Yet another accolade for Manny Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – The accolades continue to pour in for Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao. The reigning pound-for-pound king took a short break from his training to receive yet another honor: the “People’s Champion" from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Southern California Filipino Community on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). According to fightnews.com, the 30-year-old Pacquiao was feted for “his historic achievements inside the ring and for his philanthropic contributions outside the ring." In the same event, Pacquiao joined Mayor Villaraigosa in dedicating a tree as part of the “Day of Service," which was aimed to spruce up historic Filipino Town in Los Angeles. The Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year for 2008 and ESPN Star's Champion of Champions, Pacquiao is currently in the thick of training at the famed Wild Card Gym. The Pinoy phenom is seeking a fifth world title against defending International Boxing Organization junior welterweight kingpin Ricky “The Hitman" Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who was accompanied by ex-world heavyweight champion and Wild Card trainer Michael Moorer, thanked the Filipino community and used the opportunity to invite them to support him in his battle with Hatton. "Watch my upcoming fight. I'm sure that everybody's excited to see that fight. I promise you I'm gonna train hard to win that fight and bring honor to our country, especially the Filipino community here in LA," said Pacquiao, who also spoke in the Visayan and Tagalog dialects to the cheers of the Fil-Ams. –GMANews.TV