Yahoo Philippines' top 5 most-read sports stories in 2021

·2 min read

Yahoo Philippines brings back five of its most-read sports stories of the year.

Manny Pacquiao hits back at Floyd Mayweather Jr.

FILE PHOTO: Floyd Mayweather Jr. exchange punches with Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout, May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: Floyd Mayweather Jr. exchange punches with Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout, May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Six years have passed since Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Manny Pacquiao in the ring, but the two boxing legends are still not done throwing jabs at each other.

The retired undefeated American took a swipe at the Filipino icon after an exhibition match. But Pacquiao refused to back down, saying he fights to challenge the best unlike Mayweather who "fights for money, even if the opponent is not a legitimate boxer."

Pacquiao, who retired from boxing this year after a crushing defeat, has thrown his hat in the political ring in perhaps the biggest fight of his life.

One astonishing lift, and Hidilyn Diaz makes golden history

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 26: Hidilyn Diaz of Team Philippines competes during the Weightlifting - Women's 55kg Group A on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: Hidilyn Diaz of Team Philippines competes during the Weightlifting - Women's 55kg Group A on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

In an eventful year for sports, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history for the Philippines by bagging the country's first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

Diaz's winning 127kg clean-and-jerk lift in the women's 55kg division ended the Philippines' 97-year wait for Olympic gold.

Boxer Carlo Paalam stuns Rio gold medalist, secures Olympic medal

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 03: Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines celebrates vicrory over Shakhobidin Zoirov of Team Uzbekistan during the Men's Fly (48-52kg) quarter final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Luis Robayo - Pool/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines celebrates vicrory over Shakhobidin Zoirov of Team Uzbekistan during the Men's Fly (48-52kg) quarter final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Luis Robayo - Pool/Getty Images)

Flyweight boxer Carlo Paalam's rise to fame is nothing short of spectacular.

Picking garbage at a sanitary fill when he was young, boxing scouts discovered his talents at a local tournament. And the rest, as they say is history.

Paalam's rousing victories in the Olympics ensured the Philippines another silver medal.

His monumental upset on Olympic gold medalist and world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan was his highlight victory at the Games.

Carlos Yulo's Japanese coach takes blame for gymnast shock Olympics exit in floor exercise

Munehiro Kugimiya shares a photo of him and Carlos Yulo in a post where he takes the blame for the recent setbacks of the Filipino gymnast. (Photo: Munehiro Kugimiya/Facebook)
Munehiro Kugimiya shares a photo of him and Carlos Yulo in a post where he takes the blame for the recent setbacks of the Filipino gymnast. (Photo: Munehiro Kugimiya/Facebook)

Expectations were high on gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo (along with Hidilyn Diaz) to deliver the Philippines' first Olympic gold medal.

But after a dismal outing at the Games, Filipinos quickly turned on the gymnast.

Yulo's Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, however, held himself accountable for the underwhelming performance of the Filipino gymnast.

Filipino baseball player Jerome Yenson dies at 24

Former Adamson star Jerome Yenson. (Photo: The Adamson Chronicle/Facebook)
Former Adamson star Jerome Yenson. (Photo: The Adamson Chronicle/Facebook)

The Philippine sporting community mourned the death of Jerome Yenson, a rising star in baseball. He was only 24 years old. The Talavera, Nueva Ecija native starred for Adamson University at the collegiate level, where he established himself as one of the brightest young stars in the local baseball scene.

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