Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has been ranked at the 57th place on Forbes magazine’s 100 most powerful celebrities in the world for 2009 — the lone professional boxer to be included in the list.
This marks the first time Pacquiao made it on the elite list, which has Hollywood star Angelina Jolie at No. 1.
“Widely regarded at the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Pacquiao had two blockbuster fights in the past year: He took on Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in May. Pac-Man is a huge celebrity in his home of the Philippines and plans to run for political office there once his days in the ring are over,” Forbes said in a brief write-up.
With this, Pacquiao — currently the recognized No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world — joins fellow elite athletes such as golf icon Tiger Woods, NBA stars Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O’Neal, tennis standout Serena Williams, and soccer star Ronaldinho.
The General Santos City-based southpaw was earlier ranked by Time magazine on its list of most influential people.
Pacquiao plans to return to the ring in October against a still unnamed opponent.
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