Bernard Hopkins isn’t the most politically correct quote in the world. He says things that make people uncomfortable and he is often accused of playing the race card.
But you can’t deny “B-Hop” came up with an original angle this week when he said Manny Pacquiao has never beaten a world-class black fighter.
Hopkins is right — Pacquiao never has beaten a world-class African-American. Or even fought one. But his point may be better taken when you consider styles instead of race.
Pacquiao’s resume is devoid of talented, speedy boxers — whatever their ethnic background. He has mostly beaten heavy-handed sluggers whose natural inclination is to brawl — Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito (Oscar De La Hoya was an aged boxer-puncher who was long past his prime by the time he fought “Pac-Man”).
Pacquiao, 52-3-2 (38 knockouts), destroyed them because they were slower and easy for him to hit — ultimately falling prey to the Filipino’s crunching punching power. They are styles that are made-to-order for Pacquiao’s speed and southpaw stance.
Where Pacquiao has struggled is against smart, fast, talented, tough fighters, who are in their primes and who execute a more cerebral game plan — specifically Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004 and 2008, and, to a lesser degree, Erik Morales in their first fight (Pacquiao’s last loss in 2005).
Marquez nor Morales were hit with multiple punches in a row, and both were quick
