CEBU CITY, Philippines — Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s solely eight-division world champion, isn’t finished stealing the highlight within the sport he helped outline for many years.
On July 19 on the MGM Grand Backyard Area in Las Vegas, Pacquiao delivered a gutsy efficiency in opposition to reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
The 12-round showdown resulted in a majority draw—a end result that left many followers, fellow fighters, and analysts believing Pacquiao had finished sufficient to win.
Though the 46-year-old didn’t reclaim a world title, the World Boxing Council (WBC) made certain his efforts didn’t go unnoticed.
READ: Pacquiao ranks No. 9 in Ring Journal welterweight
In recognition of his efficiency, Pacquiao was awarded the WBC’s Guerrero Azteca (Aztec Warrior) belt. It’s an honorary distinction reserved for probably the most excellent fighters of a given card.
The belt is a tribute to warriors who show coronary heart, braveness, and excellence within the ring, and was initially created to honor the fierce rivalries between Mexican fighters.
It was first launched as a part of the promotion for a bout between Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Ángel “Tashiro” Fierro, which was later canceled resulting from Fierro’s medical situation. Since then, the belt has been awarded based mostly on fan votes for the standout fighter of the evening.
This time, that honor went to Pacquiao.
“It’s an important honor to be awarded the Aztec Warrior belt, to be acknowledged as a Mexican warrior. I’ll always remember this,” mentioned Pacquiao in a video message posted on the WBC’s official web site.
Additionally receiving the Guerrero Azteca belt was WBC tremendous welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora, who scored a seventh-round TKO win over Australia’s Tim Tszyu within the co-main occasion. /csl
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