On May 2nd, Manny Pacquiao will aim for what could be an unbreakable record in boxing: a fifth lineal title in five weight classes. The 36-year-old Filipino is already the only boxer in history to win a lineal championship in four different weight divisions, according to the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
A lineal championship means a boxer is the undisputed best (i.e., the true champion) in a particular weight class.
Pacquiao won the lineal crowns at: 112 lb. flyweight in 1998 (KO in 8th against Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand) 126 lb. featherweight in 2003 (TKO in 11th against Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico) 130 lb. junior lightweight in 2008 (SD in 12 against Juan Manuel M?rquez of Mexico) 140 lb. junior welterweight in 2009 (KO in 2nd against Ricky Hatton of England)
Winning the superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr, who is currently the lineal champ at 147 lb. welterweight, would give the “Pacman” a special place in boxing history: Five lineal titles is a feat that will likely never be accomplished again. (And that’s because no one has even captured four).
A victory for Mayweather means his record improves to 48-0, one win away from Rocky Marciano’s historic record of 49-0. Marciano, a heavyweight, retired in 1956 at the age of 32.
Pacquiao was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 2000?s by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). He is also a three-time The Ring “Fighter of the Year,” winning the award in 2006, 2008, and 2009.
Coverage of Mayweather-Pacquiao 1’Kid Kulafu’ movie shows why Pacquiao is a national hero 2Pacquiao’s 800-pound punch has force of shotgun blast 3Modern Gods: Mayweather and Pacquiao 4(Photo) Mayweather was a fan of Pacquiao in 2006 Morales fight 57 dirty tactics by Mayweather
