Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Manny Pacquiao: A Decade of Dominance Honored


PhilBoxing.com




Ironically enough, of all of Manny Pacquiao's great wins, this writer considers his 2005 fight with Hector Velasquez to be his most significant. Though it was a tuneup bout for Pacquiao's rematch with Erik Morales, the six-round TKO marked the night when a very good fighter became a great fighter.

It wasn't simply that Pacquiao stopped the durable Velasquez; it was how he did it. In Pacquiao's two previous noteworthy bouts - the first meetings with Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez - the Filipino southpaw was merely a one-trick pony trying to land his left cross. His speed and power alone were enough to beat Marco Antonio Barrera in his star-making performance of 2003, but wouldn't be enough to overcome Marquez (draw) and Morales (decision loss).

For the Velasquez fight, trainer Freddie Roach worked to transform Pacquiao into a two-handed fighter, utilizing his right hand to do more than set up his money punch. The shot that ultimately led to the stoppage would be a right hook, which served as a portent of things to come.

That performance (coupled with Morales' subsequent defeat to Zahir Raheem later that night) would ultimately help swing the rematch into Pacquiao's favor as he used both hands to score a dominant 11th-round stoppage over Morales.

Defeating Morales didn't earn him a world title at 130 pounds but it does contribute to the unprecedented body of work that has earned him the Boxing Writers Association of America's "Fighter of the Decade" Award. Pacquiao also won his third "Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year" award, tying him with Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield.
Pacquiao will be on hand to accept the awards in person this Friday at the 85th Annual BWAA Awards Dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

"I was not surprised that he won," says BWAA president Jack Hirsch of Pacquiao's selection as the best fighter of the 2000s. "I was a bit surprised by the decisiveness of Pacquiao's winning, however.

"He closed the decade very strongly, beating a number of high profile men. It was the type of thing where it did come down to him or Mayweather and whoever the voters voted for, there couldn't have been a big argument against either choice."

Hirsch added that while the exact tally could not be divulged, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a distant runner-up with Joe Calzaghe coming in third. Calzaghe retired with a record of 46-0 and won titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, while Mayweather Jr. is still unbeaten at 41-0.

Pacquiao, now 51-3-2 (38 KO), began the decade as a relatively unknown former flyweight titlist who lost his belt to Medgoen Singsurat the year before. He would go on to win titles at 122, 126, 130, 135, 140 and 147, becoming the first fighter to bridge the flyweight and welterweight titles in the process.

In addition to the Mexican trio of Barrera, Morales and Marquez, Pacquiao also claimed victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Did I mention that, save for the close decision over Marquez, those were all knockout wins?

Hirsch brought up the issue of image and what role, if any, it played in the BWAA's selection.

Mayweather, who has played the role of villain more times than Tim Curry, has not always endeared himself to the media. Hirsch says that in previous years, there have been instances where sentiments played a role in selections. He says this wasn't one of them.

"Pacquiao's margin was so decisive and if the voters felt Mayweather deserved it, they would have obviously voted for him.

"A lot of times when they have a situation where two fighters are evenly matched, the one that's a little more popular is the one that will wind up winning an award. For example, In 1994, both Roy Jones Jr. and George Foreman had great years but Jones' defining fight was beating James Toney and Foreman's was beating Michael Moorer. Even though Jones looked much more impressive against a higher caliber fighter, the sentiment seemed to be with Foreman with how popular he had become."

For Mayweather's case, he did finish the decade undefeated with wins over de la Hoya and Hatton of his own, to go along with victories over Arturo Gatti, Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales. Pacquiao's more impressive showings over de la Hoya and Hatton, along with Mayweather's sabbatical from 2008 to the Fall of 2009, was probably enough to seal the deal.

With the decade over, Pacquiao has now turned his attention to politics. His popularity isn't limited to boxing media, apparently: He won the congressional race in the Filipino province of Sarangani by a landslide this year. Pacquiao has stated that as per his mother's request, his fight scheduled for November 13 against a yet unnamed opponent will be his last.

If so, it may be many more decades before we see another fighter like Manny Pacquiao. -RS

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com . An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia .


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ryan Songalia.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 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.