His opponent is the the Hitman from Manchester, Ricky Hatton.
But the championship belt and cash from the C$90milllion super fight at the MGM Grand is secondary for the Asian golden boy dubbed the "Pacman."
The main prize for Pacquiao is Filipino pride.
From the streets of Manila, to the ships manned by Filipino sailors and in all the cities stocked by armies of Filipino migrant workers, the world will stop on Saturday.
Here in British Columbia, home to some 90,000 Filipinos, excitement is building for the hotly-anticipated Vegas bout.
Bobby Gangoso – past president and current sports director of Filipino community service group De La Salle Alumni Association of BC – says the "Manny & Ricky Show" will provide the backdrop to hundreds of house parties throughout the Metro Vancouver region Saturday.
He’s already got 25 friends headed to his home to catch the fight on the bigscreen, with more calling daily for an invite.
Describing himself as "Manny’s Number 1 fan," Gangoso says he’s been following Pacquiao’s exploits since the flashy fighter took the IBF Super Bantamweight Title from Lehlohonolo "Hands of Stone" Ledwaba on June 23, 2001.
"I then saw him fight the first time when he knocked out Jorge Julio in the under card of the Tyson/Lewis fight in Memphis on June 8, 2002 . . . but I became his Number 1 fan when he TKO’d (Marco Antonio) Barrera in San Antonio on Nov. 15, 2003.
Gangoso says he, like most Filipinos overseas, has followed the Pacman’s career on Pay Per View television and even on YouTube, the popular Internet video portal.
"As much as I enjoy and admire his boxing skills and how he delivers a true performance every fight, the most amazing thing that makes me proud is his humbleness," Gangoso said.
"From being a street kid to a worldwide phenom, I’ve not seen anyone remain as humble as Manny has. For that I am as proud of Manny as him being a Filipino."
As Pacquiao prepared to go to war for the 53rd time in a career in which he has secured 47 wins, 35 by stoppage, losing three fights and drawing two, he told newspaper reporters that his homeless and penniless background has prepared him for the big fight.
In an interview with the Manila Times he said: "Before I got to Manila I worked as a baker back in Bukidnon. I was a child but it was the only way I could put bread on the table for my family. In Manila I was on my own and had to work to survive. I worked in construction, painted houses and sewed clothes in a factory and all the time I trained to be a fighter. Other people may forget this but I will never forget. This is what drives me to be the champ=ion I am for my people."
Pacquiao, 30, brought up a Catholic and still deeply religious, takes his faith and his position as a standard-bearer for his people seriously. Even strangers who turn up at his home in General Santos City in the south of The Philippines – which they do incessantly looking for money and food parcels – are never turned away from his door.
"God has given me a gift and it is my duty to share the fruits of this gift with my people," he told the Times.
For Filipinos, the big fight comes as a welcome distraction from the political bickering, economic chaos and the vigilante killings that have rattled the southeast Asian nation.
Filipino media commentators, who have dubbed him "Pambansang Kamao" (Nation’s Fist), said Pacquiao has so thrilled millions of adoring fans that the crime rate goes drastically down every time he has a fight, because even criminals stop to watch his bouts.
It is also said that communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists lay down their arms and declare a self-imposed truce with the military during his bouts so they can watch him fight.
"A lot of people in The Philippines are willing me to win and praying for me. The guns are silent in the street every time I fight. There is no fighting, no crime. I would fight every day just for my people, if the guns will stay silent. These are the thoughts I carry to the ring and they are powerful thoughts. I am not trying to win this fight alone."
In Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos have settled and where tens of thousands more have come to watch their idol, the streets are abuzz with the heroics of the "Pacman."
Vegas local Efren Veando, 53, described Pacquiao as a "down to earth person."
"He started out selling cigarettes and now he’s our great champion. He understands where he started. He gives a lot of hope to the youth of The Philippines. . . I pray for him, you know," he told the Las Vegas Sun.
The paper said Pacquiao always has a huge home-field advantage when he fights in Southern Nevada – where he’s 7-1-1 – since about 100,000 Filipinos have settled in the valley.
Like elsewhere, Pacquiao had been the talk of the Filipino community.
"He’s an icon," said bartender Barbara Phay. "He comes from a poor family, so he’s a rags-to-riches story. He gives a lot of people hope. A lot of people look up to him."
According to 34-year-old Phay, many Filipinos buy Pacquiao’s pay-per-view bouts and watch at home with family and friends. Filipino bars and restaurants are quiet, until after the fights.
Beryl Cahapay, a 34-year-old designer at the public relations and advertising agency R&R Partners, watches Pacquiao’s fights with family. Her mother gets especially animated.
"He’s like a national hero in The Philippines," she said. "He’s the pride of The Philippines. We’re not known for being an athletic people, so Manny is just a really good representative of a lot of people.
"Many are behind him because of that."
Cahapay’s sister, Belden, lives in Southern California and has watched Pacquiao’s sparring sessions. She had a picture taken with him and he signed a boxing glove for her.
"He’s a very big deal," Cahapay said. "A celebrity."
Pacquiao’s global fame zoomed to unimaginable proportions after his stunning upset of the great Oscar De La Hoya, a 10-time world champion in six different weight divisions, last December.
Asianpacificpost.com About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Downloads
© Copyright Asianpacificpost.com 1997-2009 Terms & Conditions | Privacy Code
ed hardy
ED Hardy Hoodies ED Hardy Hoodies
Ed Hardy Swimwear Ed Hardy Swimwear
ed hardy tops ed hardy tops
ed hardy shoes ed hardy shoes
ed hardy t shirt ed hardy t shirt
ed hardy shirts ed hardy shirts
christian audigier christian audigier
ed hardy kids ed hardy kids
Ed Hardy Sunglasses Ed Hardy Sunglasses
ED Hardy belts ED Hardy belts
ed hardy Bags ed hardy Bags
ed hardy purse ed hardy purse
ed hardy mens ed hardy mens
ed hardy womens d hardy womens
ed hardy mens shirts ed hardy mens shirts
ed hardy mens tops ed hardy mens tops
ed hardy mens hoodies d hardy mens hoodies
ed hardy mens swim trunks ed hardy mens swim trunks
ed hardy mens shoes ed hardy mens shoes
ed hardy womens swimwear ed hardy womens swimwear
ed hardy womens t shirt ed hardy womens t shirt
ed hardy womens tops ed hardy womens tops
ed hardy womens pants ed hardy womens pants
ed hardy womens hoodies ed hardy womens hoodies
ed hardy womens shoes ed hardy womens shoes
ed hardy womens clothing ed hardy womens clothing
tiffany jewellery tiffany
tiffany jewellery
tiffany jewelry
tiffany uk
pandora bracelets
pandora beads
pandora charms
thomas sabo
thomas sabo jewellery
abercrombie and fitch
Abercrombie & fitch
abercrombie
Every girl dreams of dreamy
Every girl dreams of dreamy bridal wedding gowns, whatever it is short wedding dresses, plus size wedding gowns or other designer wedding dresses as mori lee wedding dresses or alfred angelo wedding dresses and more.
wedding dresses ca
Many of the Louis Vuitton
Many of the Louis Vuitton products utilize the Louis Vuitton Luggage Replica and Louis Vuitton Men's Shoes, both of which were first used in the late 19th century. All of the company's products exhibit the eponymous LV initials.
watch
The executive mansion was torched by British troops in 1814, during the War of 1812. omega watchThe structural damage caused by the fire was repaired but the exterior sandstone walls were still black with fire damage. replica omega watchesThe walls were then painted white, giving birth to the nick name "The White House". An act of Congress made this the official name in 1902.
replicas watches
We offer a selection of the highest quality replica watches available today. replicas watches Genuine watches of these replicas are very expensive and the choice of the rich, replicas watches famous and collectors around the world.
90000 in BC, where was
90000 in BC, where was immigration when we needed them
Write comment