Humble beginnings to global domination, that’s the story of Manny Pacquiao. A fighter for whom even rivals sang praises, Pacquiao’s journey strikes a chord every time it is spoken of. Born in a single-parent family in the Philippines, he faced the reality of poverty at a very young age. He lived in a shack and his family struggled with limited resources at his disposal.

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Forced to grow up quickly in his childhood, Pacquiao realized that his family needed him. Needed him so desperately, that he was pulled out of school at 10 to do odd jobs. However, as soon as he made his journey from the streets to the boxing arena, his name started echoing in the Philippines as, “Pambansang Kamao” (The National Fist). With every stride he took toward success, he always held onto his humble beginnings. Now worth a staggering $220 million, the fighter still does not dissociate himself from the world he came from.

Manny Pacquiao talks about his humble beginnings

Manny Pacquiao’s name would resound in the world of boxing for eons. His story strikes a chord with many who struggled to make ends meet. But this yearning to survive taught him something that would never let the arrogance of fame possess him.

Speaking about his journey, the Filipino fighter said, “I’m so thankful to god that I experienced that life to have nothing before I get this life. We don’t have our own house, we don’t have land. We don’t even have food.” He continued, “ We have to work everyday to make money to buy food. We’re too young to work just to earn money to buy food. Sometimes we don’t have food to eat, we just drink water.”

Today when he is revered as one of the greatest of this era, his net worth reflects the story he’s woven through his resilience. Yet, his heart beats for those who continue to live the life he once lived. He said, “We learned how to work hard, that’s how we get strong. Even I have millions of dollar or millions of pesos, but I still understand, I still feel the hearts of the poor people. My heart never changed.”

His humility might not allow him to glorify the journey he’s navigated. But Mark Wahlberg disagrees. The actor expressed his admiration for the fighter’s journey on social media. Why would he not? This journey is symbolic of all those battles people fight, demanding unfortunate circumstances to bow in front of scathing determination.

Mark Wahlberg praises Pacquiao’s grit and humility

Pac-Man’s journey to success has inspired many. One among them is Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg. The actor on multiple occasions expressed the fondness he has for the fighter. A few years ago, in an interview, he went on to say, “He’s the best in the world, the best to do it, so, of course. He’s humble and gives all the credit to Jesus.” His comments ring true with many people. After all, who can better understand the fighter’s journey than Wahlberg? The actor himself has his own stories of navigating through the mean streets of Boston.

One can possibly draw parallels between the two of them. Both are very adept in their own realms and have redefined the way one sculpts thir life through hard work and determination. But when the actor was quizzed about whether he could take on Pacquiao in a fight. “Certainly, if I sucker punch him he’s out,” he said.

For so long the 47-year-old fighter has  excited boxing fans with his incredible prowess. With his punches still echoing through the arenas he dominated, he hopes to get back to boxing yet again The fighter has sought permission from his country’s Olympics committee to allow him to contest the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Now, with his hunger to bring his country a gold medal, the fighter continues to add chapters to his legendary tale.