AS the only eight-division world boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao has earned the distinction of being ranked by the international television network CBS Sports as No. 3 among the greatest welterweight warriors of the past five decades.
CBS Sports columnists Brian Campbell and Brent Brookhouse listed the 41-year-old Pacquiao at third place while unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. hugged the second spot and 1976 Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard claimed the plum position after the two reporters debated and voted last April 30.
As reported on the website www.cbssports.com, the CBS Sports writers chose the greatest boxers in the 147-pound class since 1970.
Campbell mentioned Pacquiao’s “steady rise in the welterweight category over a legendary 25-year career,” which is why the Pacman was put on the list.
Campbell said the wins over Oscar Dela Hoya in 2008 and Miguel Cotto in 2009 were the Pacman’s very best.
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Association super welterweight champion, also beat Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Brandon Rios, Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman.
Campbell also cited Pacquiao’s stunning first round knockdown punch against the erstwhile champion Thurman last July 20 in his last bout at the age of 40 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The fact that he would drop and outpoint unbeaten Keith Thurman 10 years later at the age of 40 to reclaim a title just speaks [of] his overall greatness,” Campbell cited in the joint-article entitled “The greatest welterweight boxers of the past 50 years:
Where do Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao rank?”
Veteran Filipino boxing and sports analyst Ed Tolentino explained to The Manila Times that the ranking of CBS Sports was fair only in the light of the welterweight class and the period of 1970 onwards.
“Pacquiao is coming in at No.3, but take note that he is still an active fighter, who is still in the position to improve on his ranking. Leonard is ranked No. 1 on the strength of his unification victory over Thomas Hearns and wins over all-time greats Roberto Duran [in the rematch] and Wilfred Benitez,” said Tolentino.
The legendary Leonard was a famous boxer from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
“Mayweather is coming in at No. 2 because, at welterweight, he actually beat Pacquiao and a slew of other great welterweights. Mayweather also defeated Juan Manuel Marquez at the catchweight of 144 lbs, which is within the welterweight limit. Marquez knocked out Pacquiao at welterweight,” he continued.
The boxing analyst also justified why Mayweather was chosen as No. 2 by the CBS Sports reporters.
“Mayweather was never beaten at welterweight. So, these factors explain why he is ranked ahead of Manny Pacquiao [who is] at No. 3, which is not bad,” added Tolentino, who began his career as a TV sports analyst in the early ‘90s.
“But like I said, he (Pacquaio) can still improve on this because he is still an active boxer.”
CBS Sports completed its ranking with Pernell Whitaker at No. 4, Thomas Hearns at No. 5, Felix Trinidad at No. 6, Oscar de la Hoya at No. 7, Miguel Cotto at No. 8, Donald Curry at No. 9 and International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. at No. 10.
