Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has been honored as the best Asian athlete of the 21st century by sports website ESPN. Pacquiao tops the list as one of three Filipinos recognized.
ESPN lauded Pacquiao as “arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time,” highlighting his unprecedented achievement of winning world titles in eight different weight divisions. The article noted his impressive 35-6-2 pro record since January 1, 2000, and his championship wins across three decades. ESPN also acknowledged Pacquiao’s influence beyond the ring, noting his political career and executive roles in various sports.
Previously, Pacquiao was ranked 71st in ESPN’s top athletes since the start of the millennium, a position that sparked controversy among Filipino sports fans who believed he deserved a higher ranking.
Also on the list is Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, ranked 19th. Diaz, who secured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, was praised for her dedication and resilience. ESPN emphasized her numerous medals in the Asian Games and World Championships, highlighting her significant contributions to elevating weightlifting in the Philippines.
Basketball star June Mar Fajardo was placed 25th. The San Miguel Beerman has won seven PBA Most Valuable Player awards and 10 championships. Fajardo also played a key role in Gilas Pilipinas’ gold medal victory at the Hangzhou Asian Games and contributed to the team’s surprising win over World No. 6 Latvia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The top five Asian athletes list also includes former NBA All-Star Yao Ming in second place, MLB star Ichiro Suzuki in third, footballer Son Heung-Min, and tennis player Naomi Osaka. The top 10 is rounded out by swimmer Sun Yang, footballer Park Ji-Sung, tennis player Li Na, baseball player Shohei Ohtani, and badminton player Lin Dan.