His success story is simply one for the ages.
From nothing to something.
That’s a phrase usually heard in speeches delivered by Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino boxing icon may be referring to a couple of things when he’s saying that. First, it has something to do with his transformation from a scrawny amateur into one of the greatest who ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves.
Second, it has to be about him rising out of extreme poverty and becoming one of the richest men in the Philippines.
On Tuesday, boxing’s lone eight-division champion went on Instagram to look back at his incredible journey. Through several throwback photos, he was able to sum up all the sacrifices, the ups and downs, and the challenges he had to endure in order to realize his dreams.
Getting sentimental over the memories evoked by the old pictures, the Pacman must have been compelled to put in perspective everything that he’s achieved.
“I will never forget the roots that grounded me before the world knew my name.” Pacquiao posted.
Before Pacquiao retired from professional boxing in 2021 to run for presidency, he had won major titles from the flyweight category all the way to the super welterweight division. His electrifying wins against fearsome fighters such as Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto, to name a few, have contributed to Manny being named fighter of the decade for the 2000s by the Boxing Writers Association of America. It can be said that his legacy in the combat sport is in a class of its own.
In the Philippines, Pacquiao is one of the most influential individuals. He’s become a senator and a philanthropist to countless of poor Filipinos. He also funds the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the Blow by Blow boxing program, which supports pugilists who are just starting out.
Considering all that, Pacquiao’s “from nothing to something” line rings true to this very day.
(GM)