Philippines, 22 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO WATCH: Here comes The Finisher


PhilBoxing.com




AT the rate Manny Pacquiao wrote finis to the boxing careers of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and, now, Oscar de la Hoya and surely to others in the future who will dare cross his path, a new moniker has emerged in him ? The Finisher.

Put in mind, all three aforementioned victims are locked in for Hall of Fame honors when they become eligible.

True, both Barrera and Morales are still sticking their necks out there unable to grapple with reality that their best fighting years were essentially over when they met their tormentor in Manny.

Erik Morales may have won his first bout with Manny. But the punches that he took in those fateful 11th and 12th rounds of the fight when he chose to slug it out with the Filipino southpaw basically spelled his doom. He eventually lost all four of his succeeding fights, two of them inflicted by Manny for only the stoppage defeats of his career.

Barrera was hardly the shadow of his old self after his stunning technical knockout loss from Pacquiao. Although he went on to fight nine more times after his 2003 debacle with Manny, Barrera lost his aura of invincibility and the fear factor he once brought to the table. He lost twice more after that defeat, once against Juan Manuel Marquez and again to Pacquiao in their rematch.

The list of Manny victims who fell into oblivion after they were annihilated includes former International Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and promising Mexican boxers Emmanuel Lucero and Jorge Solis. They all slipped into anonymity after Manny knocked them out cold.

Now comes, de la Hoya. The Golden Boy of boxing who was reduced to The Olden Man Sunday noon (Dec 7 Philippine time), may have seen his better days when he met Pacquiao. But the manner he was dominated and humiliated relived the sorry days when Muhammad Ali suffered humiliating defeat to Larry Holmes and Sugar Ray Leonard when he was outclassed by Terry Norris.

As they say, some good things never last. And Ali, Leonard and de la Hoya are just three of the finest to ever don the boxing mitts.

With his victory over de la Hoya, Manny crashed into the elite world of all time boxing greats.

No longer is he just a phenomenon who many thought was an aberration. He crashed into the mainstream of the sports largely dominated by Americans ? coming form north and south of the equator - and into superstardom with his unique and unorthodox style.

In so doing, he left many skeptics and critics eating their words.

Where before he was viewed as just a one-punch wonder with no compunction for defense whatsoever, he is now mentioned in the same breadth as boxing's immortal little big men Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. Not to mention as the heir apparent to de la Hoya.

He is, arguably, now The Superstar in the sports called sweet science.

Regardless if Manny will choose to leave the sports as Ali, Leonard did and de la Hoya would now do or follow the path taken by Rocky Marciano and Lennox Lewis who quit while they were ahead and in their prime, Manny's place in boxing history is assured.

He had already surpassed another Filipino boxing great in another era ? Gabriel Flash Elorde, once regarded as the finest boxer to ever emerge from Asia.

Decades from now, boxing aficionados will surely debate where sits Manny in the Parthenon of boxing's all time greats.

Whatever, his record feat as the only boxer so far to win titles in flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight and lightweight class and held the lineal belt in the featherweight division will be used as a powerful argument against anybody else in that company.

By climbing up two more weight classes to fight de la Hoya, Manny is a class by himself. He is in the company of no one.

Win more titles in the welterweight divisions and it will be hard, later on, to argue that he is the Best Boxer of All Times and the most feared Finisher.

Top photo: Oscar de la Hoya congratulates Manny Pacquiao after De La Hoya decided to call it a night during their historic 'Dream Match' Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.



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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
    , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Weights From Washington, PA
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
    , Sat, 19 Apr 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.