Manny Pacquiao won the first of his 12 major world titles in devastating fashion.

The Filipino boxing icon is the only eight-weight world champion in boxing history and started his dazzling collection with the WBC flyweight belt in 1998.

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Pacquiao KO’d Sasakul to become WBC flyweight champion
In order to win the title, he had to dethrone Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul, who was heading into his third defence of the green and gold strap when he ran into a 19-year-old Pacquiao.

At the time, Pacquiao was a relative unknown in boxing.

He hadn’t competed at world level up to this point and had already fallen to defeat in his fledgling 24-fight (23-1) career at the hands of journeyman Rustico Torrecampo two years prior.

A stoppage win over long-reigning OPBF flyweight champion Chokchai Chockvivat had proved he was talented.

But few gave him much of a chance against the vastly more experienced Sasakul.

The once-beaten champion had avenged the sole defeat of his career to Yuri Arbachakov and was widely considered to be the best fighter at 112lbs.

In the early stages of the contest, everything appeared to be going as many had anticipated.

Sasakul’s superior footwork proved tricky to pin down for Pacquiao, who followed the champion around the ring

But in the eighth frame, Sasakul’s movement began to slow and Pacquiao started to find a home for his punches

As he trapped Sasakul up against the ropes towards the end of the stanza, Pacquiao uncorked a dynamite left straight that landed flush on his adversary’s chin.

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Pacquiao was just 19 years old when he won his first world titleCredit: GETTY
Sasakul was sent crashing down to the canvas face-first by the force of the shot and was subsequently counted out by the referee – much to the surprise of the packed-out crowd at the Tonsuk College Ground in Phuttamonthon, Thailand.

In the years that followed, Pacquiao won further world titles in seven other weight classes up to super welterweight before hanging up his gloves in 2021.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame earlier this year.

However, his career doesn’t appear to be over just yet

‘Pacman’, now 46, was in talks over a left-field fight with 29-year-old WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios earlier this year.

Pacquiao’s adviser, Sean Gibbons, told Sky Sports in June: “Manny is looking at that option to fight Mario Barrios.

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The Filipino boxer went on the become one of the greatest of all timeCredit: GETTY
“He loves the idea of finishing his career by winning the WBC title. That was his first belt way back.

“So over the next two weeks, we are going to try to make the fight.”

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman also expressed a willingness to allow the fight to go ahead despite Pacquiao technically being retired as of 2021.

However, time constraints ended negotiations leading to Abel Ramos getting his shot on Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s undercard in November.

The fight ended in a draw, meaning Barrios retained his title – and now Team Pacquiao is expected to re-explore the world title fight for late next year.