The boxing champ’s childhood in Saranggani province threw him the toughest punches of his life
Besides Dapidran, who had the young Manny punching down banana trees for practice, the other significant influences who convinced the once scrawny kid from Kibawe, Bukidnon to pursue the sport that has turned him into one of the highest paid athletes in the world today were his father, Rosalio Pacquiao, and the late boxing patron Rod Nazario, who told him he had the makings of the next Flash Elorde, Luisito Espinosa and Pancho Villa.