While the Floyd Mayweather Jr camp might be mouthing off about their unbeaten fighter one thing remains certain in the minds of the boxing pundits ; Manny Pacquiao is the best boxer of 2009 and the best fighter of the last decade.
For the second year running Pacquiao was named as best boxer and Freddie Roach, his coach, as best trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
It was Pacquiao’s third award in four years and Roach’s fourth since 2003. It came on the back of victories over light welterweight Ricky Hatton and welterweight Miguel Cotto and established the Philippine boxer in the minds of many, as pound for pound the best fighter in the world.
That record of three awards now places him alongside the legendary Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield in a class of their own.
In addition Pacquiao was also honored as the fighter of the decade by the BWAA on Monday,
As a result Manny Pacquiao qualifies for the “who was the best pound for pound fighter ever” debate much loved by boxing fans the world over.
His much awaited superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr has been put on ice due to the problems experienced in finalising drug testing.
Pacquiao will accordingly be fighting Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas during March while Mayweather is up against Sugar Shane Mosley on May 1st.
Roach believes that the Pacquiao-Clottey bout might even turn out to be better for fight fans than a Pacquiao vs Mayweather.
“Clottey comes forward and it could become a war,” he said.
One thing you can be sure of, if Mayweather retires without facing Manny Pacquiao he will always be regarded as second best ; unbeaten record or not.
