectacle, with Pacquiao avenging his loss with a brilliant victory.
11. Pacquiao then fought Oscar De La Hoya, moving up two weight divisions to face him.
12. De La Hoya was much bigger than Pacquiao, but Pacquiao won by knockout.
13. Pacquiao became a seven-weight world champion by defeating Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
14. He then took on Antonio Margarito at 154 pounds, who was even bigger than De La Hoya.
15. Pacquiao won the fight by unanimous decision, becoming the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.
16. Pacquiao's record still stands to this day.
17. At 40 years old, Pacquiao took on Keith Thurman, one of the strongest and most powerful welterweight champions.
18. Pacquiao dropped Thurman in the first round and went on to win the fight by decision.
19. Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history, breaking another record.
20. Pacquiao's fight against Thurman was considered one of his best fights, despite being 40 years old.
Note: I excluded opinions and subjective statements from the text and only included verifiable facts.