The respected editor of Ring Magazine, regarded as the “Bible” of boxing believes that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao “may very well become number one” in the Ring pound-for-pound rankings “if he looks good in his next fight.”
Collins told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that it was “impossible to demote Floyd Mayweather Jr immediately after he beat Oscar De La Hoya in the richest fight in boxing history.”
Pacquiao who was rated No. 3 behind Mayweather and Winky Wright but was elevated to No. 2 after what Collins termed "the blast out of (Erik) Morales" in the third fight of a classic trilogy. After naming Pacquiao Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" Collins in his Ringside column wrote that although Mayweather and Pacquiao are unquestionably two of the sports finest practitioners "when it comes to providing entertainment 'Pac-Man' is so far ahead of ' Pretty Boy' they are not even in the same league."
Collins said that if the negotiations between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank whose lawyers have been meeting in an effort to work out their difficulties prior to what could be a lengthy and costly court battle are successful, it could lead to a showdown between Pacquiao and reigning WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez “which would crown a new Ring Magazine champion.” Marquez and Pacquiao are ranked No.1 and 2 by Ring.
Collins also noted that “unlike in the Philippines, Manny’s political adventure has not detracted from his popularity in the United States.” The Ring Magazine editor-in-chief said fight fans know that they are “virtually guaranteed an exciting fight every time Manny steps into the ring and eagerly await his next fight, regardless of the opponent.”
At the same time Collins said that a fight between Pacquiao and Mexican Humberto Soto who recently stopped Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby Pacquiao “would be well received here.”
Collins pointed out that “sometimes Filipinos get too caught up in the periphery events surrounding Pacquiao and forget what he does once the bell rings.”
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