Manny Pacquiao, honored as the best fighter of the decade

Filipino pride and boxing icon Manny Pacquaio was voted as Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) on Monday topping other boxing stars nominated for the prestigious award. He bested fellow boxing stars Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera for the distinction.

The period from 2000 to 2009 saw Manny Pacquiao winning six of his record-setting titles in seven weight division. He bagged world titles at junior featherweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. He owned his first championship in 1999 at the flyweight division.

Pacquiao, who is the reigning pound-for-pound king (50-3 with 2 draws and 38 KOs ) captured his seventh world title by stopping welterweight Miguel Cotto in the final round of their popular match last November.

The Filipino boxer was likewise named 2009 Fighter of the Year by the BWAA which also marks the third time he has won the award, having bagged it in 2006 and 2008.

Certainly, this decade saw the Filipino boxer from General Santos City emerged from virtual anonymity to boxing supremacy. He will return to the ring this March to defend his WBO belt against Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Dallas..

Meanwhile, Pacquaio’s trainer Freddie Roach will also receive his fourth Trainer of the Year award. The corner man also clinched the award in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

Pacquiao and Roach will receive their awards on June 11 in New York City at the BWAA's 85th annual dinner.