Philippines, 20 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Floyd is a Manny Pacquiao Admirer


PhilBoxing.com





Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would not admit it but he was, and still is an admirer of Manny Pacquiao.

There are incontrovertible proofs to prove it dating back to the times when both were still establishing themselves as top fighters and champions.

Back in November 10, 2001, Floyd and Manny were co-featured in a Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotion double header at the Billy Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, California.

The main event was Manny versus Agapito Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in a 12 round unification fight for the IBF and WBO world super bantamweight titles. As companion main event was Floyd's defense of his WBC junior lightweight championship versus Jesus Chavez of Mexico.

The fact that Floyd agreed to fight before Manny in that event was a tacit indication of how he highly regarded Pacquiao especially considering that Manny took his second world title, the IBF belt from the once highly feared South African Lehlo Lebwaba.

Floyd went on to stop Chavez in their fight which proved to be his last at 130 before he moved up to the lightweights where he would win his second world crown versus Jose Luis Castillo, also of Mexico.

But Manny was forced to a technical draw by the rough and rugged bald pated Sanchez who employed all the dirty tricks in the book, including a headbutt that opened a deep gash in Manny's eyebrow that led to the stoppage and resort to the judges scorecards.

Had Floyd stayed up---which was likely as he had ended his fight early---and saw how Manny struggled against the foul Dominican fighter, he might not like what he witnessed of the Filipino.

But five years later in January 21, 2006 there was Floyd in attendance at the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Erik Morales held in Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Pacquiao drops Morales.

Pacquiao and Morales had fought in a high profile fight in late 2005, Manny's first at 130 after dominating at 122 and establishing himself at 126 utterly beating Marco Antonio Barrera-- Morales nemesis--- in 2004 and drawing with another Mexican rising star Juan Manuel Marquez early in 2005.

Manny lost that one, the main event of a Top Rank promotional card held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a close but unanimous decision to Erik. But the high quality of action and competition of that first fight had the fans and sponsors asking for another match between the two.

Thus the Pacquiao-Morales rematch was set on the same state but different fight venue and lo and behold, Floyd was there near the ringside.

Any question about who Floyd came in for was definitively answered when Manny began to turn the tide of the battle starting the sixth round and went on to not only outland but batter Morales as Floyd was among those lustily cheering for him.

Any attempt by Floyd to hide his being Manny fanboy that night vanished when he jumped for joy after Manny sent Morales crashing to the canvas in the eleventh round for a well earned technical knockout victory.

The video recording of that fight clearly showed that Floyd was a Manny fan.

And he cannot be faulted for being one. For he witnessed what to this writer as Manny Pacquiao's greatest performance before his most recent magnificent victory over Keith Thurman.

Floyd was also in attendance in that Pacquiao-Thurman fight but he was there,he reasoned, as a party of interest being the fight promoter and boss to both fighters.

But seeing how he unabashedly showed his admiration of Pacquiao back in 2006, who could be faulted for believing that Floyd was holding back his emotions especially in the rounds where Manny floored Keith, forced him to spew his mouthguard with a body punch that also bent and sent him into a horrified retreat?

And when finally Manny's hand was raised in victory after twelve rounds of gruelling, back and forth action?

Floyd did not stay up to see that, aware that Manny had the fight sewn up as early as the 10th round. But perhaps, he could no longer keep his feelings in check, he left right before the official announcement.

Floyd is human afterall just like us. He is also a fan. A Manny Pacquiao fan and admirer, no matter how hard he tries to hide or deny it.

The author Teodoro Medina?Reynoso?is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines.?? He can be reached at?teddyreynoso@yahoo.com?and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • GM Joey is aiming for a world title shot
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Oct 2025
  • Patrick Bonifacio rules Directors Chess Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing Announces Elite Division World Rankings
    , Sun, 19 Oct 2025
  • BEN WHITTAKER PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS NEW MATCHROOM SIGNING MEETS GAVAZI – PLUS: VUONG vs GWYNNE II
    , Sun, 19 Oct 2025
  • BIADO, YAPP, AND DUONG POWER TEAM ASIA TO THE BRINK OF GLORY
    , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Prado, Catubig dominate DTI Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • YORK HALL FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS: GEORGE LIDDARD MAKES HISTORY TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST EVER BRITISH MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
    , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Usyk in Bare Knuckle event?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • IIEE Singapore tops National Chess Olympiad, Quezon City Simba's Tribe wins 2 matches in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Liddard Destroys Conway to Claim British Middleweight Title, Becomes Youngest-Ever Champion
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Keiron Conway vs George Liddard: Unbeaten Prospect Faces Stiff Challenge
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Alicaba to fight for WBC Asian Continental super fly
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • DAY TWO: STARBOY MANAS STEALS THE SHOW AS TEAM ASIA EXTENDS PERFECT RUN
    , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS INTRODUCES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT TONY COHEN
    , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Joseph Subia Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
    , Sat, 18 Oct 2025
  • Sirimongkhol, Midgley Make Weight for WBF World Title in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • ICTSI South Pacific on Oct. 28-31
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART II)
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • California Commission Backs Dana White’s ‘American Boxing Revival’ and Expanded Muhammad Ali Act
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50”
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Thu, 16 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.