Eating was not a given for Manny Pacquiao, who quit school at the age of 10. Some days, he recalled Wednesday, he only drank water. His family of seven lived in a cardboard shack.
But Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao loved to fight. And it became apparent that he was gifted. He saw boxing as his ticket out of the slums and left home at 15, living in the streets of Manila for a time.
Today, Pacquiao, who turns 32 next month, runs the Sarangani Province as its elected congressman. (He won in a landslide in May). He's wealthy beyond anything he could have imagined. He's the world's top pound-for-pound boxer, has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine Asia and currently American Airlines' magazine, was profiled last week on 60 Minutes and has starred in movies.
Last year the former dropout, who passed his high school GED in 2007, was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities by Southwestern University in the Philippines.
Saturday night, in the glittering $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao will seek to extend an amazing record. If he defeats Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC super welterweight title (HBO pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET), it will be the eighth weight class in which he has won titles. Nobody else has won in more than six. His first title was at 112 pounds. Today, he will tip the scales at 150.
Pacquiao has never forgotten where he came from. He has dedicated his life to helping his people. Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank who has visited the Philippines several times — says it's genuine.
"It starts with the fact that he's a very spiritual man," says Arum. "When I've talked to him, he's expressed his belief that God has put him where he is for a reason — to benefit mankind, to do good.
"He believes that whatever he does in life, whatever happens, is the will of God. Therefore when he goes into a ring, there's a big smile on his face because in his mind, he will do his best. But if he loses, it's God's will. That's his whole philosophy of life. "God has given him all this for being a poor kid living in a cardboard shack in order that he benefits mankind. He believes it, and it runs his life."
Pacquiao says he wants to help those in greatest need because he's been there.
"I feel what they're feeling because I've been there," he says. "I've slept in the street. That was my life before. So hard. That's why I feel what they're feeling right now."
Some of those around Pacquiao fear he will give away his fortune, but Arum says it's part of the plan.
"He sits in front of his house giving money away to people; they go for blocks," says Arum. "I've seen it. Food and money. Food and money. He believes that's part of the higher purpose, because once he gives it away, he believes God will replenish it."
Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) is guaranteed $15 million for his fight with Margarito. And the way this fight is going, he says, Pacquiao can make another $10-12 million based on pay per view. Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) is guaranteed $3 million, but could make up to $6 million or more, says Arum.
There were rumblings from Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, and Arum, that perhaps Pacquiao's mind was not 100% into his training during the first five weeks in the Philippines.
"It was never physical; it was all mental," says Roach. "The focus wasn't there in the Philippines. Politics was too close. He missed his job; he kept thinking about Congress and missing role call.
"He wants to be perfect in everything he does. The thing is, he couldn't be two places at once. We did miss one day of training because the president wanted to see Manny. I said, 'Can't the president see him on his own time, not on my time?' "
Roach says Pacquiao's greatest asset is not his speed, or ferociousness in the ring, but his heart.
"He's a smart fighter, he's learned a lot along the way, but his passion is to fight," says Roach. "He loves to fight. He gets a whole country behind him, and he doesn't want to disappoint us (or) his countrymen. He'll die for them."
If he beats Margarito, Pacquiao says he's got about three more fights or so in him, whether or not he fights Floyd Mayweather. Arum believes it's not that simple.
"When he has enough money and is ready to be a leader in Congress, he'll definitely hang up the gloves," Arum says. "It has nothing to do with accomplishing his goals in boxing, fighting Mayweather, that's all irrelevant. When he feels he's significantly ready for the next step, he'll give up boxing."
How boxing media sees it
How boxing media see Manny Pacquiao's super welterweight title fight Saturday night against Antonio Margarito:
Bill Dwyre Los Angeles Times Pacquiao, KO 9
Kevin Iole Yahoo.com Pacquiao, decision
Kieran Mulvaney ESPN.com Pacquiao, decision
Lance Pugmire Los Angeles Times Pacquiao, KO 5
Dan Rafael ESPN.com Pacquiao, decision
Mike Rosenthal ringtv.com Pacquiao, KO 8
Lem Satterfield AOLfanhouse.com Pacquiao, decision
Tim Smith New York Daily News Pacquiao, TKO 10
Bert Randolph Sugar Boxing historian Pacquiao, KO 8
Bob Velin USA TODAY Pacquiao, TKO 11
Source: usatoday.com
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