He spent nights on the streets and lived on the water… Manny Pacquiao’s journey from one dollar to millions

World boxing legend, the Filipino, Manny Pacquiao, admitted that he entered the world of boxing by chance and through a local boxing program in his country, in order to obtain a small financial prize.

He said during his session at the World Sports Summit, “Life was very difficult. I spent nights in the streets sometimes without food, and sometimes I was content with water to survive. This experience taught me patience and the value of every achievement. Everything I have accomplished now I could not have imagined when I started. True strength was in life and not inside the boxing ring.”

He added: “I did not think about professional boxing. All I was looking for was an opportunity to earn some money. My beginnings were in basketball, and when I turned to boxing, I began my career with very simple financial prizes, two dollars for a win and a dollar for a loss. I did not imagine that those few dollars would one day become millions, or that I would hold the title of world champion.”

Pacquiao stressed the importance of study and analysis in sports, saying: “Before every match, I carefully study my opponent, his style, movement, and his usual strikes. We call them ‘normal strikes.’ Every fighter has his habits, and understanding them is the secret to winning. Training is not just physical strength, but mastering the techniques that I will apply in the ring.”

He explained: “In my match against Oscar De La Hoya, I studied his style for three to four months. “I made a precise plan for every move and every angle. This is the true science of boxing.”

Pacquiao points out the great difficulties he faced when moving to a higher weight, explaining that lifting weight and maintaining speed and strength is not easy, and requires discipline and sacrifice.

He said: “You must work overtime, and go beyond daily training. Sometimes I practice training two or three times a day to reach the goal. Boxing is very difficult, but it gives you an opportunity to learn patience and take responsibility. Success does not come easily, and you must punish yourself to achieve what you aspire to.”