Manny Pacquiao Celebrates The 25th Anniversary Of His Professional Boxing Career

41-year-old eight weight-division champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao looked back to the day he first fought as a professional boxer, which happened 25 years ago.

The athlete-turned-politician posted a throwback photo of him on his Instagram account last Wednesday, January 22, where he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his professional career and narrated how boxing changed his life all throughout the years.

Manny also included a throwback photo that was taken when he was only 16, and just made his debut as a professional boxer.

He wrote in the caption:

“25 years ago today, I started my professional boxing career. I never imagined life would bring me to where I am now. I never dreamed of all the accomplishments my future would hold.”

He went on to share how this sport not only lifted his family from poverty but also made him experienced the things that were beyond his wildest dreams.

“Boxing changed my life forever. It lifted my family and I out of poverty, brought me places I never dreamed I would be, and provided me the opportunities to help others along the way,” the “People’s Champ”

added.

The 41-year-old boxing legend also expressed his gratitude to all the people who guided and helped him in this 25-year journey, this includes his family, the whole boxing team, his countrymen, as well as his fans and supporters all around the world.

Manny continued,

“However, 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 our beloved country – the Philippines; and to all my fans around the world, who continually cheered me on and supported me.”

Manny Pac-Man Pacquiao has made it this far because of you, so I dedicate this day to all of you that have been there for me these past 25 years.

“Thank you all so much and may God bless!”

For his first bout as a professional boxer on Jan. 22, 1995, his fight lasted for four rounds. Manny Pacquiao, who weighed 106 pounds at the time won via unanimous decision against 20-year-old Edmund “Enting” Ignacio.

Fast forward to the present, he has become the first and only eight-division world champion and is considered one of the best boxers of his era and of all time, with his record of 71 fights with 62 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws.

Pacquiao’s world titles include WBC flyweight champion (112 lbs), IBF junior featherweight champion (122 lbs), WBC super featherweight champion (130 lbs), WBC lightweight champion (135 lbs), three-time WBO welterweight champion (147 lbs), WBA Super welterweight champion (147 lbs), WBC super welterweight champion (154 lbs), and IBO super lightweight champion (140 lbs).

In May 2010, the Boxing icon also tried his hand in politics after he was elected as congressman of Sarangani, followed a bigger role in as one of the senators in the country since June 2016.

Aside from this, he was recently named by Forbes.com as the top 8 highest-paid athletes in the world in the last decade with total earnings of US$435 million. The fighting senator‘s 25 pay-per-view matches generated 20 million buys and US$1.3 billion in revenue.