MANNY PACQUIAO

by Denis Nolan
of Boxing Collectors News

The Edward J. Neil Trophy for fighter of the year was won in a landslide vote for Manny Pacquiao, the two-fisted dynamo from the Philippines who has established himself as one of the world's top pound-for-pound gladiators as well as one of the most exciting performers in the sport.

Pacquiao's captured the imagination of the boxing public with his scintillating, go-for-broke attacks. His three victories in 2006 were against top-quality opponents. He twice defeated Mexican superstar Erik Morales, stopping him inside 10 rounds and again, much more dramatically, inside three, and former super bantamweight champ Oscar Larios on a 12-round unanimous decision. Pacquiao's domination in these fights -- a great year in any era -- established his reputation as one of the truly elite fighters in the world.

"Quite simply, Pacquiao is one of the hottest fighters in the business," Graham Houston wrote. "There is a saying in American boxing: 'Speed kills.' When that speed is accompanied by power, it is truly a formidable combination -- and Pacquiao has it."

This from a man who started dropping foes at 106 pounds with a string of KOs in the Philippines. His rampage led to the WBC flyweight title in 1998, the IBF super bantamweight title in 2001, a spectacular beatdown of legendary Mexican brawler Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003 and general consensus recognition as the world's premier super featherweight by 2006.

Pacquiao's record of 44-3-2 with 35 knockouts points to a fighter at the very top of his game and in his prime at 28 years old. He already is his country's reigning sports figure, a genuine icon. His popularity is so great in the Philippines he cannot find the time to fulfill all the endorsement offers he is tendered on a daily basis.

What makes Pacquiao's story all the more remarkable is that he is self-managed, a rarity among world champions in the fight game. He has the good sense to surround himself with trainer Freddie Roach, whom the BWAA honored with his second Futch-Condon Award for trainer of the year and formerly worked with manger Shelly Finkel, a two-time winner of the Al Buck Award. Pacquiao's work ethic is exemplary, and most fighters even in prime condition cannot handle his fearsome combination of southpaw stance, relentless attacks, hand speed and raw power.

Rematches with top-notch opponents like Juan Manuel Marquez and Barrera or newcomers Joan Guzman and KO artist Edwin Valero loom on the horizon, as does the possibility of moving upward to a lightweight title contest.

When you add up the entire package, it points toward another successful year for Pacquiao in 2007 (he defended his WBC title in April by knocking out Jorge Solis in April) and beyond.