Approaching his 40th career fight at just 24 years of age, Manny Pacquiao had the chance to make boxing history for the entirety of Asia.
One of the most recognizable sporting figures to ever walk the earth, Filipino megastar Manny Pacquiao is lining up another return to the ring by the turn of next year.
And so far linked with a whole host of potential matchups, the multi-weight champion has sights on another charge at welterweight gold, as well as a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.
However, during his initial rise Stateside, Pacquiao set the boxing world alight with a tremendous finish in yet another controversial outing.
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Manny Pacquiao’s late win over Marco Antonio Barrera
On this day in 2003, Pacquiao entered the squared circle in search of The Ring featherweight championship opposite Mexican pugilist Marco Antonio Barrera.
And just four fights deep into his new residency in the United States, Pacquiao was forced to the eleventh round by a game Barrera in a fight marred by controversy.
Slipping to the canvas as Barrera came forward in the opening exchanges, Pacquiao was wrongly hit with a knockdown against him.
And in the sixth round, Pacquiao would open a cut on Barrera due to a clash of heads, before a ninth-round blow after a break in the clinch, resulting in a point deduction.
Eventually felling the defending champion in the eleventh round, a brutal onslaught from Pacquiao was enough to force the towel from Barrera’s corner, handing him a TKO win.
And with that stoppage, Pacquiao became the first fighter from Asia to win three world championships in separate divisions.
Manny Pacquiao talks up Conor McGregor clash
Locked in talks for a potential boxing match with UFC star Conor McGregor before his eventual retirement from the ring four years ago, Pacquiao failed to ever fight the Dubliner.
However, the pairing has continued to draw interest across both the boxing and MMA spheres, with the duo both sharing the ring with the previously mentioned Mayweather in their careers.
Vowing to “shut his [McGregor’s] mouth” if they ever entered the ring, the Philippines star breathed some new life into the high-profile matchup recently.