Philippines, 09 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao Watch: The beginning of the end


PhilBoxing.com




Many boxing aficionados who watched Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s fight last Sunday are almost in agreement that the Filipino boxing icon has finally met his unbeatable nemesis – Father Time.
Even Manny himself admitted that despite summoning every strength from his 42 year-old legs, he was no longer able to will them to relive the old footwork that made many wonders in the past.

Manny’s nonpareil footspeed was what gave him the kind of leverage that enabled him to throw punches at different angles with incredible accuracy, power and speed.

Those punches were nowhere Sunday because those feet were almost planted on the canvas. The agility that was a marvel to many was simply not there anymore, exacerbated by the long two-year layoff from the ring.

Manny’s ageing process did not simply appear that fateful Sunday of August 22, 2021.

It began more than 10 years ago, in the closing rounds of his brutal annihilation of Antonio Margarito who was 5 inches taller and 15 pounds heavier than him.

No, it was not the physical ageing. It was the decline of Pacquiao’s thought process as his generation’s most brutal if not methodical finisher.

In reviewing the fight tape, one will notice it was in the latter rounds when Pacquiao repeatedly glanced at referee Lawrence Cole with a look of a merciful appeal to stop the fight as Margarito’s face was turned into a bloody mess.

Pacquiao just coasted into victory after that fleeting moment that very few gave any significance.

After the Margarito fight, Pacquiao went on to continue boxing, accumulating 15 more bouts.

Unfortunately, it was also during this 15-bout cycle, across 10 years, that he lost 5 times, with losses in succession that included a knockout defeat from Juan Manuel Marquez. In that 15-fight period, Pacquaio won by stoppage only once when Lucas Mathyssee threw in the towel and refused to continue to fight after a 7th round knockdown.

While his loss to Timothy Bradley during the said period was controversial, he was clearly outclassed by PPV-rival Floyd Mayweather Jr, KO’d by Marquez and outboxed by Jeff Horn and Yordenis Ugas.

And while he was still competitive, Pacquiao nevertheless contented himself with workman like victories while pocketing the biggest purses of his career.

Those bouts were another day in the office for him.

Towards the tailend of that 15-bout run, the fights became fewer in between. In his prime, Pacquiao would fight at least 2 times a year.

In contrast, between 2000 to 2010, previous to the Margarito encounter, Pacquiao fought a total of 26 fights, three of them against Erik Morales, two each against Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, once each versus Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Oscar dela Hoya and Miguel Cotto, among others.

Many of these fights were spirited if not very hard fought. These undoubtedly took many snaps off Pacquiao’s competitive juices.

If I were to look at the beginning of the end, the high mark of Pacquiao’s tailspin career was his vicious beating of Margarito who was the tallest and heaviest he ever fought against.

Those late rounds of methodical administration of legalized torture took away his appetite for the kill.

Those sent signals down his muscle memories and those took their toll to his mindset.

It was the start of the downward spiral.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Concludes World Boxing Cup Astana 2025 with Silver Medal
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • GM Gonzales finishes second in Penang Makruk chess meet, pockets silver medal
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 10 - ALI WINS OVER PATTERSON, EVADES VIETNAM WAR DRAFT
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Jack Catterall Defeats Harlem Eubank Via Technical Decision After Fight Stopped Early Due to Cuts
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Good Fortune for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Rimar Metuda Bows to Kuntae Lee in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • BA President Umar Kremlev makes heavyweight icon Tyson Fury an offer for ‘beautiful farewell fight’ for IBA heavyweight title
    , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to Gold Medal Bout at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Catterall vs Eubank: Jack’s Experience Gap Too Wide?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane Advances to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM MANCHESTER: CATTERALL - 146.5 LBS., EUBANK - 146.5 LBS.
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Vincent Astrolabio in LA training alongside Manny Pacquiao
    By Ace Freeman, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Jason Sanchez Upsets Previously Undefeated Julian Gonzalez in Philly
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Meatball Launches Boxing Career With Matchroom
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • The Queens of Philippine Boxing are Training in Cebu
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Raising the Game: Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Unmatched Impact on Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • GM Eugene Torre to grace the Asenso Ozamis Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 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.