Relive the best years, tourneys, and matches of these eight sporting greats
Being an athlete is no easy task. One needs to spend countless hours training, maintaining a strict diet, and studying different styles and techniques. One literally has to eat, sleep, and breathe sports. Perfecting a skill takes years—even decades—to accomplish. These greats have dedicated their lives to their sports and have reached their personal best. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the greatest moments from these eight sporting legends:
Manny Pacquiao
When you think of Manny Pacquiao, you think feisty, fast, and powerful. It's not every day that you get to see a young, 5-foot-4 boxer with a modest wing span of 1.75m, take down boxing greats one after another–Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Márquez, Marco Antonio Barrera–and not only via judges' scorecard decision but through one knockout after the other.
Out of all his matches, the one that arguably sealed the deal for Pacman was his bout against Miguel Cotto in 2009. It was a dogfight, to say the least. Both boxers were fearless and unrelenting, but Pacquaio proved himself to be the braver warrior, never backing down as if Cotto's punches only made him stronger. Pacman's magnificent display of speed and power stunned everyone in the arena. Two knockdowns and a bloodied Cotto later, the referee decided to stop the fight 55 seconds into the 12th round. And with that win, Pacquiao took home his seventh world championship, each from different weight divisions.
Right there and then, the world met its newest boxing legend.