Manny Pacquiao is a giant in the world of boxing despite his modest 5-foot-6 1/2-inch and 130-pound frame.

Courtesy of HBO Erik Morales, left, and Manny Pacquiao posing at a news conference.

On Saturday, the “Pac-Man” is scheduled to have a rematch against Erik Morales, arguably one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world. Their first match was a slugfest with Morales winning the fight by the judges’ decisions. The winner of this fight will become the top contender for the WBC super featherweight title, currently held by Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao began his professional career at the age of 17, fighting at a weight of 106 pounds. After blazing to a 10-0 record, he lost to Rustico Torrecampo in a third-round knockout on Feb. 2, 1996.

By this time, Pacquiao was fighting in the 112-pound flyweight division. On Dec. 12, 1998, he would win his first world title, knocking out then WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round. He held the title for three months before losing it to Medgoen Singsurat.

Following his defeat, Pacquiao moved up to the 122-pound super bantamweight division. He made an instant impact, knocking out his first six opponents in the division. On June 6, 2001, he faced Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight title as a late substitute. The “Pac-Man” made short work of his opponent and won with a sixth-round technical knockout.

Pacquiao did not lose the title until he moved up to the 126-pound featherweight division. On Nov. 11, 2003, he faced Barrera, a brawler like himself, and knocked him out in the 11th round.

In his very next fight, Pacquiao faced Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBA and IBF featherweight titles. Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round and it looked as if the “Pac-Man” was about to add to his list of titles. Marquez fought back and the fight ended in a draw.

Last March, Pacquiao moved up once again to fight in the 130-pound super featherweight division. His first fight was against Morales. Early on, Pacquiao suffered a cut over his eye and it looked as if Morales would get an easy victory. Pacquiao showed his toughness and battled his way back and knocked Morales around toward the end. He lost the fight, but won respect from the millions who saw the fight.

Oddsmakers have gone back and forth deciding which fighter should be favored in this match. Whoever wins, whether it be Pacquiao, who's best known for his speed and his strong left hand, or Morales, who is an incredibly balanced fighter, the fight should be one of the most entertaining of the year.

Joe Nguyen is a staff writer for asiaXpress.com. You can reach Joe at joe@asiaxpress.com.