Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
All time boxing great Manny Pacquiao was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canastota, NY. The Eight division world champion delivered an all-encompassing speech, exemplifying humility, gratitude, respect and he even thanked the boxing media.
Here are some of the highlights…
Be grateful… Pacquiao commended the promoters who were important factors in his career journey, including Bob Arum for “giving a kid from the Philippines the chance to show the world what he could do” and Al Haymon for the later career opportunities.
Dedicated his induction to every underdog, every dreamer and those who keep fighting even when the odds are against them. He made special mention of his family, his wife Jinkee, their five children. He also paid tribute to the Filipino people for their love, prayers and support through the years. “You carried me through every victory, every defeat.” He commended media and the press for the work they do, his coaches Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Justin Fortune, Team Pacquiao, fans around the world for encouraging and inspiring him every step of the way and to every young boy and girl with a dream, “don’t let your situation define your future.”
Nothing is impossible. Pacquiao said with God, all things are possible and quoted Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous, don’t be afraid, don’t be discouraged for the Lord our God will be with you wherever you go.” … “God was with me from the slums of Sarangani to the bright lights of Las Vegas to the International Boxing Hall of Fame,” he stated. “I’m so thankful and grateful to God and the glory, honor and praises belong to Him, not to Manny Pacquiao or anybody but to God who created everything.”
One must work extremely hard to rise to the top. “I never picked the easy fights. I chose the hard ones. I moved up weight after weight not to protect a record but to test my limits. Now, when I look back, eight division world champion, world titles in four different decades, oldest world welterweight champion in history. Those are not just opinions, they’re facts.”
Be an inspiration… “Call me a fighter, call me a warrior, call me a proud Filipino, call me a servant of God, some people ask who’s the greatest of all time. It’s not for me to decide. It belongs to the fans, it belongs to history.”
Pacquiao opted to share the accolades for his Hall of Fame entry with his supporters, “This is our victory, this is our story and the best is yet to come.”
Manny Pacquiao, age 46, will challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight title in July in Las Vegas.
Artwork by Sen Lacson.
