Manny in boxing trivia book

Manny Pacquiao isn’t just a Filipino ring hero. He’s also a global icon. So it’s no wonder he’s repeatedly mentioned in the John White book “Boxing Miscellany” which is a compendium of interesting trivia related to the Sweet Science.

There will be no argument when Pacquiao is finally nominated for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame which is based in Canastota, New York. He will be eligible only five years after retirement. Three Filipinos are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, namely, Pancho Villa, Flash Elorde and matchmaker/promoter Lope (Papa) Sarreal, Sr. For some strange reason, former world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia, who originated the bolo punch, has not been inducted even as the man he dethroned in 1939, Fred Apostoli, is a Hall of Famer.

Pacquiao, 37, is the only fighter ever to win eight world titles in different divisions. Not even Floyd Mayweather can boast of achieving the feat. It’s a record that will probably never be broken. The remarkable thing is Pacquiao could’ve won 10 world titles in different divisions if he only bothered to chase the superflyweight and bantamweight crowns.

At the moment, Pacquiao is not a reigning world champion. But on Nov. 5, he’ll try to regain the WBO welterweight crown from defending champion Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas. If Pacquiao wins convincingly, he’ll likely call out Mayweather for a rematch. Their first encounter was inconclusive as Pacquiao fought with an injured shoulder and lost a decision in May last year.

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In compiling a 58-6-2 record, with 38 KOs, Pacquiao has defeated nine previously unbeaten fighters, namely, Chris Algieri, Timothy Bradley, Jorge Solis, Emmanuel Lucero, Nedal Hussein, Seong Kon Chae, Medgeon Singsurat, Dele Decierto and Rocky Palma. He has beaten 17 current or former world titlists including Oscar de la Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Chatchai Sasakul and Sugar Shane Mosley. A name whom Pacquiao is determined to add to the list is Mayweather.

Vargas has beaten seven previously undefeated fighters, including Sadam Ali, Anton Novikov and Khabib Allakhverdiev. The quality of his opposition, however, is suspect. While Pacquiao has beaten some of the biggest names in boxing, Vargas is still looking to bring down a marquee fighter. If Vargas upends Pacquiao, it will be a huge feather in his cap.

Vargas, 27, is coming off his most impressive performance as a pro, halting Ali for the vacant WBO crown last March. Although he’s the defending champion, Vargas isn’t the leading character in the match against Pacquiao. “It’s the biggest fight out there and one that could catapult me to the top,” said Vargas who predicts a big upset. “My fans are happy that I’m in this fight with Pacquiao, they know I always come to fight, I always come to give them a great performance. I won’t let my fans or the boxing world down because I’ll make it a great fight. Tune into the fight, I’m going to beat the s*it out of Pacquiao and then I’ll be the next star, everyone will be talking about me.”

British, Commonwealth and WBO European welterweight champion Bradley Skeete said Vargas is a worthy opponent for Pacquiao. “Vargas is a world champion, he’s got his wins, so you have to respect him,” said Skeete. “Good luck to him, he got a good win over Sadam Ali and he’s a good fighter.” Former IBF bantamweight king Stuart Hall said, “Manny looks to be on another level – I think it might be a bit too soon for Vargas (and) I expect Manny to win fairly easily.”

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In White’s boxing book, Pacquiao is mentioned on 12 of 176 pages. There’s a list of the top pound-for-pound fighters in May 2009 and Pacquiao is No. 1. A quote is also attributed to Pacquiao who said, “I can fight anybody, it will depend on my promoters ... I’m just a fighter, doing my job, training and keeping at 100 percent” after his second round demolition of Ricky Hatton in 2009.

The book lists the Fighter of the Year awardees of the Boxing Writers Association of America from 1938 to 2014 with Pacquiao earning the nod in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Mayweather was honored in 2007 and 2013. Nonito Donaire, Jr. was recognized in 2012. In a trivia note, the book said in February 2008, Pacquiao became the first athlete to be honored with a commemorative postage stamp by the Philippine Postal Service.

In the listing of The Ring Magazine’s knockout of the year, Pacquiao appears twice – first for his second round destruction of Hatton and next, for his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012. Pacquiao is recognized in the roster of The Ring’s Fighter of the Year awardees. He was cited in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Pacquiao has brought immense national pride to the country and continues to inspire millions of Filipinos to walk the straight path to God, to work hard in trying to achieve their dreams and to be selfless in giving of themselves to others.