MANILA, Philippines — The whole nation cheered as the judges proclaimed Manny Pacquiao the new "super" welterweight boxing champion after his fight against the previously undefeated Keith Thurman last July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In celebration of The People’s Champ’s 12th title, let’s look back at some of his most prodigious bouts inside the ring.
1. Pacquiao vs. Barrera
Back in 2003, Pacquiao was starting to get noticed internationally. It was high time for him to make a mark. So when the "Storm of the Pacific" fought against one of the sport’s giants, Marco Antonio Barrera, who at the time was among the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters, Pacquiao laid waste on the Mexican boxer at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Pacquiao knocked Barrera down in the third and 11th rounds. Barrera's corner threw in the towel before the start of the 12th round.
2. Fight of the Decade
A true and justifying end, the Fight of the Decade in 2012 threw the last punch in the saga of matches between the Mexican and Filipino cockpit warriors. The four-part war inside the ropes of the ring was anyone’s game, but the bout crowned Juan Manuel Marquez as the unofficial Champion of the Decade.
3. The Dream Match
Without a doubt, this ferocious confrontation made Manny Pacquiao’s name synonymous to boxing. Despite the battle having no title at stake, "The Dream Match" of 2008 was followed by fanatics from all parts of the globe. Oscar De la Hoya had an Olympic gold medal and 10 world titles under his belt. Pacquiao, leaping two weight divisions forward, was the World’s No. 1 pound-for-pound champion with multiple titles to match against his foe.
"The Dream Match" solidified the pound-for-pound champion’s legacy when Pacquiao made The Golden Boy quit on his stool. Pac-Man’s hand was raised when De la Hoya decided to no longer continue fighting before the ninth round. Four months after, De la Hoya retired from boxing.
Pacquiao’s track record has its more-than-fair share of views in the highlands of boxing, but it also has a few images of him ebbing down to the stool at the corner of the boxing ring. Despite it all, Pacquiao can always be sure that the Filipino people and Cafe Puro are with him in every punch he throws, may they land or not.
Cafe Puro salutes you, Manny, the People’s Champ!