Evolution of Philippine Boxing: From Suntukan to Manny Pacquiao Filipinos practiced "suntukan," derived from the knife-fighting art "kali," during Spanish colonization, emphasizing bare-hand combat due to weapon bans. American troops introduced Western boxing, fostering the first Filipino pro boxers. Pancho Villa became Asia's first world boxing champ in 1923. Other notable boxers include Ceferino Garcia and Gabriel "Flash" Elorde in the 1960s. Manny Pacquiao's rise in the late 1990s ignited the