Pacquiao among Sports Illustrated’s fittest athletes

Manny Pacquiao. AP FILE PHOTO

Manila, Philippines –Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has made it to Sports Illustrated’s first-ever list of 50 fittest athletes.

Pacquiao landed on the 39th spot, beating Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte (47), US football star Tim Howard (42), and American football player Reggie Bush (41).

The international publication ranked athletes based on their speed, strength, agility, and endurance, with 10 as the highest possible score for each criterion.

Pacquiao was given a rating of 6.5 points each for speed and agility, six points for endurance, and five points for strength for a total of 24 points.

Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James took the top spot with a perfect score of 40. He was followed by Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo and the ‘fastest man ever’ Usain Bolt, who ranked second and third, respectively.

Pacquiao is one of only two boxers on the list. His rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. edged him as he ranked fourth with a rating of 36 points.

Other famous sports personalities on the list are basketball players Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin and Serge Ibaka; tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer; mixed martial arts fighters George St. Pierre and John Jones; and swimmer Michael Phelps.

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