A long awaited boxing match between Filipino welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Australian challenger Jeff Horn will take place at the “Battle of Brisbane” on July second, reports BBC.
The event will be held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, which is expected to be filled with over 50,000 spectators. More than 150 countries will broadcast the fight.
LATEST STORIES
Pacquiao began boxing at the age of 14 after moving to Manila, where he lived on the streets, according to WBO Boxing. He had an amateur record of 64 fights (60-4). At 16, Pacquiao turned pro, standing at 4’ 11’’ and weighing only 98 pounds. Since then, he has won 10 world titles in eight different weight divisions—the first boxer to do so. He has been named the 2000’s “Fighter of the Decade” by the Boxer Writers Association of America and the best pound for pound fighter in the world by websites such as ESPN and and Sports Illustrated. Pacquiao is also a politician, having entered the senate in 2016.
On the other side of the ring is Horn, who began boxing eleven years ago to learn self defense. Although relatively unknown, Horn is a former Olympian who made the quarterfinals in 2012. He is also a former physical education teacher, which has earned him the nickname, the “fighting schoolteacher.”
Although Pacquiao is 38-years-old, well past an athlete’s prime, he is still a formidable fighter and the favorite in this matchup. However, boxing is not the only arena in which he is fighting now. Growing up, Pacquiao sold goods on the streets, while wearing mismatching socks covered with holes, reports CNN. He lived in a cardboard box and worked as a servant for the rich. Now, as a politician, one of his biggest goals is to eliminate human trafficking.
“In boxing, I don’t think people will forget me after I retire. But I really want people to remember me as a public servant, who is good, who is a champion for the people.” Whether or not Pacquiao wins this fight, he will no doubt remain a legacy both inside and outside the ring.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. You can show your support by liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/asamnews, following us on Twitter, sharing our stories, interning or joining our staff.
