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Manny Pacquiao: 'After 20 years, I'm still here'

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Steve Angeles | TFC News California, USA

<p>It was the summer of 2001, when a 23-year-old flyweight named Manny Pacquiao first walked into the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. <br/><br/>From there, it was magic, as the Philippine boxing icon would go on to win world titles in 8 divisions under the guidance of legendary trainer Freddie Roach.<br/><br/>&quot;I feel happy and amazing. After 20 years, I’m still here. I keep on fighting with the best... All the honor, glory belong to God,&quot; said Pacquiao.<br/><br/>The drive and winning partnership have continued, as the Pacman wraps up his third week of training camp for his August 21st fight against Errol Spence. <br/><br/>Roach believes, &quot;we win this one, we&#x27;re definitely the best fighter of all time.&quot;<br/><br/>Team Pacquiao celebrated a 20-year milestone last month. Back in June 23, 2001, about two weeks into the new Manny-Freddie partnership, the Pacman was called in as a replacement challenger against South African Lehlo Ledwaba. <br/><br/>The IBF world bantamweight champion was considered one of the best in the division, until the then-unknown Pacquiao, who held a flyweight title at the time, took him out in six rounds.<br/><br/>It was Pacquiao&#x27;s first U.S. fight and pay-per-view appearance. The victory helped the Filipino boxer bag bigger fights, pay-per-view headlines, and more history-making wins. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3Idxxs--n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"> </div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"> </div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3Idxxs--n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 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style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"> </div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3Idxxs--n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao)</a></div></div></blockquote><div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Unfortunately, as Pacquiao was arriving in the U.S. this month, news broke that Ledwaba had passed away at the age of 49 due to COVID-19.<br/><br/>After his fight with Pacquiao, Ledwaba quietly finished his career with 7 more fights, winning 3, losing 4, mostly in South Africa. He last fought in 2006, but remained in the sport as a trainer, manager, and promoter. <br/><br/>Upon Ledwaba&#x27;s passing, Pacquiao expressed his condolences and admiration for the man who helped pave the way for his success. Roach was also saddened by the death and described Ledwaba as a &#x27;great opponent.&#x27;</p>

<p>It's been 20 years since Manny Pacquiao made his U.S debut and pulled off a shock victory that helped him become the boxing icon that he is today. </p>

It's been 20 years since Manny Pacquiao made his U.S debut and pulled off a shock victory that helped him become the boxing icon that he is today.

Manny Pacquiao: 'After 20 years, I'm still here'

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Manny Pacquiao: 'After 20 years, I'm still here'

Steve Angeles | TFC News California,

USA

Published Jul 25, 2021 01:18 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 25, 2021 04:47 PM PHT

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Manny Pacquiao

US debut

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