On Saturday night from Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao added another line to his already increasingly impressive resume by becoming a four weight world champion over an unprecedented seven division spread which translates to 23 pounds. Pacquiao moved to 48-3-2(36) having started as a pro at 106 back in the Philippines where he’s honed his skills. His incredible speed and one punch power from his southpaw style make him even more awkward for mere mortals to deal with.
As a 19 year old, Pac-Man won his first world title at 112. When behind on points he knocked then champion Chitchat Sasakul in the Thai’s homeland. A left hook nearly decapitate Sasakul in the eighth when he was knocked out face first. Pacquiao made one defence and fought a non title fight up at 116. It proved to be a sign of things to come in the future when Pacquiao failed to make the weigh limit and lost the title on the scales before going down to another Thai again on the Road. It was Medgeon Singsurat gained revenge for his countryman Sasakul when a badly weight drained Pacquiao went down in three rounds. Many could have been forgiven for thinking they’d never hear from Pacquiao again. Was he a one hit wonder or could he come again?
Just three months after losing his title Pacquiao moved all the way up to 122 and incredible 10 pound jump and took on tough countryman Reynante Jamili 41-5(32) going in. Who only five months earlier lasted 6 with future rival Erik Morales. It was seen as a dangerous fight for Pacquiao who stopped Jamili in the second. The solid standard of opposition continued mixing in former title challengers Arnel Barotillo KO9 with unbeaten contenders Nedal Hussein KO10 going 6-0 all six coming inside the distance proving his power definitely carried to the higher new weight. His world title challenge came on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya-V-Javier Castillejo in mid 2001 against South Africa’s impressive Lehlo Ledwaba who was the favourite going in. However once again Merciless Manny vanquished the defending champ in six one sided rounds.
It was also the first time celebrated trainer Freddy Roach had worked with Pac-man they have worked together ever since. Following that Pacquiao headed to San Francisco which has a large Pilipino community for a fall unification with then WBO champion rugged Agapido Sanchez. Sanchez fought dirty through out and was deducted 2 points for low blows and a headbutt opened a cut over Pacquiao’s eye in the second by the sixth it was deemed to bad to continue. The fight went to the scorecards when they were totted up the fight was a draw. A spot on the coveted Lewis-Tyson card came Pacquiao’s way in 2002 against former world champion Elicier Julio this proved the perfect stage for the behemoth punching machine from General Santos City when he Vaporised the tough Columbian in two easy rounds. After that three more wins all inside five rounds two of them in the Philippines and one in America.
When the weight limit of 122 became a problem Pacquiao got his big break and fought modern day legend Marco Antonio Barrera. Barrera opened as the favourite and despite no title being on the line it was for the unofficial Featherweight title. At this point Pacquiao had developed his boxing skills and wasn’t just the huge hitter he seemed in his early days. It turned out to be a one sided beat down of one of the best fighters in the game when Pacquiao dropped Barrera twice before finally scoring the KO in the eleventh. A true star was born.
This opened up a huge unification fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. After coming out and dropping Marquez three times in the opening round, Marquez started to dig his way in and showed Pacquiao’s apparent weakness to counterpunchers The fight ended up being a draw with each fighter getting a 115-110 card in there favour only for the other judge to sit on the fence 113 apiece. Despite Top Ranks best efforts to make a rematch Marquez baulked at his purse and went another way leaving Pacquiao without an opponent. Step up Erik Morales in a fight at Super Featherweight. It looked a bridge to far as the pride of the Philippines lost a close unanimous decision. Such was the nature of the fight they were both put on a collision coarse after appearing on the same card in Los Angles in September 2005 they were then matched together in January 2006 this time though Morales started off well and was ahead at the half way point it was Pacquiao who came on late showing his ferocity to becoming the first to stop Morales in the tenth. After a homecoming the rubber match was set up for the ovember. A badly faded Morales who’d had more than his share of wars was bludgeoned in three.
After a win over unbeaten Mexican Jorge Solis, Pacquiao fought Barrera again. It was built up as Barrera’s farewell ight. “The Mexicutioner” wasn’t about to let Barrera sign off in style and showed he can box and move aswell. It appeared that trainer Freddy Roach had tried to evolve his man from the puncher into a competent boxer to increase his longevity as a top class fighter. It also must be noted that Roach has improved Pacquiao’s right hand immeasurably. This was evident as Pacquiao comfortably won on points. In March of this year the rematch with Marquez came about four years after the original. Marquez seemed to have the edge early boxing his way in and out only to be caught with a huge left that detonated firmly and drop Marquez whose head bounced of the canvas; he regained his feet and managed to see out the round. Down the stretch both guys were bleeding from bad cuts and another close fight was hanging in the balance with the fight announced as a split decision, it came out in favour of Pacquiao. It made him a three weight world champion. It had been rumoured that whatever the result Pacquiao would be stepping up to Lightweight to challenge David Diaz.
Several members of the media had wondered if Pacquiao had started to slip and has lost his intensity of the last year or so and hadn’t looked the same since he beat Morales in the rubber match. Some wondered if the change in style had caused Pacquiao to lose focus and intensity. However Pac-man put in his best performance since then thoroughly dominating Diaz looking fresh as ever boxing on his toes sitting down on his punches on occasion bloodying Diaz and cutting him up by the third.
The beat down continued over the next several rounds turning Diaz face into pulp. Diaz who going in was seen as the bigger stronger man didn’t seem to even hold that advantage. He wasn’t being discouraged and continued to plough forward though clearly behind. In the final minute of the ninth Diaz came inside and Pacquiao threw a short left the double impact rendered Diaz body limp as he lurched forward onto his face. The fight was immediately called off making Manila Ice the new WBC Lightweight world champion and proving that he is more than capable of boxing and that morphing into a boxer puncher isn’t a bad thing and it will help him have a longer career especially as Pac-Man appears to be willing to go up another five pounds and challenge Ricky Hatton. At some point no matter how great a puncher you are there’s always someone who can take your best shot but this shift can certainly help on those days when the big punch doesn’t seem to be working allowing a plan B.
The future looks bright for Pacquiao and Saturday showed that he’s definitely not seen better days and even if there were a few days at the office that weren’t vintage Pacquiao it was worth it to develop from the one dimensional powder keg to a more polished two handed fighter.
