Full Name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao
Nickname: Pacman, Mexicutioner, Destroyer
Weight Class: Welterweight
Birthdate: December 17, 1978
Birthplace: Kibawe, Philippines
Record: 52-3-2, 38 KOs
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5'6 ½"
Reach: 67"
Trainer: Freddie Roach

Accomplishments

• Fighter of the Decade 2000-2009 - Boxing Writers Association of America
• 2009 Fighter of the Year - Boxing Writers Association of America
• 2009 Fighter of the Year - The Ring
• 2008 Fighter of the Year - Boxing Writers Association of America
• 2008 Fighter of the Year - The Ring
• 2006 Fighter of the Year - Boxing Writers Association of America
• 2006 Fighter of the Year - The Ring...
• World championship fights: 9-1-2, 8 KOs...
• Ranked ESPN.com and The Ring #1 "Pound for Pound"
• WBO welterweight world champion
• Former WBC lightweight world champion
• Former WBC super featherweight world champion
• Former IBF jr. featherweight world champion, four successful defenses
• Former WBC flyweight world champion, one successful defense
• Former WBC International super featherweight champion, three successful defenses
• Former WBC International super bantamweight champion, five successful defenses
• Former OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) flyweight champion, one successful defense

Biography

At the age of 31, Manny is a 15-year pro - he made his debut at 16. He has been fighting at the top levels of competition and given some of the most sensational performances in the ring in recent years.

He is not only recognized by most observers as the best fighter at any weight in the ring today - the best "Pound for Pound" - but has also earned comparisons to the sport's all-time greats.

Manny's last fight came against former welterweight champ Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium. In front of 50,000-plus fans, Pacquiao demolished the Ghanaian-born Clottey over the course of 12 rounds, easily winning a unanimous decision.

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com: "Another fight, another Pacquiao domination. It was all Manny all the time as the Filipino icon and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world simply overwhelmed a seemingly petrified-to-get-hit Clottey for the virtual shutout decision in the main event of the first boxing card at Jerry Jones' $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium. Some made a big deal about Clottey being Pacquiao's physically biggest opponent, but size didn't matter in this one. Speed did. Pacquiao had it, and Clottey couldn't deal with it. "

Manny remains the WBO welterweight champion.

Manny was voted "2009 Fighter of the Year" and "Fighter of the Decade 2000-2009" by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

The Associated Press reported on February 1 that Manny Pacquiao was honored as the fighter of the decade by the Boxing Writer's Association of America on Monday, along with matching Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield by winning his third fighter of the year award.

The reigning pound-for-pound king was chosen fighter of the decade over Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao says he will accept his awards haul in person at the 85th boxing writers awards dinner on June 11 in New York City.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was honored with a record-setting fourth Eddie Futch Award for trainer of the year. Futch once trained Roach, who eventually became his assistant.

Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com: Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who stormed to a pair of decisive knockout victories to win world titles in a record-tying sixth weight class and a record-breaking seventh one, has been named the 2009 fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Pacquiao, who was also named 2009 fighter of the year by ESPN.com and Ring magazine, won the award in balloting by the organization's membership over nominees Vitali Klitschko, Andre Ward, Paul Williams and Arthur Abraham.

Pacquiao, whose first world title came at flyweight, scored a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton on May 2 to win the world junior welterweight championship and stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round on Nov. 14 to win a welterweight world title.

In addition, Pacquiao was also voted fighter of the decade (2000-09), beating out a star-studded group of nominees....

Pacquiao, of the Philippines, went 24-1-2 during the decade and won six of his seven world titles while emerging as the pound-for-pound king and a box office sensation.

Manny was also voted "Fighter of the Year" in 2006 and 2008 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

He is the national hero of his native Philippines - the entire country of over 96 million people comes to a virtual standstill to watch whenever he fights.

Manny has also become boxing's biggest attraction. The initial pay-per-view numbers for the Cotto fight, before all of the figures were officially audited, were 1.25 million buys and $70 million in domestic revenue. It was the biggest pay-per-view boxing event of the year. The attendance at the fight was 16,200, with a live gate of $8,847,550.

His spectacular career has made him a certain future Hall of Famer. But Manny, still in his prime, has already transcended the sport and reached a level that can be claimed by very few - he has become a legend in his own time.