Pacquiao autobiography out soon

MANILA, Philippines –  This is the story of how the poor boy from General Santos City conquered the world.

New World Boxing Council super welterweight champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has written an autobiography, which will soon be released nationwide by Dunham Books USA and Anvil Publishing.

The book, entitled “Pacman: A Story of Hope, Resilience and Never-Say-Never Determination,” is written in English and promises to “capture the innermost thoughts and recollections of Pacquiao from his childhood to his recent life as a champion.”

“The book contains new anecdotes and shows Pacquiao’s deep sense of family and loyalty to friends,” Anvil said in a statement.

“It also portrays a humility that is heartwarming as he recounts past ‘mistakes’ and the lessons he derived from them,” it added.

In the book, Pacquiao shares how material deprivation and physical struggle in his childhood strengthened him as a boxer.

“Back then, my legs were the only mode of transportation I had. Climbing a mountain several times a week was a hardy workout for all of us, especially for my mother. The trails were covered in rock - dangerous and very steep,” Pacquiao writes.

“Now, when I look back, I realize that there isn’t a machine in my modern gym that compares to the trek through the wilderness of my childhood. That is where I first developed my strong calves. Even today, I don’t have to work on my legs very much - as they have remained rock hard since when I was a boy,” he continues.

Pacquiao, known for energetic fights, shares how he deliberately takes punches to stir excitement in the ring, a strategy that made him famous.

“(But) as I later learned, hard punches are not enough. I realize that I not only need to knock out my opponents, but also need to get hit myself, even if I don’t like it. The reason? I need to create a war inside the ring,” he writes.

“A war is far more exciting than a one-sided rout. I want to suspend the audience and captivate them - something to keep them on the edge of their seats. This is excitement. This is suspense. This is how I became someone people talked about,” he continues.

Pacquiao also shares some of his memorable fights, during which he gives his fans a glimpse of his thoughts inside the ring.

“In the end, Oscar (de la Hoya) didn’t come out of his corner for the ninth round. My idol had quit on me and I had an odd mix of feelings. It was as if I had called for Superman and he arrived, only to put his cape between his legs and walk away. I was disappointed and even a little sad for Oscar, but overall I was happy I’d won. It was what I considered to be the perfect fight. I had put on a good show for the fans and for my friends who made the long journey to America. It still amazes me that these friends came all that way just to watch me punch someone,” he writes.

The autobiography will be available in all branches of National Bookstore, Powerbooks and NBS Express.