FILE – Manny Pacquiao enters the ring before fighting Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Father time catches up to anyone, yet there are the rare athletes who have managed to hold off the ticking hands.
Manny Pacquiao, who at 41 years old is still leaps and bounds ahead of some of the boxers of this era, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his professional career —a sporting life that consisted of 12 World titles and five lineal titles.
“January 22, 1995, 25 years ago today, I started my professional boxing career,” posted Pacquiao on his Instagram account. “I never imagined life would bring me to where I am now. I never dreamt of all the accomplishments my future would hold.”
“Boxing changed my life forever. It lifted my family and I out of poverty, brought me to place I never dreamt I would be, and provided me the opportunities help others along the way.”
Pacquiao, who posted a photo of a scrawny version of himself along with his message, started his career with a unanimous decision win over Edmund Ignacio in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental that lasted four rounds in the light flyweight division.
Since then, the virtual boxing statistic literally became a legend in the sport.
Pacquiao (62-7-2) racked up wins over the other icons of the sport that included Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley.
He has won the WBC World flyweight, IBF World junior featherweight, The Ring featherweight, WBC World super featherweight, The Ring junior lightweight, WBC World lightweight, The Ring junior welterweight, WBO, World welterweight (three times), WBA Super World welterweight, and WBC World super welterweight titles in his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
“I would not be where I am today if it were not for my family, who always stood beside me through the ups and downs; my coaches and team, who worked tirelessly to get us where we needed to be; my countrymen, who encouraged me and allowed me the privilege to represent out beloved country the Philippines,” wrote Pacquiao. “To all my fans around the world, who continually cheered on me and supported me.”
“Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao has made it this far because of you, so I dedicate this day to all of you who’ve been there for me these past 25 years.”