Manny Pacquiao

A top ten song on American music charts, numerous movie appearances, worldwide endorsement deals, and a seat in the Philippine’s Congress are a few of Manny Pacquiao’s latest accomplishments. This doesn’t even take into account what he is most known for- his boxing record. However, getting to this point has been a struggle and a journey that many around the world have come to admire. Manny Pacquiao’s life started in poverty as nearly 50% of those from the Philippine’s do. It didn’t take long before he ran away from home because his father ate his pet dog. As if that isn’t tough enough, this “escape” was to a cardboard box on the streets. The only way that he made money while living in this makeshift home was to buy doughnuts and sell them on the street for a nickel more than they cost. All the while, he was fighting day in and day out to make it out of poverty as a professional boxer; he finally did so at the age of fourteen. Luckily for Manny, he was able to hold onto this opportunity as a way out of the streets and into a boxing career.
After winning and defending titles in a number of divisions, Manny faced Marco Barrera in 2003, which provided him with his biggest spotlight yet. After defeating Barrera and winning the Featherweight World Title, the “Fighting Pride of the Philippines” was making large waves in his home country. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit and the Congressional Medal of Achievement because of his TKO days earlier. Not too many people knew that this award wouldn’t be his last order of business with the Congress of the Philippines.
Since 2003, Pacquiao has bounced through a number of weight divisions to meet the best opponents available. At only 5’ 6 ½”, he has been the underdog in many of these fights. However, he has been able to win and defend titles as Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight. With each win, his popularity has continued to grow not only in the Philippines, but also