Voted "Person of the Year 2003" in Philippines, beating out President Arroyo for the award. Enjoys huge celebrity status in his native Philippines and therefore trains in the United States with trainer Freddie Roach at Wildcard Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, California. Former world champion in the Featherweight Division by RING Magazine, former IBF Super Bantamweight Champion, former WBC International Super Bantamweight Champion, former WBC Flyweight Champion, former OPBF Flyweight Champion.
