Pacquiao Star's Sportsman of the Year: The legend lives on

No Filipino athlete in history has done so much for his country as Manny Pacquiao and for his magical ability to unify the homeland, The Philippine Star has declared the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter as Sportsman of the Year.

In carrying out his mission to conquer the globe, Pacquiao holds the Philippine flag high and lets it fly proudly.

Pacquiao’s charismatic magnetism is as overpowering as his jarring left hook. Whenever he steps onto the ring, there is absolute paralysis on the streets all over the nation. The crime rate drops to zero. Political enemies are suddenly on the same side. If only for a while, the less fortunate are swept in a dream-like escape from their woes. As a unifying element, Pacquiao is able to bring a fractious society together.

Today, the country, if not the world, cries out for a hero to inspire hope, to promote unity and to provide a symbol of honor, self-respect and pride. Pacquiao’s emergence from the depths of poverty to capture the imagination of sports fans with his guts, courage and heart is a story of a man born to be a legend.

In his remarkable career, Pacquiao has carved an indelible mark that will ultimately take him to the International Boxing Hall of Fame where only three Filipinos – Pancho Villa, Flash Elorde and promoter Lope (Papa) Sarreal Sr. – are enshrined. Pacquiao’s inevitable induction to signify universal recognition of boxing greatness will be his crowning glory.

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There is no doubt this was Pacquiao’s year. He had three milestone fights and won them all.

Last March, the Filipino ring icon dropped Juan Manuel Marquez with a left hook to the jaw en route to scoring a split 12-round decision for the WBC superfeatherweight crown at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas .

Then, last June, Pacquiao bludgeoned David Diaz to wrest the WBC lightweight title via a ninth round knockout, also at the Mandalay Events Center. The belt was Pacquiao’s fifth in his growing collection after bagging the WBC flyweight diadem in 1998, the IBF superbantamweight jewel in 2001, the Ring Magazine “people’s” featherweight title in 2003 and the WBC superfeatherweight crown only three months before.

Finally, early this month, Pacquiao was back in Las Vegas , this time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, to post the most impressive victory of his career. He hammered Oscar de la Hoya into submission at the end of eight rounds to reaffirm his status as the world’s undisputed No. 1 boxer today.

What made Pacquiao’s triumph over De la Hoya more impressive was the way he dominated the Golden Boy who has held 10 world titles in six different divisions. From the onset, Pacquiao relentlessly attacked De la Hoya and never backed off in dealing the legendary 1992 Olympic gold medalist his worst beating ever. Pacquiao gave up four inches in height and six inches in reach but the size factor was negated by his masterful execution of a fightplan that capitalized on his speed, power and smarts.

Pacquiao also retired De la Hoya as the fight game’s pay-per-view king. The Dream Match drew over 1.25 million hits, only the fourth bout in history that did not involve heavyweights to breach the million mark. It tied for ninth overall in the all-time ladder and is the third biggest-selling non-heavyweight fight in pay-per-view history.

Based on a pay-per-view gross of about $80 Million, it was estimated that Pacquiao could cash in on a share of at least $15 Million. With a purse of $10 Million, Pacquiao could wind up grossing $25 Million after the final accounting is done.

This year alone, Pacquiao’s three fights attracted a grand total of close to two million pay-per-view hits. The Marquez rematch pulled in 405,000 while the Diaz massacre, about 250,000. Pacquiao earned $10 Million from the two outings and adding his take from the De la Hoya fight, his year’s gross could be close to $35 Million or the equivalent of P1.75 Billion.

As the first Filipino billionaire athlete, Pacquiao is in a class of his own. No other Filipino in sports has reaped more honor for the country.

It’s no wonder that the whole world has taken notice of Pacquiao’s phenomenal rise to fame. He is an inspiration to everyone, regardless of creed, color and class. He is David the Goliath slayer, the underdog who defies the odds with incredible consistency.

After Pacquiao demolished Diaz last June, star players of the Boston Celtics trooped to his dressing room to congratulate their hero and pose for pictures with a man who reached only up to their chest in his bare feet. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and their teammates whooped it up with the new WBC lightweight champion.

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At the Beijing Olympics, a global audience witnessed more adulation for Pacquiao. The entire US basketball team broke ranks as NBA stars jockeyed for position to take photos with the Filipino before the opening parade.

Kobe Bryant posed with Pacquiao and promised to watch his next fight if his NBA schedule allowed. Deron Williams asked Chris Bosh to take his photo with the fighter. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade took their turn. Carmelo Anthony begged for a pair of boxing gloves with Pacquiao’s autograph. What a sight for NBA stars, like giggly kids, trying to get a piece of Pacquiao as a souvenir even if he was dwarfed by the skyscrapers.

Pacquiao was in Beijing as the Philippine delegation’s flag-bearer, an unprecedented distinction for a non-Olympian and professional fighter to carry the national colors.

Pacquiao’s popularity as an international sports icon has been further reinforced by a Nike TV commercial where he appears with Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova and Bryant.

And in Dec. 8 issue of Sports Illustrated, a four-page story on Pacquiao established his arrival as a marquee superstar. No Filipino athlete had ever been featured in the long history of the prestigious magazine.

“Back home (in the Philippines), Beatlemania pales in comparison to Pacmania,” wrote Pablo Torre in the Sports Illustrated story entitled “Political Punch.” “He is both the star and subject of movies. He hosts a reality TV show. He even has his face on a postage stamp. Pacquiao overshadows just about everything, national security included. Last March, before his victorious superfeatherrweight rematch against Marquez, the Philippine military declared a seven-hour ceasefire in its war against communist insurgents.”

Torre quoted President Arroyo as saying, “Manny is our people’s idol and this generation’s shining light … he is our hero and the bearer of the Filipino dream – you can feel the excitement throughout the country every time he is in the ring.”

Pacquiao isn’t just a champion, he’s the personification of hope for all Filipinos that someone from humble beginnings can become a man of consequence through hard work, grit and determination.

This coming year, Pacquiao has lined up two fights that could propel him into boxing immortality. He’s slated to face British brawler Ricky Hatton in May in Las Vegas and later, unbeaten Floyd Mayweather who is being lured out of retirement to take on his successor as Lord of the Ring.

The burden is heavy on Pacquiao’s shoulders because he knows he fights not only for himself and his family but for the entire Filipino nation. But what eases the burden is Pacquiao’s realization that his countrymen are solidly behind him, praying fervently for his success, because his victory is a victory for every Filipino.

By Joaquin Henson, Phil Star