Trainer Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao was homeless before making it pro at age 14 after running away from home when his father ate his dog, Yahoo! Sports reports.

"Manny ran away from home after his father ate his dog," Roach said. "He lived on the street, where he bought doughnuts at a doughnut store and then sold each one for a nickel more to survive."

"He slept in a cardboard box. He fought his way through all this, turned pro at 14, and look at the man he is today," he added. 

Pacquiao was just 12 years old when he ran away to escape poverty in the Philippines.

"The Philippines is a poor place, there's no welfare, no health system and if you don't have a job or money then you do anything to survive," Roach said.

Now Pacquiao is a famous fighter set for a match against equally famous champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather.

"It's just unbelievable," Roach added. "I went to his birthday party, the President of the Philippines was there, there were 5,000 people at the party, and 10,000 outside who couldn't get in. He's an icon, because he represents the hopes of so many people."

The Filipino champion is regarded as a hero in his native country where it is expected that he will run for president following his retirement from fighting.

"When he fights, there is no crime in the Philippines, because everyone is watching him box," Roach said. "He has come such a long way. He wants to go into politics, he's going to college right now and after two more years of boxing he will go into politics."

Oscar De La Hoya, who fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao and lost, tells Los Angeles Times, "The will to win is what separated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao from any of the fighters I've ever faced."

The boxers are set to fight on Saturday, May 2, in Las Vegas.