In the realm of Filipino sports icons, one name stands out above all: Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. His extraordinary journey from rags to riches, coupled with his remarkable achievements in boxing, has made him a global sensation. But what’s the secret behind his billion-dollar success?

Manny Pacquiao’s rise to prominence is not just a tale of raw talent; it’s a testament to the transformative power of coaching. Throughout his illustrious 26-year career, Pacquiao amassed an astonishing $1 billion in earnings and clinched an unprecedented 12 world titles across 8 weight classes—a feat unmatched in boxing history.

One pivotal factor in Pacquiao’s meteoric rise was his realization that he couldn’t go it alone. Despite his formidable skills, he recognized the importance of seeking guidance to navigate his blind spots and unlock his full potential. Enter Freddie Roach, a former boxer with an unremarkable career but an extraordinary gift for coaching.

The story goes that Pacquiao traversed the breadth of the United States, from New York to California, in search of the perfect coach. After being turned down by numerous trainers, he finally found his match in Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Gym. Under Roach’s tutelage, Pacquiao’s career soared to unprecedented heights, earning him 11 world titles and cementing his status as a boxing legend.

But the impact of coaching doesn’t end there. Consider the case of Nonito Donaire, another Filipino boxing sensation who earned a fraction of Pacquiao’s fortune despite his own remarkable talent. Donaire’s career trajectory underscores the crucial role that coaching plays in shaping an athlete’s success.

From Pacquiao’s enduring partnership with Roach to Donaire’s reliance on familial guidance, the message is clear: behind every great athlete is a great coach. These mentors possess the uncanny ability to illuminate blind spots, challenge assumptions, and propel their protégés to greatness.

So, could Manny Pacquiao have achieved his billion-dollar empire without Freddie Roach? The answer seems unlikely. Roach’s keen insight, coupled with Pacquiao’s unwavering dedication, served as the catalyst for his unparalleled success.

In the end, Pacquiao’s story is a testament to the transformative power of coaching—a lesson that transcends the realm of sports and offers invaluable insights for anyone striving for greatness. After all, in the journey to success, sometimes all it takes is a guiding hand to illuminate the path to greatness.

Trainer Notes: This is how I will share 2 distinctions using the Pacquaio story:

I have a question for you and I request that you keep the answer silently to yourself. Keep it to yourself, ok?

Who is the most famous Filipino you know? Think, I’ll give you 10 seconds. Now the name in your head, let’s see if qualifies:

Male

He is still alive.

He earned USD 1 billion dollars during his 26 year career

Keep the answer to yourself. Do you still have a name in mind? Last clue-

He is so famous that he can stop crime and rebellion  for the entire country when he fought as a boxer.

Yes, the most famous Filipino in the whole world, according to my research, which is of course super  reliable is Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao.

Manny has lived an extraordinary rags to riches story, has been a devoted son and good provider for his family.

He won 12 world titles in 8 different weight classes, and this is a world record.

There are many reasons why he achieved breakthrough results. One reason why he earned more than a billion dollars and not ten millon dollars is he knew that he didn’t know everything which is why he got a coach to show him his blind spots, what he didn’t know.

The name of the coach, Freddie Roach, a former boxer who had an average boxing career.

How committed was Manny in finding a coach to help him see the blind spots?

You know the geography of the US right? On the east coast is New York and on the other side, the west Coast is California. The story is that Manny stopped by every gym and asked many coaches from New York and everyone refused him until he reached Freddie Roach Wild Card boxing gym all the way at the other end. It took Freddie Roach only 1 round to see that he had a world champion to train.

The second most successful Filipino boxer was Nonito Donaire, who earned around 10 million dollars in his entire career vs. the 1.2 billion dollars of Manny.

Freddie Roach was Manny’s coach for 15 years during which he won 11 world titles. After their  split, Manny was coached by his childhood friend Coach Buboy and won 1 world title and lost several of

Donaire started boxing with his father as his coach and ended his career with his wife has a coach. There were 2 notable coaches in between but I ask you

Do you think that Manny would have won 1.2 billion dollars and 11 world titles without Freddie Roach as coach.

I don’t think so.

A great coach, seeing the blind  spots, pointing out things that you dont know, if you listen, and follow, and do the hard work can be the billion dollar breakthrough in your life. Do you agree?

Here are the research on the topic generated using Perplexity.ai

The top 3 Filipino boxers of all time, based on various sources and rankings, are Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Flash Elorde. Their achievements in the boxing world are notable for their number of titles, win-loss-draw records, weight classes, and the years they were active. However, specific details such as the exact amount of prize money and endorsements they won are not readily available due to the private nature of these financial agreements and the variability of prize money across different fights and endorsements over their careers. Below are the details of their boxing careers:

1. Manny Pacquiao

• Number of Titles: Manny Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to have won twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions[3].
• Win-Loss-Draw Record: His professional record includes 62 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws[3].
• Weight Class: Pacquiao has competed in multiple weight classes, ranging from flyweight to super welterweight[3].
• Years Active: He has been professionally active from 1995 to 2021[3].
• Prize Money and Endorsements: While specific figures for his career earnings from prize money and endorsements are not detailed, Pacquiao has earned over US $1.2 billion across 25 pay-per-view bouts. He was also among the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2012 and 2015 according to Forbes[3][11].

2. Nonito Donaire

• Number of Titles: Donaire has won multiple world titles across four weight classes[1][3].
• Win-Loss-Draw Record: His professional record includes numerous wins, with specific details varying over time as he continues to compete[1][3].
• Weight Class: Donaire has competed in several weight classes, including flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight[1][3].
• Years Active: He has been professionally active since 2001 and continues to compete as of the latest updates[1][3].
• Prize Money and Endorsements: Specific figures for Donaire’s career earnings from prize money and endorsements are not detailed in the provided sources.

3. Flash Elorde

• Number of Titles: Elorde won the world super featherweight title and defended it successfully numerous times[3].
• Win-Loss-Draw Record: His professional record includes 88 wins, 27 losses, and 2 draws[3].
• Weight Class: Elorde primarily competed in the super featherweight class[3].
• Years Active: He was professionally active from 1951 to 1971[3].
• Prize Money and Endorsements: Specific figures for Elorde’s career earnings from prize money and endorsements are not readily available, as financial details from his era are less documented.

These boxers have made significant contributions to the sport and are celebrated for their achievements and impact on boxing, both in the Philippines and internationally.

Citations:
[1] https://www.ainsworthsports.com/boxing_fighter_rankings_by_nation_philippines.htm
[2] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/667117-manny-pacquiao-nonito-donaire-and-the-greatest-filipino-boxers-of-all-time
[3] https://evolve-mma.com/blog/the-5-greatest-filipino-boxers-in-history/
[4] https://pantheon.world/profile/occupation/boxer/country/philippines
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/niwrcg/filipino_boxers/?rdt=40996
[6] https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3049653
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Win-loss_record
[8] https://moneysmartathlete.com/athletes-financial-struggles/the-influence-of-sponsorships-and-endorsements-on-the-financial-wellbeing-of-athletes/
[9] https://www.mashupmath.com/winning-percentage-calculator-sports
[10] https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/why-we-use-w-d-l-and-mls-are-dead-wrong/
[11] https://www.sportico.com/personalities/athletes/2023/highest-paid-female-athletes-2023-coco-gauff-1234751998/
[12] https://www.omnicalculator.com/sports/winning-percentage
[13] https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_%28English%29/080Analytics/Alma_Analytics_Subject_Areas/Titles
[14] https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/articles/product/types-of-data-needed-for-a-successful-win-loss-analysis/
[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_weight_classes
[16] https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=Titles
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UFC_champions
[18] https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/coco-gauff-officially-worlds-highest-paid-female-athlete-2023-sponsors-endorsements-23-million
[19] https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/opponents-win-draw-loss-record

Manny Pacquiao met Freddie Roach in 2001 when Pacquiao walked into the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles in search of a trainer[2][5]. This encounter marked the beginning of one of the most successful boxer-trainer partnerships in boxing history. Roach recalls the day vividly, noting that after just one round of working together, Pacquiao went over to his people and said, “I think we have a new trainer,” while Roach thought to himself, “I think I have a world champion on my hands”[5]. This initial meeting set the stage for a long-standing relationship that has spanned over two decades, with Roach cornering Pacquiao for numerous fights and contributing significantly to his success in the boxing world[1][2][3][4][5].

Citations:
[1] https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/08/20/manny-pacquiao-relationship-freddie-roach
[2] https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/20/sports/freddie-roach-61-manny-pacquiao-42-are-back-boxings-center-stage/
[3] https://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-pacquaio-roach-20190117-story.html
[4] https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3105793/manny-pacquiao-flashback-legendary-trainer-freddie-roach-and
[5] https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-freddie-roach-details-his-first-interaction-with-manny-pacquiao-at-the-wild-card-gym/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVgsGl_ACe0
[7] https://www.si.com/boxing/2019/01/15/manny-pacquiao-freddie-roach-boxing-reunion-adrien-broner
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/1b11n6m/why_freddie_roach_took_a_chance_on_manny_pacquiao/
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLmsqQWoAgE
[10] https://www.philstar.com/sports/2009/05/21/469474/how-roach-met-manny
[11] https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/25778060/manny-pacquiao-freddie-roach-reunion-win-win-situation
[12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7qDgt4XJ1M

Manny Pacquiao visited several gyms across the United States before being accepted by Freddie Roach. Specifically, Pacquiao started in New York and stopped at every gym he could as he made his way across the country to California. However, every other gym turned him down before he finally walked into Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles[6]. The exact number of gyms is not specified in the provided sources.

Citations:
[1] https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-who-trains-manny-pacquiao-list-of-coaches/
[2] https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/08/20/manny-pacquiao-relationship-freddie-roach
[3] https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-manny-pacquiao-opens-camp-20160314-story.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Roach
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/8c4p3e/manny_pacquiao_trainer_freddie_roach_officially/?rdt=61230
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVgsGl_ACe0
[7] https://www.elpasotimes.com/picture-gallery/sports/2019/06/21/freddie-roach-and-manny-pacquaio-through-years/1528155001/
[8] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/724864-freddy-roach-the-true-and-irreplaceable-power-behind-manny-pacquiao

Under coach Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao won world titles in eight different weight divisions over a 15 year period, which is a boxing record[1][3][6][8][9]. The specific number of titles won within these divisions is not detailed in the provided sources, but it is known that Pacquiao’s most significant achievements, including becoming the only eight-division world champion, were under the tutelage of Roach.

Under coach Buboy Fernandez, Manny Pacquiao won the WBA welterweight title when he defeated Lucas Matthysse in July 2018[5][12]. This was after Roach was replaced by Fernandez for the contest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is important to note that while Fernandez has been a part of Pacquiao’s team for many years, his role as head coach began later in Pacquiao’s career. The sources provided do not indicate any additional world titles won under Fernandez’s head coaching beyond the WBA welterweight title.

Citations:
[1] https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/legendary-boxing-coach-freddie-roach-celebrates-64th-birthday-with-tribute-from-manny-pacquiao
[2] https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-buboy-fernandez-reveals-shocking-amount-manny-pacquiao-made-first-pro-fight
[3] https://sports.yahoo.com/this-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-guy-manny-pacquiaos-boxing-records-may-never-be-broken-161642666.html
[4] https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-who-is-manny-pacquiaos-trainer-buboy-fernadez/
[5] https://www.espn.com/boxing/story//id/24102304/why-manny-pacquiao-victory-huge-buboy-fernandez [6] https://boxingjunkie.usatoday.com/lists/manny-pacquiao-ranking-the-filipino-icons-success-division-by-division [7] https://www.si.com/boxing/2015/04/14/manny-pacquiao-buboy-fernandez-philippines-mayweather [8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Roach [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_career_of_Manny_Pacquiao [10] https://www.espn.com/boxing/story//id/15132011/ranking-manny-pacquiao-eight-division-titles
[11] https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/boxing/839037/buboy-fernandez-on-pacquiao-for-gunning-for-a-world-title-again-it-s-possible/story/
[12] https://thefrontierpost.com/manny-pacquiao-former-champion-fight-wba-welterweight-title/
[13] https://twitter.com/FreddieRoach/status/1592008839058325505
[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWuye9fF88s
[15] https://www.elpasotimes.com/picture-gallery/sports/2019/06/21/freddie-roach-and-manny-pacquaio-through-years/1528155001/

Nonito Donaire’s career earnings are not explicitly detailed in total across all sources. However, specific fights provide some insight into his earnings at various points in his career. For instance, during his fight against Fernando Montiel in 2011, Donaire earned a career-high $350,000[4]. Another significant payday was mentioned for a fight where Donaire’s purse topped $1 million[7]. These figures, while indicative of certain high-profile fights, do not account for the entirety of his career earnings, which would also include other fight purses, win bonuses, and earnings from sponsorships and endorsements. As of 2024, Nonito Donaire’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million, reflecting his career earnings alongside his sponsorships and endorsement deals[2].

Citations:
[1] https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-nonito-donaire-vs-manny-pacquiao-net-worth-comparison-who-is-richer/
[2] https://surprisesports.com/athletes-biography/nonito-donaire-net-worth/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonito_Donaire
[4] https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=6140820
[5] https://www.sarkariexam.com/naoya-inoue-net-worth-details-about-boxing-earnings-wife-age-career/456779
[6] https://www.thesportster.com/naoya-inoue-vs-marlon-tapales-purse-how-much-will-the-japanese-star-earn/
[7] https://sports.inquirer.net/95379/donaire-purse-tops-1-million
[8] https://vulpuk1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/naoya-inoue-net-worth.html

Throughout his career, Nonito Donaire has worked with several coaches, reflecting changes in his training and strategic approach over the years. Here is a summary of his coaching history from the start of his career to the present:

1. Nonito Donaire Sr.: Early in his career, Nonito Donaire was trained by his father, Nonito Donaire Sr. This familial coaching relationship was common during his initial foray into professional boxing[4][13].
2. Robert Garcia: Donaire worked with renowned trainer Robert Garcia for a significant portion of his career. Garcia was his coach during a period of notable success, including when Donaire fought Wladimiro Sidorenko on December 4, 2010[6]. However, the exact start and end dates of Garcia’s tenure are not specified in the provided sources.
3. Mike Bazzel: Mike Bazzel is also mentioned as one of Donaire’s notable coaches. Bazzel was involved in Donaire’s training alongside other coaches, but specific dates of his involvement are not detailed in the sources[2][4].
4. Rachel Donaire: In a significant shift, Nonito Donaire’s wife, Rachel Donaire, took on the role of his head trainer. This transition marked Rachel as the first female WBC Champion trainer[1][12]. While the exact date Rachel began coaching Nonito is not specified, her involvement is highlighted around his fight against Nordine Oubaali, which took place on May 29, 2021[4].

The provided sources do not offer comprehensive dates for each coaching period, reflecting the fluid nature of coaching relationships in professional boxing. Additionally, Donaire’s career has seen him work with multiple trainers simultaneously or transition between them based on his training needs and career direction.

Citations:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/nr5o8v/nonito_donaires_wife_rachel_donaire_is_the_first/?rdt=48164
[2] https://proboxtv.com/news/Nonito-Doniare-the-forgotten-legend-of-this-era/en
[3] https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/nonito-donaire-vs-alexandro-santiago
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonito_Donaire
[5] https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/nonito-donaire
[6] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/486513-noniro-donaire-finally-got-what-he-wanted-to-boost-career-after-long-wait
[7] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2014/05/29/nonito-donaire-hopes-changes-can-revive-his-career/9717145/
[8] https://www.badlefthook.com/2023/7/12/23793283/nonito-donaire-vs-alexandro-santiago-moved-spence-vs-crawford-undercard-boxing-news-2023
[9] https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/48243
[10] https://www.boxingscene.com/nonito-donaire/news
[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqjlToObjFU
[12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvCBIFhkFMU
[13] https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Andre-Ward-Nonito-Donaire-s-path-to-greatness-2371872.php
[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G53Y2-2pViU

More examples of Breakthroughs here…