BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Manny Pacquiao has been a boxing legend that has been heard around the world for a reason. His skills in boxing and his dedication to win has been an inspiration to many in the field of the sport. Not only that, the hardships that he encountered along the way, before he became a champion that is well regarded by the nation as well as in the international scene, was no secret, which made people root for him in the many rounds that he fought within the boxing ring.

So much so that it has become almost tradition that whenever he would have a match, it would be the talk of the town for days, and it would be a moment where Filipinos would stay glued to their television set as they anticipate the result of his fight.

After two years of his last boxing match, this year the boxing legend had to face Yordenis Ugas who aimed to defend his title of being the WBA welterweight champion. The thirty-five year old Cuban boxer had indeed caught the attention and respect of many people as he faced Manny Pacquiao, who is forty two years old and still seemed as strong as he was during his prime.

The battle went on for 12 rounds, and it resulted in Ugas being able to defend his belt by unanimous decision, which took place on a Saturday night from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Regarding his win, Ugas said: “I’m very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this moment in the ring today,” Ugas said. “I told you that I’m the only champion of the WBA. He’s a great competitor and I have a lot of respect for him but I won the fight…The double jab was the lead punch. We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out.”

After the fight, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao shared a clip of what he wanted to say on his own Instagram account. In it, he voiced his love for boxing in the future regarding the sport. He said: “We entertain people… when we are boxing in the ring… but the most important thing is what we have done to others. How we can help them. Not only for Filipinos, but to all our brothers and sisters all over the world.How we can help each other, especially during this pandemic.” He went on:”The people are hungry, starving, experiencing difficult times… God is love.. we must love each other….Thank you, boxing.”

Photo from Instagram (mannypacquiao)

The eight-division world boxing champion, who is also a politician running for office, had many memorable matches under his belt. Let’s take a down memory lane and revisit the glory days of the renowned boxer:

Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya in 2008

Oscar De La Hoya is a well respected fighter in the ring, especially that many admire him for his boxing skills. His fight against the Filipino boxer took place in December of 2008, and was considered a highly anticipated match at the time. The match with Manny Pacquiao has caught the attention of many as Manny Pacquiao begun to conquer their fight with his skilled fighting style. Everybody was then taken by surprise when De La Hoya refused to continue the fight at the eighth round. After Pacquiao’s fight, the boxer also eventually decided to retire from boxing and chosen the path of becoming a promoter instead.

Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto in 2009

Welterweight had managed to finalize a title fight with Pacman, it had sparked a lot of discussion and a lot of talk as to who would win in the fight. It was worth noting that Cotto is considered a highly intimidating opponent to have in the boxing ring, but Manny Pacquiao even then remained undeterred as he showcased his boxing skills fearlessly, and he managed to knock down Cotto twice. He eventually beat the Puerto Rican boxer within 12 rounds with referee Kenny Bayless stopping the fight in the final 55 seconds.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV in 2012

If one wants to recall an action-packed fight involving Manny Pacquiao, then his fight with Marquez IV would certainly come to mind for many people. By the third round of their intense exchange of blows, Pacquiao was managed to be knocked down by Marquez. He then got up and recovered, as expected of the boxing legend, and he also got his revenge from his opponent by the fifth round, through a hard blow that caused Marquez to be knocked down as well. However, Marquez soon was able to defend himself as he delivered an offense that knocked down Pacman at round six. While it was a loss for the Filipino boxer, it still showcased his skills and determination which made it a surely iconic and memorable fight.

Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003

It had been a long time ago when Manny Pacquiao first faced Marco Antonio Barrera, who is a famous boxerI. It was way back in 2003, but nonetheless it was one of the fights that have been cemented in the memories of Pacquiao fans who determinedly followed his career. In November of that year, the boxers faced one another head on at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Back then, the Filipino boxer was still making a name for himself in the American boxing scene and during that fight he managed to exhibit his talent that made people take notice of him and what he had to offer. Soon, he managed to defeat the Mexican boxer at the eleventh round, and since then his matches with other Mexican boxers had become some of his most much anticipated fights.

Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.  in 2015

In 2015, countless have anticipated the fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, since at this point in their careers they have been considered as two of the best boxers worldwide. However, the way it ended has sparked discourse among the fans as it came to a unanimous decision with Mayweather bagging the win. The battle is still remembered for its hype, however, since it has become the highest-grossing pay-per-view fight in history with a purchase of a whopping 4.6 million. What a spectacle!

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Instagram (@mannypacquiao)