Pacquiao’s US debut 10 years ago remembered

LAS VEGAS—It was 10 years ago this summer and Oscar De La Hoya was the big attraction, as he often was on Saturday nights in this gambling town. Many of the high-rollers who came to watch De La Hoya fight Javier Castillejo hadn’t even made their way to their $1,000 ringside seats at the MGM Grand hotel when a 121-pounder from the Philippines made his US debut.

Manny Pacquiao had taken the fight on two weeks’ notice. His chances of beating rising star Lehlohonolo Ledwaba were considered so slim that oddsmakers refused to even put a line up on it.

Pacquiao would give Ledwaba such a beating that the fight didn’t last six rounds.

Those who watched that night saw promise, sure. But no one in the arena would have believed what was to come.

A decade later, Pacquiao is the star, fighting Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in the same ring where he had his coming out party. He’ll take on Shane Mosley in a bout that should only further cement his place among the great fighters of his time.

Only name missing

But Pacquiao’s legacy may one day be more important for what he does outside the ring.

He hands out money to strangers for the asking. He bought land recently to build subsidized housing for the homeless. And he went directly to President Benigno Aquino III to ask for $5 million for a badly needed hospital in his Sarangani Province.

He got it, because no one other than Floyd Mayweather Jr. has ever said no to Manny Pacquiao.

Boxing, of course, is Pacquiao’s day job, and it’s one he’s excelled at in recent years. He’s put on a string of sensational performances against some of the biggest names around.

The only name missing is Mayweather, though Pacquiao seems tired of the topic.

“I’m the kind of person who doesn’t want to talk about someone behind his back,” Pacquiao said. “He did his best in boxing. Let’s talk about the fight on Saturday.”

Pacquiao warned at Wednesday’s press conference that Mosley is dangerous. But he didn’t seem especially fearful as the two boxers posed chin-to-chin for photographers and Pacquiao tried unsuccessfully to stop from bursting out laughing.

Then Pacquiao walked over to the edge of the stage, leaned over and shook hands with Mosley’s father, Jack, and several other family members.

In his suit he looked more politician than fighter, someone pressing the flesh for their votes rather than preparing to beat up their guy.