Pacquiao is Ring mag's 2006 Fighter of the Year

Manny Pacquiao was selected as the Ring Magazine's 2006 Fighter of the Year, according to the magazine's website, the www.thering-online.com. The website stated that the selection of Pacquiao as its Fighter of the Year was due mainly to the Filipino boxer's contribution in popularizing the junior lightweight class. "It's amazing what a little guy with a big smile and an even bigger punch can accomplish. While the heavyweight division was bogged down by mediocrity last year, the junior lightweight class soared to new heights thanks in large part to Manny Pacquiao, The Ring's 2006 Fighter of the Year," said the website. The website, known as The Ring, explained that "Since The Ring originated the award in 1928, only six fighters below the lightweight division—Henry Armstrong (1937), Willie Pep (1945), Carlos Zarate (1977), Salvador Sanchez (1981), Michael Carbajal (1993), Paulie Ayala (1999) — have been previously selected for the magazine's top honor. Pacquiao is number seven." The magazine further said: "Although Pacquiao tallied three impressive victories in 2006 (Erik Morales KO 10, KO 3; Oscar Larios W 12) it was the manner in which he accomplished them, as opposed to the victories themselves, that earned him the distinction. "'Pac-Man' is one of the few fighters in any weight class who goes all-out for the knockout from the opening bell. And isn't that, when you cut away all the baloney, exactly what all boxing fans really want? "Pacquiao's two fights with Morales in '06 generated more than 700,000 pay-per-view buys, and the live attendance for their third encounter was 18,276, the fifth-best of all-time among fights held in Las Vegas. "The big bonus is Pacquiao himself. Carefree and fearless, he seems to love to fight as much as we love watching him, and his modest demeanor and ever-ready smile are the perfect counterbalance to his in-the-ring ferocity. "And as if that wasn't enough, his incredible rags-to-riches story is one that resonates with the downtrodden everywhere. Pacquiao carries the hopes and dreams of his fellow Filipinos into the ring with him every time he fights, but has never allowed it to weigh him down once the bell rings. "All of this came together in 2006 to make Pacquiao the Fighter of the Year—and the scary part is that he's still improving. With Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Edwin Valero all being talked about as possible opponents in 2007, Manny has a fighting chance of being back here again next year." - GMANews.TV