Manny Pacquaio Fighter of the Decade
The Filipino Puncher has Conquered Seven Weight Divisions
Manny Pacquaio has rubber stamped his greatness with his recent twelfth round stoppage victory over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. The Filipino puncher has defied genetics and expectations over the last ten years in capturing either alphabet or Ring Magazine belts in an astonishing seven different weight classes. His achievements deserve to see him lauded as the premier fighter in the sport over the last decade.
The Cotto Fight Ends All the Arguments
In taking on and defeating fearsome WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 34-1(27 KO’s), Pacquaio has silenced his few remaining critics and trumped the competing claims of Floyd Mayweather. Boxing with poise and assurance Pacquaio simply demolished the Puerto Rican, dropping him twice and battering him into submission in the final round.
Fighting at a career high 145 pounds the reigning Pound-for-Pound number one looks to be hitting harder than ever. The evidence for this was indelibly etched onto Cotto’s battered features. Cut, bruised and swollen Miguel ended the contest looking like the victim of a street mugging.
Seven Titles in Seven Weight Classes
In Capturing Cotto’s WBO 147 pound title Pacquaio has not so much re-written the record books as torn them asunder. This victory marked the seventh title (of either Ring Magazine or alphabet variety) he has captured in separate weight classes. Astonishingly his first world crown (captured way back in December 1998) was the WBC Flyweight crown, contested at 112 pounds. However, it was not to be long before the Filipino starlet was to be looking onwards and upwards.
Wearied by the constant effort to maintain his weight Pacquaio moved all the way to Super-Bantamweight to contest his next world title. Defeating the respected Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (33-1-1) for the IBF title in six rounds in 2001 allowed Manny to claim his second world crown. Pacquaio was to go on to defend his title four times over the next two years, establishing himself as one of the most exciting and consistently entertaining fighters in the sport.
The Barrera Demolition Announces Arrival on the Big Stage
Moving up to Featherweight Pacquaio faced the daunting challenge offered by universally acclaimed world number one at 126 pounds Marco Antonio Barrera (57-3). Having defeated all serious rivals (including Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia and Kevin Kelly) at Featherweight over the last three years Barrera was the betting favourite. However, in a fight that marked his arrival as one of the world’s top fighters Pacquaio scored a resounding 11th round stoppage, battering the Mexican to his first stoppage defeat. The win brought Pacquaio the Ring Magazine belt at Featherweight.
Marquez and Morales Slow the Pacquaio Express
Buoyed by his win over Barrera, Pacquaio challenged respected IBF/WBA Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (42-2), in May 2004. In a fight of fluctuating ebbs and flows Pacquaio dropped the champion three times in the first round and was a punch away from a sensational stoppage. However, Marquez was to rally from the brink and box his way back into contention over the remainder of a very close fight. The result was a controversial split draw.
Pacquaio then moved up yet again to face the formidable Erik Morales (47-2) for the vacant IBF Super-Featherweight title. In an even fight Pacquaio was to lose a close unanimous decision (115-113 on all three cards). This was to prove to be the Filipino’s last taste of defeat this decade.
The Train Gathers Pace
Putting the Morales loss behind him Pacquaio embarked upon the most remarkable run of his career. Morales was demolished in ten rounds in their January 2006 rematch. The stoppage, the first ever suffered by the redoubtable Mexican warrior, brought Manny recognition as the WBC International Super-Featherweight Champion; a belt he was to defend against Oscar Larrios (W12), Morales (WKO3), unbeaten Jorge Solis (WKO8) and old foe Barrera (W12).
The succession of wins led Manny back to Juan Manuel Marquez who had himself moved up in weight in pursuit of his nemesis, capturing the IBF title proper from common opponent Barrera. Manny’s power was to prove the bout’s deciding factor; with a third round knockdown allowing him to sneak home on a wafer thin split decision.
Three Titles in Four Fights
Having dispensed with Marquez Pacquaio embarked on the most fruitful period of his career. Rising to Lightweight he effortlessly dispatched the rugged, yet limited WBC Champion David Diaz (34-1-1); dazzling the Mandalay Bay crowd with a punch perfect ninth round knockout.
This victory set up a somewhat unlikely match at Welterweight with returning legend Oscar De La Hoya (39-5). Manny made light of the size and height difference, jumping up to 142 pounds to annihilate the ghost of the once great Mexican-American superstar. His eight round retirement win saw Manny ensconced as the universally lauded number one in the Pound-for-Pound rankings.
The victory over Ricky Hatton (WKO2) shocked the watching boxing world. The teak tough Brit was levelled by arguably the punch of the decade and had his Ring Magazine Light-Welterweight recognition ripped unceremoniously away in two coruscating rounds. Pacquaio appeared to be hitting harder than ever, while retaining the speed that had marked him out from the earliest days of his professional career. With Floyd Mayweather pricing himself out of a potential showdown only one obstacle remained and Pacquiao took care of this in stopping Cotto last Saturday.
A True Great and Worthy Fighter of the Decade
Pacquaio’s fulfils all the requirements necessary for greatness, possessing as he does crushing one punch power an excellent chin and quicksilver speed. His versatility has become a cardinal virtue and ever since the 2004 reverse against Morales he has found a way to win, against a bewildering diverse array of opponents. Pacquaio stands alone atop the boxing world as the decade rolls inexorably to a close. His legacy carved into the very bedrock of the sport: Manny Pacquiao future all-time great and fighter of the decade.
Manny Pacquiao The Fighte of the Decade
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