RING OFFICIALLY NAMES PACQUIAO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Jan 2007
The respected Ring Magazine Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins says the “Bible” of boxing has officially named Manny Pacquiao the “Fighter of the Year” for 2006, adding to the many accolades received by the Filipino ring idol.
In an email to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Collins noted that Pacquiao was “the first Asian boxer ever to win the Ring’s top honor.”
In its statement on the award Ring said it was “amazing what a little guy with a big smile and an even bigger punch can accomplish.” It noted that while the heavyweight division was bogged down by mediocrity last year, the junior lightweight class “soared to new heights thanks in large part to Manny Pacquiao, the Ring’s Fighter of the Year.”
Ring said that although Pacquiao tallied three impressive victories in 2006 “it was the manner in which he accomplished them, as opposed to the victories themselves, that earned him the distinction. ‘Pac Man’ is one of the few fighters in any weight class who goes all out for the knockout from the opening bell. And isn’t that, when you cut away all the baloney, exactly what all boxing fans really want?”
Ring cited the pay-per-view figures in the two Morales fights which was over 700,000 and the live attendance for the third Pacquiao-Morales battle which drew 18,278 which was the fifth best of all-time among fights held in Las Vegas. It said “the big bonus is Pacquiao himself.” The magazine described Pacquiao as “carefree and fearless, he seems to love to fight as much as we love watching him and his modest demeanor and ever-ready smile are the perfect counter-balance to his in-the-ring ferocity.”
The prestigious magazine said Pacquiao’s “incredible rags-to-riches story is one that resonates with the downtrodden everywhere. Pacquiao carries the hopes and dreams of his fellow Filipinos into the ring with him every time he fights, but has never allowed it to weigh him down once the bell rings. All this came together in 2006 to make Pacquiao the Fighter of the Year – and the scary part is that he is still improving. With Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Edwin Valero all being talked about as possible opponents in 2007, Manny has a fighting chance of being back here again next year.”
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