BOXING-WORLD/PACQUIAO-MENTOR Manny Pacquiao's mentor gives a glimpse of the boxer's childhood

Record ID: 157074

  • Title: BOXING-WORLD/PACQUIAO-MENTOR Manny Pacquiao's mentor gives a glimpse of the boxer's childhood
  • Date: 2nd May 2015
  • Summary: PHOTO OF YOUNG PACQUIAO WITH FISTS HELD UP PHOTOS OF YOUNG PACQUIAO ON TABLE PHOTO OF YOUNG PACQUIAO IN BOXING SHORTS WITH FISTS HELD UP PHOTO SHOWING YOUNG PACQUIAO INSIDE BOXING RING PHOTO OF PACQUIAO BESIDE REFEREE AFTER WINNING COMPETITION PHOTO OF PACQUIAO WITH HANDS RAISED UP PHOTOS OF PACQUIAO WINNING AMATEUR FIGHT
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9T6NJ1UN60U5VPQ14I6373ZIH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Before Manny Pacquiao became a world boxing icon, he was a poor boy who ran without shoes on his feet.
    This is how Pacquiao's uncle describes him.
    Zardo Mejia was Pacquiao's his first boxing mentor when he was still a 12-year-old boy living in the southern province of General Santos.
    A boxing aficionado himself, Mejia decided to teach the boy the basics when he saw him swinging his fists in his backyard.
    He decided to make a makeshift boxing ring in his backyard when Pacquiao told him he wanted to get serious in boxing.
    He described Pacquiao's eagerness to improve, often training on the streets or anywhere he could swing his fists despite protests from his mother who was against his boxing.
    "You know, when you saw Manny back then, many people made fun of him when he jogged on the street since he had no shoes on and his short pants had holes in them, but he didn't care," he said.
    He recounted that Pacquiao sometimes cut classes just to watch the amateur matches being held at the town square.
    After eight months of basic training, Mejia told Pacquiao to participate in amateur matches and gave him his first boxing gloves as his present. Mejia still keeps the gloves as a memento.
    His unmatched victories in the rural province had prompted a boxing scout to recruit him and continue his boxing career in Manila, which eventually led to his entry into the international ring, Mejia said.
    He added that nobody in his family ever dreamed that Pacquiao would be this famous, but everybody in his hometown knew how focused he was with his training.
    Mejia said he hoped Pacquiao's childhood story would serve a lesson for those who see children with potential.
    "I wanted to share my experience with the people, about what happened to Manny. If you find a child who is trying hard in any kind of sport, you should help them," he said.
    The Philippines widely regard Pacquiao as a national idol, with thousands of fans packing gymnasiums and public parks to watch his fight on large LED screens throughout Manila and various provinces.
    The fight on Saturday (May 2) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas between Mayweather and Pacquiao is expected to become the highest-grossing bout in history.
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