Pound for pound, Manny is the best boxer in the world, but even more important than holding that distinction, Manny has connected with the people of his home country, the Philippines, to the point where he is almost like a god. --Lennox Lewis, former heavyweight boxer and HBO commentator Pacman is Manny's miracle story - his autobiography. Born and raised in an impoverished village in the Philippines, Manny began his life on the ropes. He provided for his family of five in his pre-boxing life by selling practically anything and everything on the streets just to help his family survive. The hard work, determination, and sheer grit that would characterize him as a boxer showed through in a big way during these early years. Though he dreamed of being a priest, his mother could not afford the education, so he soon found another way to move heaven and earth: boxing. According to the New York Times, Manny is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world today. His rags-to-riches story will inspire you.

Manny Pacquiao, 31, was recently named "Fighter of the Decade" by the Boxing Writers' Association and is the only fighter ever to capture seven championship belts in seven different weight classes. But few could have imagined that Pacquiao would have ever reached the pinnacle of his sport, considering his background. He ran away from home -- a cardboard shack in General Santos City in the Philippines -- at age fourteen. After making his way to Manila, and eventually the United States, Pacquiao hooked up with trainer Freddie Roach in 2001, and, from there, his fighting career took off. Named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" last year, the aptly nicknamed Pac-Man is a fascinating figure who will go down as one of the greatest boxers in history.

In spite of being well into middle-age, Pac-Man's popularity shows no sign of decline and the character has appeared in over sixty games on virtually every games platform ever released. According to the David Brown celebrity index, in 2008, nearly three decades after initial release, 94% of Americans were able to recognise Pac-Man, which gave the character greater brand awareness than Super Mario. Pac-Man, with its avowed commitment to non-violence was a videogame of many firsts, including being designed to appeal to children and females and providing the first narrative interlude in a videogame. Although iconic, Pac-Man has not been subject to sustained critical analysis. This book helps to fill that gap, providing an extensive, sophisticated, but accessible analysis of the influence of Pac-Man on the way that we live in contemporary western societies.

Delves into the long history of Asian American sporting cultures, considering how identities and communities are negotiated on sporting fields Through a close examination of Asian American sporting cultures ranging from boxing and basketball to spelling bees and wrestling, the contributors reveal the intimate connection between sport and identity formation. Sport plays a special role in the processes of citizen-making and of the policing of national and diasporic bodies. It is thus one key area in which Asian American stereotypes may be challenged, negotiated, and destroyed as athletic performances create multiple opportunities for claiming American identities. This volume incorporates work on Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Southeast Asian Americans as well as East Asian Americans, and explores how sports are gendered, including examinations of Asian American men’s attempts to claim masculinity through sporting cultures as well as the “Orientalism” evident in discussions of mixed martial arts as practiced by Asian American female fighters. This American story illuminates how marginalized communities perform their American-ness through co-ethnic and co-racial sporting spaces.

Manny the Pac-Man Pacquiao!' Every boxing fan around the world will be familiar with this introduction to this world champion boxing legend. But life for Manny Pacquiao started off in circumstances very unfamiliar to most of us. As a young boy, Manny Pacquiao grew up in humble upbringing, with little money, clothes and food. But this made him determined to make it his mission and pursue his dream of becoming a boxer and changing his life and his future. This biography will take you through Manny's life - from the many challenges he faced growing up in a small village in the Philippines, to becoming a successful world champion boxer and a political leader of his country. This is a story of determination, resilience, hard work and not giving up - the right mindset for success and achieving your goals and dreams. Age 8+

This book is specifically written for both Pacman fans, boxing enthusiasts and random individuals who wish to take a closer look at the life of the “Peoples Champion”. A sporting icon, Filipino’s pride and a man with countless abilities - that’s how Manny Pacquiao is often described. In the realm of boxing he is known as “Pacman”, but in the real world he is recognized as an idol of the mass - a man who had been a figure of hope, determination and success. His story is simply one of a kind. Born from a middle-class family and struggled with poverty, had dreamed, faced countless obstacles (in ring and in real life), but surpassed each one with utmost courage, and eventually achieved success. He is the exact person to show the journey of a man from ‘rugs to riches’. Manny Pacquiao undoubtedly deserves the recognition as world’s best fighter and pound-for-pound king. Everyone is perhaps fully aware how he beat the boxing champion in several fights. A true champion, isn’t he? But that’s not where his virtuosity ends. Manny Pacquiao has been vigorously pursuing his attention and interest in diverse fields such as entertainment (acting and singing), politics and other kind of sports. All of his achievements speak for his tremendous success. However, what really caught the heart and interest of the crowd is the fact that he had been once a simple boy living a simple life but with great determination and hard work, and ready to actualize his dreams. “Pacman” has already reached the peak of success and currently serving his nation. But success is never without difficulties.

A journalist presents an intimate assessment of the mythology, experience, and psyche of the Asian-American male that traces his own experiences as an immigrant under the constraints of American cultural stereotypes.