Even though the Fight of the Millennium between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather doesn’t look like it’s happening anytime soon, boxing chat rooms, message boards and the comment sections of articles throughout the sport still shake and rattle with Pacquiao-Mayweather talk. At times, it seems as though it’s all fans want to talk about.
Both fighters get built up or torn down based on who’s making the comments, but fair and even-handed analysis is rarely provided for the two outstanding, Hall of Fame boxers.
Here’s an agenda-free look at the arguments in support of Manny Pacquiao and his career achievements:
Career Trajectory
Manny Pacquiao’s career path has to be one of the strangest in boxing history. Making his 1995 debut as a 16-year-old jr. flyweight in his home country, Pacquiao fought at nine weight classes in thirteen years before settling into the welterweight division. Along the way, the Pride of the Philippines won a title, of some sort or another, in eight of those weight classes. With little amateur career to speak of, Pacquiao learned most of his craft on the fly, picking up a little here and there as his career advanced, until meeting up with trainer, Freddie Roach in 2001. Under Roach’s tutelage, Pacquiao added a more refined skill set to go along with his mental toughness and strong work ethic.
Quality of Opposition
Pacquiao has faced 16 current, former, or future world champions in 58 professional bouts, including four lineal champs and six fighters who were considered in the “pound-for-pound” category at the time of the contest. The top fighters on his resume are Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar Larios, Oscar De la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, and Shane Mosley. Pacquiao has just suffered one loss in his last twelve years as a pro? a twelve round unanimous decision to Erik Morales in 2005 that was later avenged twice, via TKO 10 and KO 3.
Legacy
The current pound-for-pound top dog has won an unprecedented eight recognized or lineal world titles in eight separate weight classes, from flyweight to jr. middleweight. Along the way, Pacquiao has won Fighter of the Years honors in 2006, 2008, and 2009. His second round KO of Ricky Hatton was named Knockout of the year by Ring Magazine in 2009. He was also named the Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America. The fame brought about by Pacquiao’s rise to boxing glory has turned the Filipino sensation into a worldwide phenomenon, leading to TV appearances, movies, recording contracts, merchandising, and even a spot in the congress of his nation, representing the province of Sarangani. Pacquiao is also a manager and promoter, representing fighters such as former jr. flyweight champ, Rodel Mayol and former featherweight title challenger, Bernabe Concepcion.
Paul Magno is a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a close follower of the sport for more than thirty years. His work can also be found on Fox Sports and The Boxing Tribune. In the past, Paul has done work for Inside Fights, The Queensberry Rules and Eastside Boxing.
