MindaNews / 5 December – Filipino boxing champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao has been named by the World Boxing Council as the Fighter of the Century, an honor that completes the most prestigious collection of awards in boxing.
Pacquiao, dubbed “The Pacman” for his incredible hand speed inside the ring, has also won several Fighter of the Year awards, as well as the Fighter of the Decade (2000s) title. He is the only boxer in history to have won titles in eight weight divisions.
Last year, Pacquiao was named by the sports website ESPN as the best Asian athlete of the 21st century.
Pacquiao received the inaugural WBC Centurion Award last 29 November in Temecula, California along with his trainer Freddie Roach, who was named Coach of the Century.
Roach has earned seven Trainer of the Year honors from the Boxing Writers Association of America. A recipient of the Hall of Fame award, he has produced champions other than Pacquiao.
The ceremony took place before the main fight card of a 10-bout boxing event that featured the professional debut of Pacquiao’s son, Jimuel Pacquiao Jr. (MindaNews)
