Manny Pacquiao was beaten for the very first time 30 years ago today.
‘PacMan’ is among the many best fighters of all time in boxing, a standing he achieved by becoming the one fighter in the game’s history to win twelve world titles across eight different divisions.
The Filipino collected the lineal championship in five weight classes en path to an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025, but his successful three-decade profession has not been without setbacks.
It took 25 skilled fights for Pacquiao to challenge for his first world title, and he didn’t accomplish that as an unbeaten boxer.
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The primary man to beat Manny Pacquiao earned lower than $150 and was later wanted by police
On today, February 9, in 1996, Pacquiao was each beaten and knocked out for the primary time.
The person answerable for conquering the then-future legend was Rustico Torrecampo, a journeyman who was 11-4-5 leading into his clash with ‘PacMan’ within the Philippines.
Torrecampo knocked Pacquiao out in round three, however the result was not without controversy. After the 17-year-old missed weight, he fought in eight-ounce gloves while Torrecampo wore six-ounce gloves.
Then, within the fight itself, Pacquiao seemed to be hit by a shoulder and a low blow. The referee ultimately waved the fight off, adding the primary of what would develop into three KO setbacks to the Filipino’s record.
While he went on to bounce back and construct an illustrious profession that not many have come near matching, Torrecampo had much different fortunes.
After only pocketing around $140 for KOing Pacquiao, in response to the Philippine Star, Torrecampo went 2-4-1 across his next seven fights before starting a 14-year retirement.
During that stint away from the ring, Torrecampo was at one point the topic of a police manhunt after becoming a suspect in a murder case.
While he ran a roadside food stall in 2007, one other vehicle collided together with his automobile, spilling the food and the profits. An altercation reportedly broke out, and the motive force of the vehicle was found dead with stab wounds.
There was a police warrant for Torrecampo’s arrest for murder, but after no updates concerning the hunt for the boxer-turned-fugitive, he made a successful boxing comeback in 2011.
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Manny Pacquiao’s healthful response to Terence Crawford’s KO prediction
Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez last September to develop into the primary male fighter within the four-belt era to win the undisputed championship in three divisions.
Having placed his name among the many all-time greats, the now-retired American is high on confidence, a lot in order that he predicted a dominant win over Pacquiao of their fantasy fight.
‘Bud’ claimed he would ‘f— up’ Pacquiao last December, but that didn’t result in a hostile response from the Filipino.
On social media, Pacquiao responded to Crawford’s prediction with a healthful message.
“All love, champ. God bless you and your loved ones all the time,” Pacquiao tweeted earlier this month.