Pacquiao named Sports Illustrated boxer of the year

MANILA, Philippines - After going 3-0 in 2008, Manny Pacquiao was named boxer of the year by Sports Illustrated on Thursday. "In boxing, greatness is measured in moments. And in 2008, Manny Pacquiao had a whole lot of them," SI.com writer Chris Mannix wrote in his assessment of the acknowledged pound-for-pound king. Not only did Pacquiao run a perfect record in three matches, Pacquiao also became the first boxer in 70 years to win three bouts in three different weight categories in one year. Sports Illustrated called Pacquiao's win over Juan Manuel Marquez in April a "(grind-it-out) win, where he absorbed a vicious beating while dishing out... his own." It described Pacquiao's victory against David Diaz in June a fight where Diaz "never stood a chance." It called Pacquiao's triumph versus Oscar de la Hoya "the triple exclamation point on Pacquiao's year." "He accomplished so much and he did it with the style and grace that befits a true champion," Mannix wrote. "Pacquiao became the best ambassador boxing could ever hope for in 2008, as dangerous in the ring as he is benevolent out of it," Mannix added. But Pacquiao lost out in two other key categories listed by Sports Illustrated. The sports-media outfit gave Fight of the Year honors to the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito match, and Upset of the Year to Bernard Hopkins' thumping of Kelly Pavlik. - GMANews.TV