In response to my article ?How Great is Manny Pacquiao??, my inbox has been flooded with emails from around the world.. When I say ?around the world?, I?m talking primarily about Asia. Well, actually South East Asia. Ok, only the Philippines.
Apparently asking a Filipino whether Pacquiao is the greatest featherweight ever is like asking whether the Pope is Catholic. It?s a rhetorical question.
Anyway, lots of readers had lots to say on the subject and I?ve selected a few of them below:
From: Alexander Montes
Ben, You have to buy a DVD of Pacman and watch Manny Pacquiao?s fights when he was still a young boy and wreaking havoc in the pros. The caliber of the opponents he fought in Asia are of the gladiator types. The man has fought real ring warriors for crumbs before he hit the big time. You are right about his heart and tenacity but he was also gifted with a 6 inch wrist on both arms. If you are familiar with the formula for momentum, that is speed x mass, you will understand where his power is coming from. What makes a boxer great is not his natural talents but his ability to overcome his weakness and turn them into strength. Pacman?s weakness you said is he jumps around too much and has a wide stance. This awkwardness is actually what catches most of his more finessed opponents off guard which sets them up for the kill. Why do people like abstract arts? Because they cannot be duplicated and they carry a certain depth of msytery with them. Pacman is an abstract of an art, he was painted not by one artist but by a few masters which makes him such a unique masterpiece albeit an incomplete one with Freddie Roach doing the final touches. Is he the greatest? I?ll go back at the top of this e-mail and define greatness.
More power to you my man!
From: Johriel Para-on Good Day Sir!
I think Manny Pacquiao is the best featherweight boxer of all time. But for Manny to gain that honor he must fight for featherweight title not only for money. Maybe I can say that Manny is money fighter. But we credit for manny he came from miserable life before, he survive that past so maybe he needs that money too, to feed his family.
Many people support Manny Pacquiao in his boxing career, so Manny also give his best and make the nation proud of him. I know everything in this world has changed, so we will expect that Mannys career will last in few years, so he must protect his name, give all his best and in the end he must have a reputation.
So, thank you very much. Maybe next time I can give my thoughts more about money.
Regards,
Johriel
From: GotLuckyOne
Ben,
In response to you question, I also feel that Pacquaio would have fared well against all of the names listed. I think that Salvador Sanchez probably would have dismantled Manny inside of 8 rounds though. He would have had a tough time against Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson. I think the most exciting fight with the fighters listed would have been with Hector Camacho because at 130 Camacho had a lot of power and it would have been interesting how Pacquaio would have handled a fellow southpaw. One of the greatest fighters of all time you left off the list though. Julio Cesar Chavez was a monster at 130 and would have destroyed Pacquaio because his power at 130 was immense. These are my thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely, Gotluckyone
From: Ed Chas
To you Mr Ben Cohen,
Forgive me if I offended you but Pacquiao himself maybe indirectly said that he is not a great fighter. He mention it before (sorry if there?s a mistake on the quote),
“I am just an ordinary fighter who can fight a good fighter”.
I suppose this is simple as the elementary students can comprehend. I think this is understandable to you also. Let us use simple common sense here.
Those people who considered Pacquiao as a Great Boxer and then they will ask if he is really great, WTF. Man, let us think like we are using our brain.
Regards. Ed
From: HILARIO MARK
HI THERE IM A AVID FAN OF MANNY PACQUIAO BUT THE THING IS HE MIGHT BE CONSIDERED THE BEST IN HIS WEIGHT DIVISION IF HE WOULD FIGHT ALL THE GREAT FIGHTERS IN HIS ERA. JMA, HUMBERTO SOTTO (WHO KNOCK OUT HIS KID BROTHER, BOBBY) OR JOAN GUZMAN A GOOD FIGHT WITH EITHER OF THIS GUY?S WOULD SURELY BRING HIM OR PUT HIM THE BEST ON HIS WEIGHT CLASS,(FORGET EDWIN VALERO HE CAN?T FIGHT IN THE U.S ANYWAY) BUT NEWS CIRCULATING ABOUT WEIGHT PROBLEM HE COULD HAVE EASILY MAKE THE 130 POUND S LIMIT ON BARRERA FIGHT IF ONLY HIS TRAINING DONE HERE IN THE US. THEY (PACMAN, ROACH, EVERYBODY IN PACQUIAO?S CORNER) KEEP INSISTING THAT THERE WERE NO DISTRACTION IN THE TRAINING CAMP IN CEBU, WHN THEY CLEARED THE GYM OUT OF FANS, BUT IF HIS OUT OF THE GYM DOING HIS JOGGING HIS BEEN SWARMED BY FANS, AND THEY SAY NO DISTRACTION!(YEAH RIGHT) THEY SAY HIS 100% DURING THE FIGHT BUT YOU SEEN IT IVE SEEN IT, IT?S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE. HE WOULD BE THE BEST JUNIOR LIGHWEIGHT IN THIS ERA IF HE CAN BEAT HIMSELF! NO OFFENSE BUT THAT?S THE TRUTH! MABUHAY!
From: Dennis Pullan ben,
First of all, thanks alot for pointing the advantages of our “idol” and comparing him to the greats in 130 lbs. As a filipino born, i was disgusted by the dirty politics, crimes, and other “inhumane” doings in our homeland to cut my story short, lets look outside the box (or ring) these great boxers that youve mentioned are rightfully be put to pedestal, they earned recognition in boxing, yes in boxing. How about manny? there always a possibility that he will be knock down, humiliated in front of millions, cheers will be given to a new most exciting boxer around. But manny will be in our filipino hearts, not because he is a boxer, he is a HERO. Why? I?ved longed to see my country having a crime free society, never in my entire life or in our country?s history that the single man can make such a remarkable achievement, everytime he fights our nation had almost “zero” crime recorded, I cant think of any human being did that to his more than 80,000,000,000 countrymen. He is a good candidate for nobel peace price award! Again, How Great is Manny Pacquiao?, I hope I answered your question.MABUHAY
From: Rob Barlow
Hi Ben,
In my opinion Pacquiao beats everyone on the list (the majority by KO) with one exception. Naseem Hamed circa 1998-2000. The Hamed who destroyed long reigning champs like Wilfredo Vasquez, Tom Johnson, and Vuyani Bungu, in my opinion beats every other featherweight I have ever watched.
Regards,
Rob Blackpool, Lancs
From: Adrian
Hi Ben; Here?s my take regarding that query about Pacquiao?s chances against the other Greats. However, I would like to say that my opinion is purely on a fan?s viewpoint. I dont consider myself as Bert Sugar in terms of longevity in covering the sweet science so I would limit my opinion for those fighters whom I was priviledged to watch.
I think a fight against Naz would have been entertaining and explosive. I mean these two pugilists are among the hardest hitters in the 126 to 130 lb division.I know it?s illogical to conclude or use the equation: MAB beat Naz and Pac beat MAB ergo Pac can beat Naz. however I?m inclined to believe that the prime version of Naz will be “outspeed” by the one-hand happy Pacman version who demolished Barrera. Both have power, but speed and the ability to slug it out despite his opponent?s dirty tricks are just among the factors that could lead to a Pacquiao victory.
If Edwin Rosario?s power made hector camacho to change his style from defense be damned type of slugger to a defense oriented boxer, just imagine how pacquiao?s power could influence the macho man?s career.
Genaro Hernandez lost by knockout to pretty boy and the golden boy, both were not known to be knock out artists, I wouldn?t be surprised if pacman knocks hernandez out earlier than what floyd jr. and oscar did who beat hernandez in 6 and 8 rounds respectivey.
No disrespect to Azuma nelson, but if he was almost dropped outside of the squared circle by salvador sanchez, I feel pacquiao?s power would put the Ghanian to serious health trouble
I think willie Pep would frustrate pacquiao, I see this fight as a boring match. I can imagine pacman throwing bombs with bad intentions and Will o? the Wisp evading those haymakers.. unless pacman caught this defensive genius with one killer strike (which is easier than done), I see a Pep decision win after a sleep inducing match.
Adrian, Philippines
From: John Aco
I didn?t really see the other ones fyte so here?s my 2cents on the ones listed below.
* Hector Camacho
? Too slow, PAC wins by ref stoppage.
* Naseem Hamed
– Hamed getting KTFO
* Floyd Mayweather
? interesting, floyd gives PAC problems ?cause he?s hard to hit. At 130 floyd has power also. But he has a weak chin and PAC can get to him. I see PBF winning more rounds but Floyd getting knocked down a few times keeping PAC in the scorecards. The other thing is that PBF will try to avoid PAC so much that his offensive numbers drops than usual. I see PAC by KO and eitherway by decision. Nevertheless, PAC will be up there with PBF.
* Oscar De La Hoya
? Like PBF, Hoya is too big and strong for PAC. But he isn?t exactly as fast as PAC. PAC by decision.
?? Really! This isn?t much of a biased opinion, I really think PAC would match up well against them. = )
From: Louie Eiuol
Hi there Ben,
Nice Article you got there Ben. Well, in my opinion Manny Pacquiao is ONE of the BEST featherweights out there and as far as I am concern he hasn?t reached his peak as yet. He is still peaking and learning to become a perfect “killing machine” in the ring. Speed and power is a lethal combination so to speak. Hope you write more about Manny in the near future. Thanks and more power Ben.
Louie
