Pacquiao recalls first fight as pro: I was paid P1K

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao continued to talk about his career in retrospect as he nears what could be his last fight.

On Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) when he had a short chat with select reporters before the final press conference for his clash with Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao was asked about his first fight as a professional.

He did not even pause to think

“It was January 25, 1995 in the Philippines. It was in Mindoro Occidental,” the Filipino icon.

“From Manila to Mindoro the place you have to travel more than three hours by boat,” Pacquiao said, adding that he paid for his own trip.

Pacquiao made his debut as a skinny 98-pounder against Enting Ignacio, who already had a couple of fights, at a small stadium in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental.

He won the four-round bout, scoring a unanimous decision. The young fighter from General Santos City fought again in the same place afterwards.

Pacquiao then revealed the most interesting bit of his story – his first fight purse.

“My purse was only 1,000 pesos, or almost 20 dollars,” he said, laughing.

Asked why he continued to fight despite the meager pay that time, Pacquiao had a simple answer.

“That's my desire. To box,” Pacquiao continued.

“I boxed because I want to help my mother, my family. I was the breadwinner.”

Little did Pacquiao know that on that fateful night of January 25, 1995, a legend was born.