Manny Pacquiao Awarded Asia Game Changer of the Year 2015 Honor

Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao has been honoured with the 2015 Asia Game Changer of the Year award.

The 36-year-old received the award on Tuesday in New York and was quick to express how much it meant to him, per ABS-CBN News: "I'm really thankful and happy because of this award."

The Asia Society, which bestows the annual award, said Pacquiao was being honoured "for using his sport, and his star power, as forces for good."

Previous recipients of the award include Chinese billionaire Jack Ma in 2014 and Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Pacquiao is famed for his philanthropy as well as his achievements in the ring. Having been born into poverty in the Philippines, Pac-Man is well aware of the plight that so many of his compatriots suffer.

Per ABS-CBN News, he is launching a senatorial bid in his homeland soon, and the reduction of poverty and crime are top of his agenda.

JOHN GURZINSKI/Getty Images

Pacquiao's only fight in 2015 was his unanimous decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather in the most valuable bout of all time.

He received £80 million for his part in the era-defining—if underwhelming—clash, and his promoter Bob Arum revealed after the bout that he expected Pac-Man to donate half of the takings to charity, per Chris McKenna in the Express.

A shoulder injury—which Pacquiao blamed for his defeat to Money—has kept him out of action for the remainder of the year.

The eight-division champion's promoter, Bob Arum, recently revealed that Pacquiao's next fight—set to take place early next year—is likely to be his last, per the L.A. Times' Lance Pugmire.

Britain's Amir Khan was the early favourite to be Pac-Man's next opponent, but a clash between the pair is becoming increasingly unlikely:

Success for Pacquiao in the Philippines' May senatorial elections would spell the end of Pacquiao's illustrious career as a boxer. 

But his role as a politician can only enhance his ability to help his fellow Filipinos, something he is already doing to a great extent, as recognised by his latest award.