INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - ALready acclaimed as pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao is in a position to become the world’s “Best Fighter” as well.

Pacquiao got nominated in this year’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (ESPY) for his back-to-back demolition of Oscar De La Hoya last Dec. 6 and Ricky Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

His sensational one-punch knockout of Hatton in the second round also earned for Pacquiao a nomination in the “Best Play” category of the annual event, according to Dong Secuya of Philboxing.

Competing with Pacquiao for the “Best Fighter” award were WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley and MMA stars Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.

Mosley, who’s been pining for a showdown with Pacquiao, was nominated for his TKO victory against Antonio Margarito.

Roy Luarca