f Manny Pacquiao wants to be considered the best of all time he has to abandon the idea and promoters hype that the eight titles really mean anything. As great as the champion is in the ring and as a congressman and ambassador for the people his status as the so called greatest boxer of all time is questionable. Dare anybody say this in light of his recent victories in various weight classes but look deeper into the events for a certain reality. Once there were eight weight classes in professional boxing: Flyweight 112 lbs Bantamweight 118 lbs Featherweight 116 lbs Lightweight 135 lbs Welterweight 147 lbs Middleweight 160 lbs Light Heavyweight 175 lbs and Heavyweight (no limit). Consider that the great boxer Henry Armstrong held titles in three of the eight classes, at the same time. He was the world Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight champion before relinquishing one of the titles. No ?super?, ?junior? or other inner categories within the classes. The phrase ?catch all? in current matches even further fine tunes the few pounds between the major categories. Maybe in the traditional weight classes some accommodation could have been arranged or the scale not watched with a close eye. Anything is possible, we know that now from the Antonio Margarito hand wrap scandal. Exclude the between weight classifications and the multiple sanctioning bodies and the ?eight titles? are deflated to something more believable. The whispers are getting louder as history begins to creep into the picture. There are so many titles floating around with the WBC, WBA, IBF, Ring Magazine and pound for pound popularity contest and interim this and that to the point that who cares anymore. If Manny Pacquiao wants to be considered among the best of all time he must beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. There is no getting around this with paper titles or manipulation of the weight classifications. If Manny Pacquiao wants to be considered among the best of all time he must beat Shane Mosley. Who has fought the best of them and is a senior in the game but nowhere as far gone as Margarito or Ricky Hatton. If Manny Pacquiao wants to be considered the best of all time he must beat Juan Manuel Marquez who many believe beat him in their last fight. If Manny Pacquiao wants to be considered the best of all time he has to abandon the idea and promoters hype that the eight titles really mean anything.
