Manny Pacquiao movie offers look into boxer’s childhood
REUTERS
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Manny Pacquiao poses for photographers during a press conference to announce their fight on May 2, 2015 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Eight-division world champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao speaks at a news conference ahead of his upcoming bout with eleven-time, five-division world boxing champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather, in Los Angeles, California March 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Manny Pacquiao during a press conference to announce his fight with Floyd Mayweather fight on May 2, 2015 at Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Eleven-time, five-division world boxing champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (L) and eight-division world champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao pose at a news conference ahead of their upcoming bout, in Los Angeles, California March 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Floyd Mayweather (left) and Manny Pacquiao during a press conference to announce their fight on May 2, 2015 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Floyd Mayweather (left) and Manny Pacquiao during a press conference to announce their fight on May 2, 2015 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Manny Pacquiao arrives for the red carpet media event before his press conference with Floyd Mayweather (not pictured) to announce their fight on May 2, 2015 at Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Mar 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Manny Pacquiao arrives for the red carpet media event before his press conference with Floyd Mayweather (not pictured) to announce their fight on May 2, 2015 at Los Angeles. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
Professional boxer Manny Pacquiao, right, sits courtside during the first half of an NBA game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena,Jan 27, 2015. Promoter Barb Arum expects a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be set in the next few days. (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
Manny Pacquiao has reportedly agreed to terms to fight Floyd Mayweather on May 2. Mayweather has not yet committed. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)
MANILA — A film about Manny Pacquiao released on Wednesday offers a look into the Philippine boxer’s childhood before his much anticipated fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr next month.
“Kid Kulafu”, named after a brand of wine whose bottles Pacquiao collected as a child, charts his rise from humble beginnings to his first step into the boxing ring.
“He’s just like every one of us,” director Paul Soriano said at the film’s Manila premiere on Tuesday night. “He was born with nothing but because of God, because of hard work and faith, he became something.”
Soriano said he spent two years researching the film, much of it based on conversations with 36-year-old Pacquiao.
“Everyone can mimic his moves, but you can’t easily copy his courage,” said Buboy Villar, who plays the young Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao always faces people who are bigger than him and, as you can see, he’s scrawny as a kid, so I think all the rough experiences he had growing up helped to make him strong.”
The film opened in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday and will be shown in selected cinemas in the U.S. and Canada starting later this month.
