Want to help Manny Pacquiao reach even greater heights?
It’s not that the Filipino southpaw is in dire need of backup, but HBO Pay-Per-View is currently conducting an on-line poll on who is the world’s greatest fighter today pound-for-pound?
As of yesterday afternoon, Pacquiao (29 percent) lags behind super-lightweight star Floyd Mayweather (47) of the US, but is way ahead of Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico (10) and middleweights Winky Wright (8) and Jermain Taylor (5).
Following his dramatic tenth-round knockout of Erik Morales last January, Pacquiao’s name is always on the top three list of the world’s finest fighters whether The Ring magazine or the best boxing websites are conducting the poll.
In fact maxboxing.com, one of the authorities in the fight game, rated Pacquiao No. 2 on the list made by one of its main men, Doug Fisher.
Wrote Fisher of Pacquiao: The PacMonster does it right. If you want a definition of what I consider to be an elite fighter look no further than the Filipino icon. He keeps a busy schedule and manages to fight either a respected world champion or a recognized pound-for-pound player every year (or at least every other year).”
Fisher continued: “He dominated and stopped Barrera in Nov. of 2003 to become the recognized featherweight champ (the third division that he campaigned in and held titles of some sort), he dropped unified titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez three times in the first round and rallied late to earn a draw vs the master technician in May 2004, went to war with Erik Morales in a losing effort last March and then became the first man to stop the Tijuana legend in January. Versus Morales in the rematch, Pacquiao showed the kind of technical improvement and veteran poise that will make him a betting favorite over any 130-pounder in the world.”
Pacquiao is revving up for a rubber match with Morales before the year ends with a tuneup bout in June or July in Manila.
