text: Manny Pacquiao has become one of the most recognisable stars in the world of sport after a series of mega-fights and another one to follow on Saturday night against Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Filipino has been involved in some of the biggest bouts in the world over the past decade or so, facing the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and four fights against Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez. But it's been a tough road to the top for Pacquiao from being born into poverty in the Philippines. He spent the early part of his career boxing in the Far East before being given his chance on the big stage in 2001 against Lehlo Ledwaba in an IBF world super-bantamweight title fight in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao pictured as a teenager in a boxing gym in Manila before he became a global superstar . The FIlipino boxer working out at the LM Gym in Manila, Philippines as a 17-year-old before he fought his way to the top of the game . Pacquiao has made a remarkable rise through the weight divisions from being an incredibly slight light-flyweight when he made his debut . Pacquiao left home aged 14 to move to the Philippines capital Manila to pursue his career in the sport which has made him an icon . The 36-year-old spent his early career fighting in the Far East before being given his chance on the big stage in Las Vegas in 2001 . Pacquiao pictured as a 17-year-old in the LM Gym in Manila when mega-fights, like the one against Floyd Mayweather, were just a dream . Who do you think WILL win the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao? Who do you think WILL win the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao? Now share your opinion . Ever since dethroning the South African world champion on that June night at the MGM Grand 14 years ago, Pacquiao hasn't looked back and is set to take on Mayweather in the Fight of the Century on Saturday. Just days away from the $300million showdown on the Vegas Strip, pictures have emerged of Pacquiao as a teenager in a Manila boxing gym, when occasions such as this Saturday night were just a dream. Pacquiao moved away from home a the age of 14 to the country's capital Manila to pursue his boxing career and the rest, as they say, is history. The 36-year-old is now one of the biggest stars in the world. These incredible pictures show Pacquiao training at the LM Gym in Manila in 1996 at the age of 17 after he won his first 10 professional bouts - all of which were in 1995. In the same year that these pictures were taken, Mayweather was preparing to box at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, which ended for him in a controversial loss  against Serafim Todorov in the semi-finals. Nineteen years later, Mayweather and Pacquiao will finally cross paths in the biggest fight of this generation. The pair will make their first public appearances of the week on Tuesday as the bout draws ever closer. Boxing fans have already begun pouring into Las Vegas to taste the atmosphere building around the richest fight in history, even though only 500 tickets for the clash were made available for general sale. Pacquiao will host a fans' rally on Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel with trainer Freddie Roach, promoter Bob Arum and his pet Jack Russell Pacman also present. Attention then turns to the MGM Grand, the venue for the fight on Saturday and where Mayweather will be making his grand arrival. The welterweight rivals were both due to attend the traditional grand arrival that marks the beginning of fight week only for Arum to withdraw Pacquiao, claiming the event is a 'waste of time'. Arum also pulled the plug on a media conference call with Pacquiao last week before a question had been asked, while Mayweather spoke for almost half an hour the following night. The one upmanship is sure to continue until fight day. Pacquiao has been involved in some of the biggest fights over the last decade but Saturday's occasion will eclipse all of them . The teenage version of Pacquiao before he went on to become a world champion and achieve massive success on the world stage . Mayweather in action at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he won a bronze medal after being beaten by Serafim Todorov . Pacquiao arriving at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Monday night after a 270-mile bus journey from Los Angeles . The 36-year-old was mobbed upon arrival in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay hotel, which will be his base for the week . Pacquiao's luxury bus leaves his training base in Los Angeles to set off for Las Vegas on Monday afternoon ahead of the fight . The MGM Grand's Garden Arena on the world famous Las Vegas strip will host the $300million mega-fight on Saturday . The MGM Grand prepares for another huge fight, but this one has been described as the biggest single event in Las Vegas history . Pacquiao with his trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in his final session before leaving Los Angeles . An Air Asia aircraft at Ninoy Aquino International Airport just south of Manila covered in a tribute to the Filipino boxing superstar .
target: Manny Pacquiao will take on Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday .
  The Filipino boxer is one of the biggest stars in the world of sport after a series of big fights .
  Pacquiao spent his early years boxing in Manila in the Philippines and was pictured training as a 17-year-old .
  Pictures taken in 1996 show Pacquiao training at the LM Gym in Manila before he became a star .
  The 36-year-old arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday after a 270-mile journey from Los Angeles on his luxury bus .
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