If you’re the first Asian to win three international belts and titles in boxing, definitely you’ll land among the Philippine’s finest Filipino’s. One of the most prolific achievement you’ll have is to have your own portrait in the stamps. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao achieved all these status in his late twenties.

Manny Pacquiao will fight David Diaz today in an ambitious feat of the aforementioned become the first Asian to win world titles in four divisions. More to what he has to offer in the name of “Bravo Indio” race, Lorden Leopoldo sees another thing why this fighter from General Santos City should be a national hero.

Published yesterday at SUNSTAR CEBU WEEKEND page 6, this is what Lorden Leopoldo has to say:

A lot of good things happen to the Philippines when Manny Pacquiao has a fight. His upcoming duel against David Diaz this Sunday is no exception. So, let

After the long awaited rematch, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao successfully snatched the World Boxing Council (WBC) Supper Featherweight Champion belt from Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico today.

The fight which lasted 12 rounds, finished the “unfinished business between the two fighters which last saw fighting for the same belt 2 years ago. Here’s a cut of the article I read from GMANews.TV:

Pacquiao is new WBC super featherweight champ
03/16/2008 | 12:16 PM

Going the whole 12 rounds, Manny Pacquiao wrested the World Boxing Council super featherweight title from Juan Manuel Marquez in a thrilling rematch in fully-packed Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao dominated the 10th round, managing to sneak in punches to the head of his already bleeding opponent, who had a cut over the right eye.

The last few seconds of ninth round saw both fighters getting really aggressive and trading punches in the face.

In the seventh round, both fighters inflicted punches that resulted in cuts under their eyes and entered the eighth round more aggressively trying to lunge at each other.

In the eighth round, Marquez landed two punches in Pacquiao’s face that clearly stunned the Filipino challenger.

Both fighters coasted through the fourth and fifth rounds of their 12-round rematch after thrilling their fans with an aggressive first three rounds at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

In the third round, Pacquiao sent Marquez down on the canvas with a left cross to the jaw with just 19 seconds left.

Pacquiao entered the second round clearly the more aggressive fighter, but Marquez ended the round clearly in his favor, landing two punches in the face of Pacquiao just seconds before the bell sounded.

The rematch started off with the two fighters warily sizing up each other as expected, but the already very excited crowd got roused up when Marquez connected with a jab to the face of Pacquiao, who is out to wrest the World Boxing Council super featherweight from him.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao, in white trunks, weighed in at 129 lbs, while the 34-year-old Marquez, in black trunks, is at 130.

Pacquiao and Marquez entered the arena with an eager full-house audience composed mostly of Filipinos and Mexicans waving their respective national colors.

Ciara Sotto sang the Philippine national anthem Lupang Hinirang followed by Teo Gonzales who sang Mexico’s El Himno Nacional. Filipino American Jasmine Villegas sang the Star Spangled Banner.

The fight has been tagged Unfinished Business as it is widely seen as a continuation of the last bout of the two fighters in 2004, in controversial drawn bout, in which Pacquiao managed to knock down Marquez three times in the first round alone.

Marquez is not the favorite as far as betting odds are concerned. – GMANews.TV