October 29th, 1987, is a day I remember well. It was the date in which Thomas ?The Hitman? Hearns became the first boxer in history to capture four major world titles in four different weight classes. The year of ?Black Monday? was a very good twelve month period for Thomas Hearns. He captured the WBC Light Heavyweight Title in March, later melting off some fifteen pounds to capture the WBC Middleweight Title in an exciting back and forth affair with the wild swinging Juan Domingo Roldan. Many felt that Hearns had done the unthinkable, and regardless of the slant held at the time by some hard to convince purists, Hearns had indeed made boxing history.
In the two decades since ?The Hitman? underlined his greatness and established his flag in our sport?s long and cherished history, several other very special division hoppers have managed to turn or even better the Kronk prot?g? by equaling or eclipsing the amount of titles won in as many divisions. We can argue the semantics about the additional alphabet titles floating around today, and there would undeniably be some truth that the significance of winning a major world title has been somewhat watered down. But the additional belts really only take away from the matter to a limited extent, and it would in fact be beside the point.
Few have won major world titles in multiple divisions, even in this day and age. When you consider the variables involved, winning a major world title is for the most part very unlikely for the vast majority of prize fighters. Very few are able to successfully climb the steep summit in a given division despite the illusion that in this day and age title belts are akin to tie clips. Fewer still manage to win a second or even a third major world title, in higher weight class, no less. Going back to my earlier point, only the most special manage to pull the trick.
On June 28th, Manny Pacquiao firmly established his legacy among the ranks of our sport?s most rare by moving up in weight from one-hundred and thirty to one-hundred and thirty-five pounds and bludgeoned the once-defeated David Diaz for the WBC Lightweight Title. In many respects it is the natural progression of a very successful career that had its championship beginnings almost a decade ago. It?s simply amazing though when one considers the weight class in which ?The Pacman? first started at, light flyweight, making his initial ring debut at a paper-light weight of one-hundred and six pounds. But if you?ve watched Manny Pacquiao over time, ?amazing? is something this great fighter brings to the table each time he steps into the ring.
By my count, and it is admittedly an arguable one, Pacquiao was already a four division champion and firmly amongst that elite group even before winning the WBC Lightweight Championship against Diaz. The thing is many don?t or won?t view the Ring Magazine Championship as a legitimate world title. It all comes down to hair splitting, and for the sake of those that would doubt we?ll consider his defeat of Diaz for lightweight laurels as solid confirmation of his status as a four division champion.
The timing of Pacquiao?s lightweight championship win is a mixed bag to me. Sure, it is a logical next step from a historical perspective, but part of me is disappointed that he didn?t make a fight with perhaps the most dangerous puncher in boxing today, WBA Super Featherweight champion Edwin Valero. That match had ?three rounder? and ?mushroom cloud? written all over it, and regardless of who you liked to win such an encounter, and the majority would have to lean towards the Filipino phenom, Valero presented exceedingly unusual danger. It would be an almost certainty that we?d see Pacquiao fight with a sense of marked destructive purpose that has been somewhat lacking in his game over the last year or so, that is until his most recent, pristine showing.
On the other hand, solid money and the added attraction of the conquest of another weight class hint at enhanced untold riches and eternal glory in the waning bouts of Manny?s career. Yes, the waning bouts of his career. You see, I believe that Manny is at the very tail end of his prime. In fact, I believe he is at the point of decline, despite his sterling demonstration of technique and destructive force last week. The time was right for Pacquiao to stop fighting his body and to assert himself towards the cause of making history. Challenging Diaz for his fourth world title at a higher weight was a smart risk to reward proposition.
Gone are the days where ?The Pacman? can afford to throw himself face first into the throws of a desperate opponent. The time has come for him to seek preservation ala subtle style adjustment; facing fighters that would box as opposed to bomb, especially if they are naturally bigger and stronger. That is the preferred route to take. Looking at it and taking into account his tenure at the top and the mileage incurred over fifty-two career bouts, I believe that Manny has three or four bouts left, tops. Underlining his greatness and solidifying his legacy along with ensuring the most lucrative bouts at lightweight and junior welterweight will certainly be his primary goals.
A big numbers unification title match awaits him with the aging if determined Nate Campbell, the current IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion. Another option would be IBO Light Welterweight Champion Ricky ?Hitman? Hatton, currently one of the sport?s most popular fighters and a compelling personality. Either match would equate to bags of green for ?The Pacman?.
For now though, Pacquiao?s lightweight championship win has secured what this writer believes is all-time great status. It?s a given that Manny Pacquiao has already joined the likes of ?Sugar? Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Roy Jones JR, Pernell ?Sweet Pea? Whitaker, Leo Gamez, Oscar De La Hoya and the aforementioned ?Hitman? Hearns in the world title per division department. His stats alone bear that out. I just also happen to feel that he should be acknowledged as an all-time great fighter at this point. His wins are one thing but given the level of his competition over time certainly show him to be more than just special. The aforementioned are elite company to be sure, but they provide a very good barometer on how far ?The Pacman? has come since his break out year of 2001. The very fact he can, and by rights, should be measured alongside such an elite group really says it all. I don?t care about the doubters. Put the career of virtually any great fighter under the microscope and you?ll find flaws and angles.
The fact of the matter is Manny Pacquiao is a rare and very special fighter, an all-time great fighter. June 28th told the tale. Manny Pacquiao is poised for a couple of more special, history-making moments He is no longer just on the cusp of history, he is making history. Enjoy him while you still have the opportunity to watch this talented, all-time great gunslinger ply his craft.
