Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


What if Young Manny Pacquiao Did Not Bypass the Bantamweight? (Part I)


PhilBoxing.com



Young Pacquiao overpowers Lehlo Ledwaba on June 23, 2001 in Las Vegas.

In distinguishing himself as the only fighter to win world championships in eight divisions, Manny Pacquiao also set the record of the most title wins at four out of boxing's eight original weight classes.

The original weight divisions in boxing are flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

After winning his first world title at flyweight, Pacquiao surpassed the record set by Henry Armstrong in the late 30s of winning world championships at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.

Other multi division world champions who also managed to win in at least three out of the original eight weight classes included Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns who did the trick at welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight, Roberto Duran and Oscar dela Hoya at lightweight, welterweight and middleweight and Roy Jones, Jr. who won titles at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

How special and exclusive is this list of accomplished fighters? Sugar Ray Robinson whom many people recognize as the greatest ever boxer is not even here.

Robinson failed in his try for the light heavyweight title after winning and dominating at welterweight and middleweight. Sugar Ray started at lightweight but did not fight for world championship in the division although he did beat the then reigning titlist, Sammy Anggott twice in non title bouts.

Outside of Pacquiao, no other fighter has won world titles in four of the original eight weight classes.

Armstrong did try to win a fourth world title at middleweight but was denied when he was held to a draw by then defending world titleholder Ceferino Garcia. Tough luck, as Armstrong had beaten the Filipino twice at welterweight.

Hence when talks of Manny Pacquiao fighting Gennady Golovkin for his middleweight crown circulated recently, my thought was that Manny would have the chance not only to win his ninth world division title but also to be the first to win in five of boxing's original eight weight classes.

But those talks also died down as soon as it begun to go the rounds among boxing experts who all said that Manny was too small for the middleweights and way too small to have a ghost of a chance against even an aging and diminished Golovkin.

That, of course, is still debatable.

What's absolutely less debatable is the question: Had Manny not bypass the bantamweight, could he have had also become world champion in that one of the original weight classes?

As what actually happened in 2000, Manny lost his first world title at flyweight virtually at the weight scales after failing to meet the 112 lbs limit.

Manny was eventually officially defrocked when, greatly weakened by his previous effort to meet the limit, he was stopped by his Thai challenger, Medgoen Singsurat 3K Battery in the second round of their fight held in Thailand.

Stung by the defeat and the fact that he had grossly outgrown the flyweights, Manny and his handlers decided that from then on, Manny would be fighting at junior featherweight or super bantamweight with weight limit of 122 lbs., bypassing the bantamweights with weight limit of just 118 lbs.

Of course, at that time, going for the records was farthest from the minds of both Manny and his handlers. What was of primordial importance then was for Manny to fight at a weight class that would suit his growing and maturing body and where he could best rebuild his career.

And they deemed that as ten pounds north of flyweight in the super bantamweight or junior featherweight class

Of course, they were proven right as just a year later, Manny was back as world champion---and with uplomb--- as Manny destroyed a feared South African titlist, Lehlo Lebwaba, then at the cusp of joining the pound for pound elites, for the IBF super bantamweight crown.

But, what could have been had Manny and his camp decided to first make a pit stop at bantamweight? It stands to reason as a jump of two divisions up was unheard of at that time and very rare even today. Manny could have indeed first tested the waters at 118 before he sallied forth fully at 122.

Had history made that u-turn, how would Manny have fared in the bantamweights, against any of the then world champions namely Thai Veerapol Sahaprom (WBC) and Americans Paulie Ayala (WBA) and Tim Austin (IBF)?

We will discuss that in the succeeding installment/s.

To be continued...

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.