MANILA, Philippines–MANNY PACQUIAO, arguably the world’s most exciting fighter pound for pound, has made it to Yahoo Sports’ list of the 25 most powerful men in boxing.
In an article by respected boxing writer Kevin Iole, Pacquiao came in at No. 16, next to influential World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman.
“Pacquiao has become big [at the] box office, which carries major influence,” said Iole, justifying his selection of the Filipino ring hero. “Look at the way Golden Boy and Top Rank went at it over his rights.”
On top of the list is the “Golden Boy” himself, Oscar De La Hoya, who holds the record in boxing pay-per-view sales.
“He’s still the game’s best draw, when he chooses to fight, which he says he’ll do three times in 2008,” Iole said of De La Hoya. “He gets what he wants when it comes to television dates, venues and opponents.”
At second is HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, followed by Top Rank’s Bob Arum and GBP’s Richard Schaefer, “the brilliant negotiator.”
The complete Yahoo list: 1. Oscar De La Hoya; 2. Ross Greenburg; 3. Bob Arum; 4. Richard Schaefer; 5. Al Haymon; 6. Floyd Mayweather Jr.; 7. Mark Taffet; 8. Dong King; 9. Shelly Finkel; 10. Todd duBoef; 11. Kerry Davis; 12. Emmanuel Steward; 13. Ken Hershman; 14. Bruce Trampler; 15. Jose Sulaiman; 16. Manny Pacquiao; 17. Eric Gomez; 18. Fernando Beltran; 19. Bernard Hopkins; 20. Cameron Dunkin; 21. Lou DiBella; 22. John Bailey; 23. Leonard Ellerbe; 24. Dan Goossen; 25. Gary Shaw.
