Pacquiao scores another first: a star in the Las Vegas Walk of Fame

There seems to be no stopping Manny Pacquiao. Aside from being an eight-division world boxing champion, he’s also dabbled into show business (both in movies and music), retail (he has a merchandise store in Los Angeles and Manila), politics (he’s is currently a congressman for Saranggani) and even scent-making (he says he created his own cologne, the MP7 and the recently launched MP8). But more than that, the Pacman continues to score firsts.

A recent article on Asian Journal, a Fil-Am community newspaper, reported that the Filipino boxing champ will receive his own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. This marks the first time a Filipino athlete is bestowed with this honor.

According to the Las Vegas Walk of Stars chief operating officer Ed Swindle, Pacquiao has been nominated to receive the star, and “has already been voted on and approved by the majority,” he tells Asian Journal in an article on April 28.

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars, as written on its website, “honors people of prominence in a variety of fields including entertainment, sports, literary, humanitarian, civic, military and pioneers.” Located on the Las Vegas Strip, which stretches from Sahara Avenue to Russell Avenue, the famed walk is composed of stars made of polished granite 36” x 36” each, weighing 180 pounds, inlaid with the recipient’s name and specialty.

Honorees “must have, by their presence in the area, contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of Las Vegas, Clark County.” These criteria apparently suits Pacquiao well: as the number one pound for pound boxer (as ranked by Ring Magazine), the current WBC Super Welterweight World Champion and WBO Welterweight World Champion has been named by the Boxing Writers Association as the Fighter of the Decade, an honor previously awarded to legendary boxer Joe Frazier.

More, Pacquiao first got his IBF Super Bantamweight World Title in 2011 at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack center. His next few winning bouts were held at the Mandala Bay and MGM Grand. Apparently, as Pacquiao gained prominence internationally, he generated a booming business for the city.

In fact, the Asian Journal also noted that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had once said in an interview that Pacquiao’s fights were seen as “economic stimulus” for Las Vegas. It is sentiment echoed by US senator Harry Reid, who called the Filipino boxer “a true friend of Nevada’s” to his fellow lawmakers, and described his sport as “a major player in our economic arena,” said the report.

Apparently, there is a required $20,000 donation for each star, which could be shouldered by any sponsoring entity like the recipient, friends, family or even corporate sponsors. This non-refundable fee will be used for various expenses like “shipping, manufacturing and embedding of the Star,” the dedication ceremony, publicity and others. Expenses exceeding such items, like performers, cocktail reception and street closures, to name a few, will have to be shouldered by the sponsoring entity.

According to the Las Vegas Walk of Stars website, as many as 3,000 stars could eventually be installed, with 42 stars already dedicated since 2004. Among the most prominent names are: singer/entertainer Wayne Newton (2004), singer/musician Little Richard (2005) entertainer Liberace (2005); entertainers Siegfried & Roy (2006); singers Bobby Darin (2007), singer/actor Sammy Davis, Jr. (2007); singer Elvis Presley (2008); singers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (2010) and husband and wife singers/musicians Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2010).

The Asian Journal also reported that Swindle said the organization is “already completing paperwork” for Pacquiao’s star, and will “announce the schedule of the formal dedication soon.”

Pacquiao is currently in Las Vegas, billeted in a new Mandaly Bay suite, as his May 7 bout with “Sugar” Shane Mosley approaches.

By ANYA SANTOS