Pacquiao, Donaire receive top honors from WBO

SINGAPORE, Singapore – Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s only 8-division world champion was named “Fighter of the Decade” by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). 

Despite dropping a widely unpopular unanimous decision to Timothy Bradley earlier this year in which he lost his WBO Welterweight title, Pacquiao continues to receive awards and recognitions for the body of work he has completed in his career.

The award comes after Pacquiao had been given a similar accolade by the World Boxing Council (WBC) just last year.

Over the last decade, Pacquiao has made a historic climb through weight divisions beating the who’s who of the sport along the way including memorable fights against Mexican legends Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez among others as a Featherweight.

As a Welterweight, Pacquiao destroyed the likes of Oscar Dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley – and he didn’t just beat opponents, he often knocked them out with his all-offense approach that made him a favorite to watch by fans around the world.

Pacquiao is currently ranked by RING Magazine at #2 on the mythical pound-for-pound list tied with Floyd Mayweather, as the #1 spot remains vacant.

Donaire wins “Fighter of the Year”

In similar news, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire was awarded by the WBO with “Fighter of the Year” honors for capturing the WBO Super Bantamweight title after this impressive shutout of Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. in February, winning the IBF title with a dominant and convincing win over South Africa’s Jeffrey Mathebula, and his most recent victory over Japanese slugger Toshiaki Nishioka.

Like Pacquiao, Donaire has had a terrific run through the sport over the last 10 years and remains undefeated since his 2nd professional fight.

He has defeated the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel and Nishioka, and continues his dominant rise through weight classes.

Donaire currently campaigns in the Super Bantamweight (122 lbs.) weight division and is trying to work out another blockbuster fight against Jorge “El Travieso” Arce of Mexico to close the year. – Rappler.com