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20 YEARS LATER: MANNY PACQUIAO INVADES AMERICA

FARYSA HAMZAH / Shutterstock.com

A little over 20-years ago, on June 23, 2001, Manny Pacquiao fought for the first time in the United States at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

FARYSA HAMZAH / Shutterstock.com

As we enter another Fourth of July weekend in the United States, most will think of barbeques, fireworks, and spending time with loved ones. However, for fighters who live outside of the United States, the opportunity to fight in the country can be career-changing.

No one knows this more than eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs). A little over 20-years ago, on June 23, 2001, Pacquiao fought for the first time in the United States at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao would be a late replacement with a two-week notice for Enrique Sanchez and would challenge then IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (36-6-1, 23 KOs) of South Africa. Unfortunately, Ledwaba recently passed away at the age of 49 from COVID-19.

At the time, the eight-division champion was 22 years of age and had just moved up to the Super Bantamweight division from Flyweight.

In 1998, Pacquiao stopped lineal Flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul with an eighth-round knockout to win the WBC Flyweight title. However, the Filipino’s time at Flyweight was short-lived.

After just one title defense, he lost his title on the scale, as he was unable to make the 112-pound limit and was stopped in the third-round by Boonsai Sangsurat. Pacquiao and his team decided to move up three-weight classes to Super Bantamweight, where he was arguably at his most dangerous.

Ledwaba was looking to make the sixth defense of his IBF Super Bantamweight title and would be fighting in the United States for just the second time.

Pacquiao would make his American debut on the undercard of the man he would one day retire, Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya would be facing Javier Castillejo for the WBC Junior Middleweight title in the main event.

One of the most memorable moments of Pacquiao’s first fight in the United States is HBO commentator Jim Lampley and George Foreman struggling to pronounce his name. With almost any fighter fighting in America for the first time, there is a sense of the unknown, especially with fighters below Featherweight.

“Pacquiao’s co-manager is named Martin Elorde,” stated Larry Merchant on the HBO broadcast. “Elorde is the son of Flash Elorde, the most revered figure in Filipino boxing. If Pacquiao is anywhere near as good as Elorde, we’ve got a real fight coming up.”

With two weeks’ notice and just 10-days in the country, Pacquiao started quickly in his American debut. From the first bell, Pacquiao was immediately aggressive, throwing a series of power punches at the South African, who seemed overwhelmed and unprepared for such an attack.

In the second round, Pacquiao sent Ledwaba to the canvas with a straight left hand. After the knockdown, the South African put up a valiant effort to keep the Filipino dynamo off him, landing some right hands.

The third, fourth, and fifth rounds were dominated by Pacquiao, who continued his relentless attack with his left hand at the forefront.

The barrage of punishment caved in on Ledwaba in the sixth round, with another left hand putting him down. He was able to get back up, but another left hand ended the fight with referee Joe Cortez waving the fight off at the 59-second mark of the sixth round.

To this day, this is still one of Pacquiao’s best performances as it immediately put a spotlight on him and on the boxing world’s radar.

“I think Pacquiao established himself as a crowd-pleasing entry into the Featherweight division tonight,” said Larry Merchant. “I had never seen him. I had never heard of him, but I’ve seen and heard of him now. And I want to see him again.”

Out of all eight weight classes that Pacquiao would win titles, he may have been the most dominant at Super Bantamweight. Of the 11 fights, Pacquiao fought at 122; he scored 10 stoppages with just one draw against Agapito Sanchez in a unification bout that was stopped due after six rounds due to cuts caused by head butts.

Throughout his career that has now spanned over 25-years, Pacquiao has fought in seven countries, including the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States.

None have had a greater impact on his career than his fights in America that ultimately took him to superstardom.

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