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5 Things You Didn’t Know: Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao - Credit: UPI

5 Things You Didn’t Know: Manny Pacquiao

By Dave Golokhov

Entertainment CorrespondentEvery other Wednesday

Just because boxer Manny Pacquiao isn’t a household name in North America doesn’t mean that he’s not popular elsewhere. As a matter of fact, Manny Pacquiao is one of the most popular people in the world.

He’s virtually a god in the Philippines, as he appears everywhere in Filipino pop culture, from the music scene to TV and movies. Manny Pacquiao is also known well in Mexico, as he’s left a graveyard of Mexican boxing greats in his trail -- enough to earn him the nickname “The Mexicutioner.”

As he continues to destroy everything in his path, it is beginning to look like Manny Pacquiao may not only be one of the best of his generation; he may in fact be one of the best of all time.

When Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton in the second round of their fight on Saturday, May 2, he became the first boxer ever to win a lineal title in four lineal divisions.

Here is a list of five things you didn’t know about Manny Pacquiao:

5- Manny Pacquiao owns a basketball team

While Manny Pacquiao’s job is as a professional boxer, one of his favorite pastimes is to play basketball. As a matter of fact, his original dream was to be a professional basketball player.

Instead, the 5' 6.5" Manny Pacquiao settled for a legendary boxing career and now owns a basketball team on the side.

Pacquiao is the owner of the PacMan Gensan team of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association, which is based out of his hometown in General Santos City. They are now known as the MP Warriors of Gensan.

They haven’t been too shabby either, winning a championship in 2005 and finishing as runners-up in 2006.

Not to worry, though, Manny Pacquiao does not go the Mark Cuban route; he is quiet and humble, and just lets the right people run his team.

4- Manny Pacquiao is the only Filipino in Time 100

The Time 100 is an annual list of the most influential people in the world compiled by Time magazine. In 2009, Manny Pacquiao made the list.

To be included on this sort of list is quite the honor, no doubt, as only a handful of the world’s best thinkers, leaders and innovators make the cut.

The only Filipino to make the list in 2009, Manny Pacquiao is ranked No. 22 according to voting, which has him ahead of a few people you might know, such as Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama.

More impressive might be the fact that he is one of the few athletes on the list, along with Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez.

Read on for 3 more facts you didn't know about Manny Pacquiao… Next Page >>

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Reader Comments: 25 Posts

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Pacquiao vs Mayweather says:

Pacquiao vs Mayweather

Posted 2010-03-12 00:30:56 EST

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pio says:

i really like manny pacquio coz he is a great inspiration to us....rising from rags to riches....i like your article. thank you this is very enlightening. may i recommend you in my blog?

Posted 2009-10-21 04:18:01 EST

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Fraud Mayweather says:

I want to be like Pac. I want to be on the list too. I want to get endorsements like Pac's Nike. I want what Pac has. I want the P4P titlist that Pac has. I not only want to be like Pac, I want to be Pacquiao...PLEASE!

Posted 2009-10-17 07:30:09 EST

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Wishful_thinking says:

Manny Pacquaio truly is a rare breed in boxing....such a humble person who never fails to look back from where he came from....

God fearing makes Manny Pacquiao a good Husband, father to his kids and a Role Model for anyone....

The Best Asian Boxer indeed and maybe The Greatest Boxer of All Time...

Posted 2009-10-08 04:46:11 EST

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roy jones jr says:

I know this may not happen but I want Kimbo Slice to fight Manny. lets what happens then!!!

Posted 2009-05-18 23:09:11 EST

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Pambansang Kamao says:

Tikman mo kamao2x, ang suntok ni paquiao muling titigil ang mundo. LOL

Posted 2009-05-09 05:48:26 EST

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ronstheman says:

what continues to fascinate me in this man's biography is the inner strength, quite determination, the will to rise above the circumstances in which he was born to (i'm not sure if that came out right). Anyway, that to me, is inspiring enough to get me going with my own dreams, for my family, for my country. Because, by god, we really really need to get our act together.

Posted 2009-05-07 12:06:52 EST

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ronstheman says:

Ligaya's reaction and comments on Korina's comments are exacto-mundo! (and also, not all Filipinos write and think like Korina, yikes!)

Posted 2009-05-07 11:45:15 EST

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Ligaya says:

stfu korina. *YOU* make Filipinos look bad with your "imbistigate" and uneducated lingo. The writer obviously didn't mean we adore him from head to toe just like a Santo Nino or Mary. Why don't you try getting punched in the face a thousand times, win a dozen times, drag the country's name along with such an honor and learn that someone thought you didn't deserve to be acknowledged for your work? Wouldn't you think you deserved this kind of special treatment? Think before you speak dear. Manny is a good person and he's doing what he knows best quite perfectly. I ask you: When did YOU contribute something good to this country?

Posted 2009-05-06 10:15:10 EST

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BOSS_666 says:

much respect for the pacman. he has a come a long way to prove hes one of the best. i dont believe in the best pound for pound fighter though.

Posted 2009-05-05 13:14:53 EST

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