'PACQUIAO HAS SET MEDIA-SALES RECORDS'
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED HAILED FOR FEATURING PACQUIAO
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Sep 2008
For the first time in its July 7, 2008 issue, New York-based Sports Illustrated, the world's most prestigious sports magazine, featured World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
It described the Filipino world champion as "heavy hitter" in an Inside Boxing section story written by Pablo S. Torre. "Manny Pacquiao, the sport's biggest little star, moved up a weight class and crushed David Diaz for his fourth title," read the article's sub-title.
"I met Pablo Torre and was impressed with the way he wrote the article," observed magazine subscriber Joaquin Hagedorn Jr. of Las Vegas, Nevada. "He is not an ordinary writer because he has a degree in Harvard."
Hagedorn said to be featured in the Sports Illustrated is a dream of most world class athletes who have carved a niche in their respective fields. "It means that an athlete is recognized and respected all over the world," he said.
Torre described Pacquiao's win over the 32-year-old Diaz as "easy and entertaining, and when Manny Pacquiao burst into his dressing room at Mandalay Bay last Saturday (June 28) night as the new WBC lightweight champion, he leaped into the waiting embrace of a cluster of fans who know a bit about resounding championship clinchers."
Torre reported that "to celebrate their own title", some of the Boston Celtics stars led by Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce "alternated chants of Manny, Manny!' and 'Boston, Boston!'"
Boston Celtics is this year's National Basketball Association (NBA) champion.
The writer described the Pacquiao-Diaz fight as "totally unsurprising but awfully fan to watch."
"For all the attention given to Pacquiao's domination of Mexico's best fighters (with wins over four Mexican world champs), his demeanor (affable outside the ring, almost joyful within it) and his nearly cutlikepopularity in his home country, it is his relentless style that is helping to carry the sport.
"With the heavyweight division mired in mediocrity and fans diverted by the rising popularity of mixed martial arts, Pacquiao has set media-sales records with his aggressiveness," wrote Torre.
Pacquiao, 29, a reservist in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), will next tangle versus Oscar De La Hoya, 35, in a duel dubbed "It's Personal" at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 6.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
Sun, 27 Apr 2025Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Home Teams Rule the Day
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
Sat, 26 Apr 2025WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
Sat, 26 Apr 2025CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Sat, 26 Apr 2025