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LAS VEGAS — People know about Manny Pacquiao now.

link --> Pacquiao made world take notice in '03 fight

They know he’s considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That he’s trying to defy the odds and beat Oscar De La Hoya here on Saturday in the “Dream Match.”

They even know how to pronounce his name.

PACK-ee-ow.

But five years ago, the man they call Pac-Man was a virtual unknown — until he came to San Antonio as a decided underdog against the great Mexican fighter, Marco Antonio Barrera.

The bout took place Nov. 15, 2003 at the Alamodome, and it launched the Filipino sensation’s career.

“I remember the odds were 4-1,” Pacquiao said with a smile Wednesday. “Nobody expected me to win that fight.”
Nobody who was there that night — or watched the fight on HBO — will ever forget it.

Pacquiao stunned the boxing world and the 10,127 fans in attendance with a convincing 11th-round technical 8knockout.

He dominated the fighter everyone considered the best featherweight in the sport with power, fast hands and a relentless style that would become his trademark.

He entered the ring to the boos of the pro-Barrera crowd and wearing a Tim Duncan jersey. He left the ring with a smile on his face and the title of boxing’s newest star.

In an odd twist, sitting ringside that night was Pacquiao’s opponent Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. De La Hoya’s company, Golden Boy Promotions, was in its first fight as Barrera’s promoter at the time.
“I never dreamed then that I’d be fighting Manny Pacquiao,” De La Hoya recalls. “That’s why they call this the ‘Dream Match.’”

Richard Schaefer never dreamed it, either.

Golden Boy’s CEO sat next to his business partner that night. Neither he nor De La Hoya was prepared for what they were witnessing.

“It was a shock,” Schaefer recalls. “We couldn’t believe our eyes.

“I really wasn’t worried about the fight going in. Everyone was telling me it was going to be a walk in the park for Barrera. It was anything but.”

Schaefer and De La Hoya had seen Pacquiao before in person. In June 2001, he appeared on the undercard the night De La Hoya earned a 12-round unanimous decision over Javier Castillejo at the MGM Grand.

Schaefer recalls how impressive Pacquiao was in beating Lehlohonolo Ledwaba of South Africa for the IBF super bantamweight title.

“I remember thinking, this guy’s like the Energizer bunny but with triple batteries,” Schaefer said.

Pacquiao weighed 121 pounds for the Ledwaba fight, the same night De La Hoya fought Castillejo at 154.

For the Barrera bout, Pacquiao weighed 125 pounds.

Photos at a news conference two months before to announce the fight in San Antonio show the 5-feet-10 1/2 inch De La Hoya towering over the 5-6 1/2 Pacquiao, whose blue-jean pants appeared ready to fall from his tiny waist.

Weight wasn’t an issue then. But it’s been the center of attention for Saturday’s bout. Both fighters have to make the 147-pound limit by Friday’s weigh-in.

Many experts believe Pacquiao is too small to stand up to the power of the naturally bigger fighter in De La Hoya.

In his career, which began at 106 pounds, Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) has moved up in weight almost every year. This will be his third fight of 2008, with each one coming at a higher weight.

In March, he beat Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 pounds. In June, he beat David Diaz in his only fight at 135 and is the reigning lightweight champion.

“I really don’t think weight will make any difference for this fight,” said Pacquiao, an idol in his native Philippines. “Physically, I feel the same. My speed is there, and I have power.”

De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) said to forget all the talk about this fight being a physical mismatch.

“Manny Pacquiao can handle the weight,” he said, “because of his power, his speed and youth.”

Pacquiao is 29 years old, and De La Hoya is 35.

De La Hoya’s camp knows better than to take Pacquiao lightly.

After all, Schaefer saw what happened to Barrera five years ago in San Antonio.

“I’m pretty worried about this fight, actually,” Schaefer says.

“Manny doesn’t just win. He hurts people.”

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