Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest boxers of his generation, led Philippine tributes to Muhammad Ali on Saturday, as he joined his fellow countrymen in mourning the American legend's death.
"We lost a giant today," Pacquiao, the only man in boxing history to win world titles in eight different weight divisions, said in a statement.
"Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family," Pacquiao added.
The boxing-crazy Asian nation was the scene of one of Ali's greatest triumphs, the epic "Thrilla in Manila" on October 1, 1975, when he scored a 14th round technical knockout of Joe Frazier in their third and last fight.
PHOTO GALLERY: Muhammad Ali: You're 'The Greatest' (1942-2016)
A Manila shopping mall, built near the coliseum that hosted the bout, unfurled a large poster of Ali on Saturday in tribute.
Hours before the family announced Ali's death, Pacquiao, who won a seat in the country's Senate in last month's elections, posted Ali's picture in his Instagram account and urged fans to "keep Muhammad Ali in your thoughts and prayers".
President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma told AFP: "Muhammad Ali is a legendary athlete who touched the lives of people from all over the world, including Filipinos who witnessed the 'Thrilla in Manila'."
"We mourn the passing of 'the greatest' who floated like a butterfly but stung like a bee," Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta -- who keeps a poster of the "Thrilla in Manila" fight in his office -- told AFP in a statement.
"He was an icon and an idol to several generations," said Ed Picson, the executive director of the Philippines' amateur boxing federation, who cheered for Ali more than 40 years ago at the Manila bout.
"As a boxer he dazzled, mesmerised and inspired awe. There will never be anyone like him. He was, is and will always be the greatest," Picson told AFP.
AFP
Sat Jun 04 2016
PACQUIAO: Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity. -Filepix
Wanita maut, dua lelaki parah kereta langgar pokok
Seorang wanita maut, manakala dua lelaki cedera parah selepas kereta dinaiki mereka terbabas sebelum melanggar sebatang pokok di tepi jalan dalam kemalangan di Jalan Macalister awal hari ini.
Israel perlu waspada jika negara Asia Barat masuk campur
Israel seharusnya mengambil pengajaran daripada konflik dengan Iran supaya tindak bertindak sewenang-wenangnya mencabuli hak rakyat Islam, terutamanya Palestin.
AWANI Ringkas: PM: Isu PKR Sabah akan diselesaikan segera
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
DNB nafi dakwaan tidak telus dalam menjalankan operasi dalaman
Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) dengan tegas menafikan dakwaan bertindak tidak telus dalam menjalankan operasi dalaman serta menolak sebarang gambaran negatif terhadap amalan tadbir urus dan perolehannya.
Adakah ia akan mencetuskan perang lebih besar & dahsyat di Asia Barat?
Prof. Dr. Mizan Mohammad Aslam, Jabatan Hubungan Antarabangsa, Keselamatan dan Undang-Undang
KPN Razarudin ucap takziah pemergian Tun Hanif Omar
Ketua Polis Negara (KPN), Tan Sri Razarudin Husain bersama timbalannya Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay dan seluruh warga Polis Diraja Malaysia menzahirkan ucapan takziah buat ahli keluarga bekas KPN, Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar yang meninggal dunia akibat sakit buah pinggang pada awal pagi Sabtu.
Keperibadian Tun Hanif tegas ketika melakasanakan tugas
Ketegasan dalam melaksanakan tugasan.
Itu merupakan salah satu keperibadian bekas Ketua Polis Negara (KPN) Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar sepanjang melakar perkhidmatannya di dalam kontinjen Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).
Perkara itu dikongsikan sahabat rapat Allahyarham, Tokoh Pentadbiran , Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Itu merupakan salah satu keperibadian bekas Ketua Polis Negara (KPN) Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar sepanjang melakar perkhidmatannya di dalam kontinjen Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).
Perkara itu dikongsikan sahabat rapat Allahyarham, Tokoh Pentadbiran , Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Perjalanan terakhir Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar di Masjid Negara
Faida Rahim, Wartawan Astro AWANI
Tun Hanif Omar Ketua Polis Negara terlama dan termuda
Bekas Ketua Polis Negara (KPN) Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar melakar sejarah dalam perkhidmatan Sang Saka Biru.
sebagai individu paling muda dan lama menerajui tampuk kepimpinan pasukan keselamatan negara.
sebagai individu paling muda dan lama menerajui tampuk kepimpinan pasukan keselamatan negara.
Komuniti di Sarawak digalakkan mohon tubuh PAWE - Nancy
Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri berkata buat masa ini, Sarawak hanya mempunyai 13 PAWE dan jumlah itu tidak mencukupi bagi sebuah negeri yang besar.