'Tracing the roots of Pacquiao's success': Intangibles - Pac's uncanny ability to focus and deliver

Among the many traits Manny Pacquiao is credited for on his road to
becoming the best fighter in the world -- his speed, power, work ethic, faith,
pride etc. -- the one that people tend to forget is his extraordinary ability to
block off any form of distraction (and he has a lot) and perform at the highest
level come fight night.
Pacquiao seems oblivious to the term 'butterflies in
your stomach' and appears to have ice water running through his veins as he
smiles at the hint of pressure no matter how big the stage is.
Remember
back 2001 in his first big break stepping in as a substitute fighter against
Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas, the young boy basked in the bright Vegas lights
instead of being intimidated by it. Several fighters adjust through the years
but every time you see Pacquiao in the ring, it's almost as if he was about to
open a present on Christmas morning.
I have never seen a boxer who
exudes the kind of joyfulness Pacquiao has on his face every time he fights. In
the words of HBO boxing commentator Emmanuel Steward, "Pacquiao was born to be a
prizefighter".