Pacquiao nominated for ESPY Best Fighter

abs-cbnNEWS - MANILA, Philippines – Pound-for-pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is once again nominated for the Best Fighter award in the ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly), awarded by ESPN.

Pacquiao is up against fellow boxer Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Martinez, and MMA fighters Jon “Bones” Jones and George St. Pierre.

Pacquiao last won the award in 2009. Floyd Mayweather Jr. won it last year.

The ESPYs Awards Show will be held in the Nokia Center in Los Angeles on July 13. Fans can vote through ESPN.com.

According Examiner.com, Pacquiao will face stiff competition from MMA fighters Jones and St. Pierre. The two athletes saw an increase in their popularity thanks to their success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Jones became the light heavyweight champion last March after a dominant victory over Maurico Rua. St. Pierre is the current UFC welterweight champion and has not lost a match since 2007.

Hopkins broke George Foreman’s record as the oldest heavyweight champion, while Martinez had fashioned impressive victories against Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik.