Manny Pacquiao rises for toughest fight

Manila, Philippines (CNN) -- Manny Pacquiao is not a god, but that doesn't stop millions of Filipinos worshipping him.

Since his first professional fight at 16, Pacquiao has amassed a formidable professional record of 54-5-2.

He is arguably the most famous person in the country's history, a world title holder 10 times over and the first person to earn belts in eight separate weight divisions, and in 2012 was one of the highest paid athletes on earth, earning upwards of $62 million, more than Tiger Woods, Lebron James, Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In addition, he is an actor, TV host and singer. Oh, and in 2010, voters also elected Pacquiao to the Philippines' House of Representatives, where he serves the district of Sarangani.

Pacquiao's story reads something closer to fable than fact.

The man who earned the title "Fighter of the Decade" in the 2000s by the World Boxing Council (WBC), comes from the humblest of roots.

Born in 1978 in a small village called Kibawe, Pacquiao lived with his mother and five brothers and sisters: "When I was young my parents were jobless. We had no home. Sometimes we can't even afford to have a single meal a day," says Pacquiao.

"When you see my slippers, one is green, one is red. And they had holes. I would walk the streets to sell, that's how I made my living as a kid. I felt sorry for my mother. I wanted so badly to study. I stopped though and pursued boxing."

At 14, Manny moved to Manila where he says he lived for a time under a cardboard box in a city park.

He found work as a servant for a rich man. Luckily, he was treated well, he says. When he began boxing as a teenager, he admits having to put rocks in his pockets to make the minimum weight of 105 pounds (47kg).

When he was 16, Pacquiao decided to pursue a professional boxing career. At 4'11'' and weighing 98 pounds, it's unlikely he struck much fear in those early opponents. But his fast fists and unrelenting toughness quickly earned him respect.

He gained global recognition in 2001, when as a late replacement, he beat IBF Super Bantamweight title holder Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao won the fight by technical knockout to win the title, his second major boxing world title.