Pacquiao awarded Fighter of the Year for 2008
Posted on June 15th, 2009
Pambansang Kamao Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao was awarded as the 2008 Fighter of the Year last Friday evening in New York City. The recognition was bestowed upon him by the Boxing Writers Association of America. This is the second time that Pacquiao was given such recognition, his first BWAA Fighter of the Year was given in 2006, when he knocked out Erik Morales twice.
He was given the top fighter for 2008 because of his victory against Juan Manuel Marquez, David Dias and Oscar Dela Hoya, in different weight classes.
If he continues to shine in 2009, and performed the way he knocked Ricky Hatton out, there is a big possibility that he will get his third award for this year. If he does, he will be joining the ranks of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield.
Holyfield, Frazier, Ali and Leonard are so far the only fighters to have won the award three times since the BWAA started giving the awards in 1938, the very first awardee was Jack Dempsey.
For the two-time awardees, Pacquiao joins the list of Carmen Basilio, Floyd Patterson, Dick Tiger, George Foreman, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Pernell Whitaker and James Toney. So far, no fighter has yet won the BWAA Fighter of the Year award four times.
Pacquiao is now the reigning IBO light-welterweight champion.
Come October, Pacquiao is scheduled to fight either Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto or Shane Mosley. If he wins again, he might be a shoo-in for his third fighter of the year plum. BWAA president Jack Hirsch said that Pacquiao’s sensational victory over Hatton last May 2 made him an early candidate for the 2009 award.
Pacquiao’s trainer and coach, Freddie Road also received the Trainer of the Year award, his third. The first one was in 2003 and then again in 2006.
