Last Wednesday, Top Rank Promotions along with Cox Communications invited the local media to a luncheon on the 15th floor of the Cox Communication Center in downtown San Diego to meet one of the greatest pugilists of our day, Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao, the first Asian boxer to win three world titles in three different weight divisions, was in town to promotehis next bout versus David D?az to be seen on Cox PPV for Diaz’s WBC Lightweight title (the 135 lb. weight class) on June 28 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Before introducing Pacquiao, Bill Caplan of Top Rank announced to the assemblage that Ring Magazine had revised their listing after the retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and elevated Manny Pacquiao to the top of their list. ?Manny Pacquiao is now the new pound-for pound best boxer in the world.? True boxing fans know the significance of this tribute. The boxing honor was first awarded to Sugar Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest ever. Pacquiao?s response to the tribute was enthusiastic but at the same time restrained. One can only imagine the pressure this fighter now finds himself ? first being the champion of your weight class and then to receive an accolade that has every boxer in the sport aiming to be just like you and eventually overthrow you.
When asked how he felt about the honor the soft spoken Pacquiao responded: ?It?s a very big honor for me to be named poundfor- pound. All I am trying to do is maintain that in every fight and that I give a good fight and make people happy.?
That he has done over and over again. In his career Pacquiao has won World Titles at 112, 122, and 130 pounds. In moving up to this heavier weight class he must have some trepidations, because now he will be fighting in the weight class of legends like Henry Armstrong, Carlos Ortiz, Ike Williams, Roberto Duran, Julio C?sar Ch?vez, Diego Corrales, the recently retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. and current champ, Joel Casamayor, scarey good fighters who made their opponents pay for even the slightest error.
But fights at this level are also about bigger paydays. If all goes well in this fight, Top Rank will most assuredly arrange for a Pacquiao-Hatton fight before the end of the year.
