| |
|
Supreme honor for Manny Pacquiao
By Recah Trinidad PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Jun 2020
 Thomas Hauser.
THE eminent boxing scholar and authority Thomas Hauser, a Hall-of-Fame writer, said very few of today’s fighters have earned the right to be called great.
He blamed blind, excessive commercialism and loud, shallow publicity.
“The business of boxing today is as much about publicity and hype as it is about merit,” Hauser stated in an exclusive commentary for BoxingScene.
Greatness has to be earned, he said.
**
So how is greatness (in boxing) achieved?
“Greatness is forged in adversity,” Hauser said.
What else?
“It takes a body of work,” he added.
**
So does this make Floyd Mayweather a certified greatest of all time with his magnificent unbeaten record?
“No, a fighter doesn’t have to be unbeaten to be great,” Hauser stressed.
He readily added that Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard proved that.
**
Hauser pushed hard and referred to the great Angelo Dundee, trainer of Muhammad Ali.
“It’s what fighter does after he loses that makes him great,” Hauser quoted Dundee as saying.
Rating a fighter before his career is over is a perilous exercise in quantifying greatness, Hauser explained. Being immensely talented is different from greatness.
**
Hauser, who wrote the iconic Muhammad Ali biography, considered the greatest book on The Greatest, said not every fighter who has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame was great.
“He must possess the inquisitors that are necessary to prove greatness,” Hauser said, before zeroing in on the core of his thesis:
“Among active fighters today, Manny Pacquiao clearly meets the standard for greatness. In many ways, he’s a throwback fighter. Pacquiao has boxed almost 500 rounds over the course of 71 professional bouts. He has fought 18 times against ten fighters (including Floyd Mayweather and Oscar dela Hoya) who are either in or will be in the Hall of Fame.”
Great, indeed.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 27 JULY 2026: Tszyu vs Spence, Return of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Highlight Busy Week By Eric Armit, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026The Legacy Continues: Team Durán Prepares for Historic Panama-Mexico Showdown By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026NM Ric Portugalera Tops Hongkong Blitz Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Nurghali gets second shot at Japparbergenov’s bantamweight title at International Boxing Day in Astana , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Champion's Mindset: Gustavo Trujillo Ready to Defend BKB Heavyweight Title Against Mark O'Neil at BKB 58 , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Spanish boxer Eddine has been Hospitalized in Spain By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026PH football in group C, G By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM MONDAY ROUNDUP: Tszyu Outclasses Spence in Sydney as "The Truth" Retires; Heavyweight Drama in Pattaya and Jeddah By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026'The Fight Is Signed': Hearn Declares Joshua vs. Fury Secured as Mind Games Begin with 'Landlord' Spoof By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Chezka Centeno wins 3rd world title by ruling the Oneida WPA Women's World 8-Ball Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026CARE conducts 6.5mile open water in Davao Gulf By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Mise, Arellano rule Davao-Japan golfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Berlanga, Hitchins Win in Zuffa Boxing New York Event By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026World champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay to headline International Boxing Day in Astana , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Cyrud "The Ferocious" Cabautan Defeats Michael "D' Power Fist" Diaz in Olympus Rising by TWC Amateur MMA Fight By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026USA Boxing Earns Four Wins at 2026 Capri Boxing Cup , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Tim Tszyu Dominates Spence in Wide UD Win as 'The Truth' Formally Retires By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Joshua Survives Early Knockdowns to Stop Prenga, Clearing Path for Fury Mega-Fight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Weigh-In Results - All Set for the Main Event Between Steven Butler and Edgar Berlanga Tomorrow Night in New York City! , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Team USA Set for Capri Boxing Cup Against Italy on Saturday , Sun, 26 Jul 2026'The Comeback' Weigh-In results and confirmed Fight Night running order as AJ faces Prenga By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu: Do or Die Down Under By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026SYDNEY WEIGH-IN REPORT: Spence and Tszyu On Weight; Co-Main Event Cancelled After Fulton Blows Weight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Fury Halts Wach in Thailand, Leaving Ball in Joshua’s Court for Mega-Fight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Great First Half of the Year for the WBC By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|