Pacquiao, another Filipino athlete nominated in ESPN awards

Manny Pacquiao.   AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The list of nominees for the 2014 ESPN’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards was unveiled Wednesday (Manila time) and two Filipinos made the cut.

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is nominated for the Best Fighter Award while Fil-American Raymond Martin, who won four gold medals in the 2012 London Paralympic Games in the T52 wheelchair racing category, is among the nominees for Best Male Athlete with Disability.

Pacquiao, who reclaimed the WBO welterweight champion after a convincing win over Timothy Bradley in their rematch last April, is joined by reigning pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., current WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, UFC light heavyweight titlist Jon Jones and UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey as the other nominees for the award.

The 22-year-old Martin, born with a congenital disorder that caused the shortening of his joints, was also nominated for the same award last year which was won by Jeremy Campbell.

The unbeaten Mayweather, who is also vying for the Best Male Athlete Award, took home the Best Fighter trophy last year.

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