I have spoken to quite a few legends in boxing. Most of the legends that I have spoken to have nothing but big praise for the current pound for pound king. Pacquiao has a few haters that don’t like to give him the full props for his achievements, but when the legends speak of him that’s what is of most importance.
Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr has gone on the record with this writer on more than one occasion and spoke very highly of Pacquiao. Roy Jones admires Manny’s work ethic and fierce fighting abilities in the ring. I spoke with Roy a few weeks ago, and he had nothing but high praise for Manny, ” He’s a great fighter. He’s a man of God and he has his whole country looking up to him.”
Former 4 time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield is a big Pacquiao fan. One of the things that Evander Holyfield loves about Pacquiao is his heart. Holyfield said it best, “It’s not always the guy with more skills that wins, sometimes it’s the guy with more heart that wins, ” Floyd is more skillful but that don’t mean he wins against Pacquiao. Pacquiao and Mayweather are the only two that match up with each other. Mayweather would have to do something sensational to beat Pacquiao.”
Holyfield hopes that the big fight happens, “You don’t get many opportunities to make the kind of money that Floyd and Manny would make. You would think in his head (Floyd’s) he would be thinking about all the fights that he fought for free in his younger career, and jump on 40 million dollars.”
Former light heavyweight world champion Glen Johnson makes no bones about it. Manny Pacquiao is his favorite fighter! Johnson recently went on the record with this writer and said the following, ” Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt my favorite fighter to watch. This guy brings it, and he leaves nothing behind. He throws so many punches from so many angles, with speed and power, it’s amazing.” Glen Johnson recently knocked out Allan Green and moves on in the Super Six Tournament on Showtime.
Mississippians that I have spoken with in the past and currently have nothing but praise for Pacquiao. Even people who are not big boxing fans are singing praise for him. I was at the StrikeForce Challengers card in Jackson, MS a few days ago. It was an MMA show, yet the topic in the back dressing room was of Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. It’s amazing how Pacquiao has risen to this level. Manny Pacquiao is becoming a household name in America. He deserves everything that he gets because he worked hard, and he’s stayed out of trouble, and he’s done nothing but good for people.
The Pacquiao haters will say what they want to. It’s the legends of the sport that people listen to anyway.
Listen to Holyfield, Johnson, and Jones speak on Pacquiao HERE
