Pacquiao Popularity Soars as 'Firepower' Boxing Match draws Near

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao's popularity soared in unprecedented proportion during the past few days as he and Puerto Rican boxing idol Miguel Cotto climb the ring this Saturday in their 'Firepower' match in Las Vegas, Nevada

Less than one week before the most anticipated boxing match of the year between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, thousands of boxing fans from around the world are converging in Las Vegas, Nevada to witness the 'Firepower' match of the Filipino boxing icon and the Puerto Rican idol. Before leaving for Las Vegas yesterday, Manny Pacquiao's routine exercises and final preparation for the Saturday boxing event have been interrupted by droves of boxing fans who wanted to see the Filipino boxing icon. Boxing fans of different nationalities would queue whenever the famous boxer takes a break from his training schedules to see the boxing idol and seek his signature on anything that matters to them including balls, diaries, t-shirts, boxing gloves or even in a crumpled piece of paper where they can have the signature of the Filipino boxing icon. In the Internet, Pacquiao's popularity is unmatched. Andrew Weiner of the Examiner asks:

What does boxing have to do with the Internet? Plenty. Just look at the success of Manny Pacquiao, who is the top boxer across six weight divisions and subject of the wildly successful site mannypacquiao.ph, which today notes that Manny has arrived in Las Vegas as he awaits Saturday's bout against Miguel Cotto.

In a recent outdoor training in Manila where Pacquiao made a short running exercise before heading for Las Vegas, the pound-for-pound king was nearly overtaken by hordes of boxing fans who wanted to get near him to wish him well or to just see how he is doing. Politicians who wnted to share the limelight for political mileage have likewise sought the popular boxer for possible endorsements of their political campaigns. Lawmakers from his native Philippines have started to head for Las Vegas to witness the highly anticipate boxing event. Legislative work takes the backseat of the lawmakers just so they can join their boxing idol this Saturday. In other parts of the world, Pacquiao continues to draw boxing fans with his boxing skills, humbling qualities, charitable work, respect of elders, unmatched discipline as a boxer and for just being a God-fearing person. The popular boxer says he places God above all others especially when he is preparing for a tough fight. Being added to the boxing idol's popularity is his transformation as a popular product endorser, making him recognizable by worldwide audiences and boxing fans through his billboards and TV commercials. In one of the strategic places in Los Angeles near the Wild Card Gym, his Nike billboard becomes a focal point of interest among passers-by. Another factor in his phenomenal rise to celebrity status is his being a recipient of various honors from prestigious award-giving bodies, including his selection by Time Magazine as its cover photo for its November Asia edition. Pacquiao has also been selected by Forbes Magazine as on one of the most influential persons in the world last year, not to mention other prestigious awards like the 'best boxer of the year', best pound-for- pound boxer, etc. Manny Pacquiao is preparing for his 'Firepower' match this Saturday at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pound for pound king will tangle with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.