Mayweather vs Pacquiao: We profile the life and career of the fighting Filipino
Multi-time world champion, politician and humanitarian
Thursday 23 April 2015 07:55, UK
The young Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao learned to box in the Philippines to earn enough money for his family to eat but now stands on the brink of the richest fight in history.
Putting weights in his pockets just to make the minimum requirements, Pacquiao began a professional career aged 16 after uprooting to his nation’s capital Manila, before racking up 11 straight wins despite standing 4’11” tall.
In 1996, the 17-year-old lost his first bout after being forced to wear heavier gloves than his opponent to make up for his weight disparity. Two years later, he took out Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand for his first world title at flyweight.
Heading Stateside
In June 2001, boasting a record of 32 wins and 2 defeats, Pacquiao debuted in America (at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand where he will fight Floyd Mayweather on May 2) as a last-ditch replacement. He needed two weeks’ notice to take Lehlohonolo Ledwaba’s IBF super-bantamweight title.
His only unification fight to date (his second will be against Mayweather) ended in a six-round technical draw against Agapito Sanchez after two accidental headbutts but he remained in the win column, notably halting wily Mexican, Marco Antonio Barrera, in Texas. But it was a controversial encounter with another Mexican veteran that put Pacquiao on the map.
He floored Juan Manuel Marquez three times in the opening round in 2004’s featherweight contest at the MGM but judge Burt A Clement's 113-113 scorecard resulted in a draw and set the tone for one of boxing’s lengthiest rivalries.
A year later, he endured his first defeat on the biggest stage after Erik Morales edged a decision in the same Vegas venue. He would meet Morales twice more within 18 months, stopping him both times.
World stage
As his political career in the Philippines gathered pace, further meetings with Barrera and Marquez were won before Pacquiao stepped up to his fifth weight category of lightweight to win David Diaz’s WBC belt in June 2008. He vacated his super-bantamweight strap before embarking on the most successful period of his career as talk of a showdown with Mayweather began to circulate.
Oscar De La Hoya retired on his stool and Ricky Hatton was bludgeoned in two rounds before Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title by viciously halting Miguel Cotto a minute from the end.
After negotiations with Mayweather fell through amid disputes over potential random drug-testing, a bumper crowd of 50,000 packed into the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in 2010 to watch Pacquiao defend his titles against Joshua Clottey then win the WBC light-middleweight belt against Antonio Margarito.
Back-to-back defeats
He defended his welterweight title back in Vegas against Shane Mosley and Marquez before, three years ago, losing it in a disputed decision to Timothy Bradley. The Filipino weighed heavier than ever in his 17th world title encounter although he avenged Bradley in their second bout last year.
After the Bradley defeat, Pacquiao endured a second straight loss in his fourth scrap with Marquez – a historic tear-up that ended brutally with the Filipino crumpled face-first. Marquez’s right hand caused Pacquiao’s first stoppage in 16 years.
But three straight wins in his most recent fights, two of which were in Macau, redefined Pacquiao at the forefront of today’s boxing greats and, on May 2, he has the chance to secure his greatest achievement yet.
12-Round Timeline
1 - Turning pro
Jan 25, 1995: At the age of 17 because, in his own words, he needed to earn money for food, he ended his amateur record at 60-4 and at just 4' 11" turned pro. He beat fellow debutant Edmund Enting Ignacio over the full four rounds.
2 - First defeat
Sept 2, 1996: After eight fights he was already up to 10 rounds but in his 12th bout he did not go beyond three as he was decked by Rustico Torrecampo. The referee had to help him up, with replays suggesting it was a shoulder, not a short right than put Pacquiao down.
3 - First world title
Dec 4, 1998: In his 25th fight and only his second outside the Philippines, Pacquiao travelled to Phuttamonthon, Thailand for his first world title shot against Chatchai Sasakul and stopped the home fighter in eight to become the new WBC flyweight champion.
4 - Vegas debut
June 23, 2001: He's moved up a weight and switched to the IBF and above all, made his Las Vegas debut, at the MGM Grand. He was only a late replacement too but only needed two weeks notice to stop super-bantamweight world champion Lehlo Ledwaba in six.
5 - Unification fights
Nov 18, 2001: WBO champion Agapio Sanchez opened a nasty cut above his right eye with an early headbutt and did so again in the sixth, forcing the referee to call a halt to the fight. It was Pacquiao's first draw (technical) and was his first of two unifications... until May 2.
6 - Drawing with Marquez
May 8, 2004: The fight that put him on the map and Juan Manuel Marqez down three times in a stunning opening round. He was up at featherweight with the WBA and IBF titles on the line but Burt A Clement's 113-113 left us waiting a year for the unfinished business.
7 - Losing on the world stage
Mar 19, 2005: His third scrap with a Mexican star after Marco Antonio Barrera and Marquez, and his first big-time defeat as Erik Morales edged it over the distance. No world titles on the line but set up Pacquiao's first rematch, which he won 10 months later.
8 - Two titles
Jun 28, 2008: He had beaten Marquez to go 1-0 up and moved up to his fifth weight - lightweight - and added another WBC belt to the collection, stopping David Diaz in nine. He was their lightweight and super-bantamweight champion and vacated the latter straight away.
9 - Big-name beatings
Nov 14, 2009: Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton had been dispatched before Miguel Cotto joined the list, as he was floored twice before the ref stopped it a minute from the end. The Puerto Rican wanted to quit after 11, but was made to carry on and lost the WBO welterweight and WBC's new Diamond belt.
10 - Big crowds
Mar 13, 2010: The Dallas Cowboys' new home in Arlington, Texas, saw Pacquiao dominate Joshua Clottey and pull in an indoor crowd of around 50,000 - not far behind Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks (63,000) in 1978 but way behind last month's NBA All-Star game (108,713)
11 - Beaten by Bradley
Jun 9, 2012: It was his 17th world title fight and the first time it was taken from him in the ring. Up at welterweight was the heaviest Pac-Man has been and Timothy Bradley edged a close decision although the rematch in April 2012, saw Pacquiao bounce back to level scores.
12 - A vicious KO loss
Dec 8, 2012: The first time in 16 years he'd been stopped as Juan Manuel Marquez's vicious right left him in a heap after six sparkling rounds. Pacquiao has been down in the third, Marquez the fifth and the fight won multiple awards, but left the Filipino 2-1-1 ahead after four fights.
Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote from April 25. skysports.com/maypac
