Report: HBO crew to film Pacquiao’s biopic in GenSan

MANILA, Philippines – Home Box Office is set to start filming Manny Pacquiao’s biopic that will feature the Filipino boxing icon’s rise to prominence in the sport, according to a report at philboxing.com. The HBO crew arrived Wednesday in Pacquiao’s home province of General Santos City, south of Manila, to begin filming the television special that will be aired by HBO’s as part of its round-the-clock promotional blitz for the “Dream Match" between Pacquiao and former Olympic gold medalist Oscar Dela Hoya. The Pacquiao-Dela Hoya match on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will be aired by HBO. The TV special will chronicle Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches story and his rise to fame in the sport of boxing. Pacquiao began his professional career at 16-years old where he won 11 straight fights before Rustico Torrecampo knocked him out in 1996. Pacquiao’s rise began on his 25th fight when he defeated, by way of an eighth-round knock out, Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title. He twice defended his WBC flyweight title both by knockout. He was stripped of the title after showing up two-pounds heavier in his scheduled bout against Medgoen Singsurat. It was a double black eye for Pacquiao as he lost to Singsurat via a third round knockout in their match. Pacquiao returned in the boxing ring on June 23, 2001 where he won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight crown by foiling Lehlohonolo Ledwaba’s title defense in the sixth round. Pacquiao then rose to the featherweight class to beat champion Marco Antonio Barrera. The Barrera match became the turning point of Pacquiao’s boxing career. His rise to boxing prominence included wins over Erik Morales, Jorge Solis, Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz. Aside from showing Pacquiao’s life outside of his boxing career, the HBO biopic will also feature his philanthropic side. HBO will also produce a similar biopic on Dela Hoya. – GMANews.TV