"It's pretty serious when you're nominated for this award twice for two separate performances. But it's even more serious when you beat a naturally bigger, taller welterweight from red to blue corner for eight solid rounds, and you can still say, "Well, you think THAT'S bad…"

"From opening bell to the final wave off, David Diaz was solely and completely at the mercy of Manny Pacquiao's speed. It seemed as if Diaz had leather magnets installed; everything Manny threw hit the mark and hit it flush. I'd love to say Manny had a minor rally, but he never seemed to. It was an open and shut case for Pacquiao all the way, and Diaz looked like he had been run over repeatedly by the world's smallest Mack truck. At least Diaz showed up to his post-fight press conference."

- Biggest Beatdown of the Year, 411mania.com


"Although the betting line had Oscar De La Hoya as only a 2 to 1 favorite, a vast majority of boxing writers were picking Oscar to beat Pacquiao. De La Hoya had been about four weight classes bigger than Manny his entire career, and in boxing, size makes a huge difference. Conventional wisdom said that even if De La Hoya took 5 punches to land 1 of his own, he would still come out on top because of his weight and the force behind his punches. However come fight night, Pacquiao fought as if he was born to fight in the welterweight division. He dominated from the opening bell until De La Hoya quit on his stool in round 8, shocking the world by not just winning, but by how he handled the 'Golden Boy' with ease."

- Upset of the Year Award, Ringside Report


"In 2008, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao accomplished something that was last seen in October 1937 to October 1938 when the great Henry Armstrong won the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles in a year’s span. Pacquiao won junior lightweight, lightweight world titles and beat an elite welterweight boxer all in the same year."

"Many said that Armstrong’s feat would never be repeated, but Pacquiao came very close to the feat, though not in the same weight divisions. All that was missing was a world title in the welterweight bout."

"It may be another 70 years before you see someone duplicate Pacquiao’s feat."

- Fighter of the Year, The Sweet Science


"What became apparent watching that fight was just how much more accomplished Pacquiao now is as a fighter. Once upon a time he was too heavily reliant on his left hand and that incredible speed. However, under the watchful eye of Freddie Roach Pacquiao is now a master of distance and timing in the ring. A whirlwind with a plan who can box at breathtaking pace for three minutes of every round and who can set things up with a fine jab."

- 2008: Year of the Pac, Sportinglife

"The race for the 2008 Fighter of the Year award is not much of a race at all. It’s about as competitive as the 1973 Belmont, when the great Secretariat won by 31 lengths, or the 1940 NFL championship game, when the Chicago Bears routed the Washington Redskins 73-0."

"Picking the winner this year is as easy as falling asleep on the couch after a large holiday meal. It doesn’t take much effort."

"He was 3-0 with wins against quality opponents. He fought in three weight classes. He established himself clearly as the best pound-for-pounder fighter in the world. He took on the most significant challengers and came out on top."

- Fighter of the Year, Yahoo Sports

"To the casual observer, Pacquiao was just too fast, fresh and frenetic for Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya, but this is an oversimplification of those fights that doesn’t give the fabulous Filipino the credit he deserves for maturing as a boxer."

"In other words, Pacquiao still has heart, but he’s added brain to his game."

- 88% Fan Polls: Fighter of the Year, Ring Online

The World Boxing Council’s Board of Governors has voted on the awards for the “Best of 2008,” and the results are as follows:

"Manny Pacquiao, Philippines: Manny won the World Boxing Council super featherweight world title by decision against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez in March, then won the WBC lightweight world title by TKO against defending champion David Diaz three months later in June. Manny finished the year in December with a sensational TKO win against Oscar De La Hoya in the welterweight division."

- Boxer of the Year, World Boxing Council

"In boxing, greatness is measured in moments. And in 2008, Manny Pacquiao had a whole lot of them... For these reasons and more, Manny Pacquiao is SI.com's Fighter of the Year."

- Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year

2008 saw Pacquiao finally last to rest the challenge of Marquez, he successfully moved up in weight to become a four weight champion and round off the year by defying the odds to crush a much bigger Oscar De La Hoya.

- Seconds Out Fighter Of The Year

"Well, what's most important to me after my boxing career, 30 or 40 years from now, people, they'll always remember me as a good fighter," Pacquiao said.

That's Pacquiao being humble once more, because no: They'll remember him as a great fighter. In large part, it will be because of what he did in 2008.

- ESPN Fighter of the Year