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Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Bernard Fernandez: Epic Mayweather-Pacquiao bout might never materialize
By Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News
NOW THAT the buzz attendant to Manny Pacquiao's latest butt-kicking success has risen to the level of a thousand angry hornets' nests, the next logical step for the Filipino Flash is to proceed to a clear-the-decks megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other claimant to the unofficial but highly prestigious title of world's best pound-for-pound boxer.
"The money we are talking about is astronomical," HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said shortly after Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) wrested the WBO welterweight championship from Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) on an emphatic, 12th-round technical knockout Saturday night at Las Vegas' MGM Grand.
"This fight has to happen. It happened about five times in the '80s. Think of Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. That's the type of fight this is. This should be our Super Bowl. It will break records."
Or maybe not. It's impossible for a proposed fight to break records if it never takes place, and there is at least a possibility that Pacquiao-Mayweather will remain stuck "on a bridge to nowhere," according to a man who knows just how far the distance can be from what fight fans want and what they don't always get.
Rock Newman is best remembered as the manager of former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. They made millions of dollars together, and Bowe's epic trilogy with Evander Holyfield remains the finest three-act passion play between big men since Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier pushed one another to the limits of human endurance in the ring. But Bowe never swapped punches with Mike Tyson, his homeboy from the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, nor with Lennox Lewis, who beat him in the 1988 super heavyweight gold-medal bout at the Seoul Olympics. Each of those scraps would have done huge business.
"From a financial standpoint, you certainly would have wanted those fights to be made," Newman said of Bowe-Tyson and Bowe-Lewis. "But there are circumstances why fights that make sense don't happen. Nothing is automatic in boxing. Sometimes you wind up on a bridge to nowhere, and that bridge never gets crossed."
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), who is coming off a unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19, has made no secret of his dislike of his former promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who just happens to be Pacquiao's promoter. "Money" insists that he won't throw down with "Pac-Man" unless Arum recuses himself from the promotion, which won't happen, or if he gets anything less than a 60-40 split in his favor, which also won't happen. It is Mayweather's contention that since he's undefeated and Pacquiao isn't, he deserves a larger slice of what figures, even in the throes of a recession, to be a very substantial pie.
Newman said it is his experience that even the nastiest personal conflicts tend to be resolved when the stakes rise high enough.
"Bob Arum, who can be maddening to deal with, is a financially practical person," Newman said. "His regard for the bottom line would supersede any of that other stuff with Mayweather. Sure, there'd be a lot of posturing back and forth, but at the end of the day both sides are too sensible to let past squabbles get in the way of doing what needs to be done. That's what I think, anyway."
Count Newman among those who are amazed by the zooming popularity of Pacquiao, a liftoff not seen in boxing since the the mid- to late-1980s, when Tyson was knocking a succession of petrified opponents colder than a Siberian winter. In his last three outings, the dynamic southpaw - whose devastation of Cotto enabled him to become the first fighter to win titles in seven weight classes - has blown through Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto.
"If anyone claims they could have predicted [Pacquiao's global superstardom], they don't know what they're talking about," said Newman, who allows that Pacquiao has won over fight fans around the world because "there is a purity to his savagery" and he has "a singular, intense, destructive focus."
Asked to pick a winner between Pacquiao and Mayweather, though, Newman still leans toward the Grand Rapids, Mich., native.
"I've observed Floyd from the time he was a 4-year-old kid hitting the speed bag," Newman said. "His boxing IQ is greater than anyone else's. I'm not saying his skills, power or any of that are best, but his boxing IQ is. He knows everything about range, about angles, about how to hit and not get hit. As an in-the-ring intellectual, he would figure out a way to win."
Punch lines
The Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao replay will be televised by HBO at 10 p.m. Saturday. If you weren't a Pacquiao fan before, you will be after seeing him systematically disassemble the very capable Cotto . . . North Philadelphia's Teon Kennedy (13-0-1, 5 KOs) bids for the vacant USBA super bantamweight title when he takes on Francisco Rodriguez (14-2, 8 KOs), of Chicago by way of his native Mexico, in the 12-round main event Friday night at the Blue Horizon . . . Also on Friday, Camden light-heavyweight Prince Badi Ajamu (27-3, 15 KOs) takes on Daniel Judah (23-4-3, 10 KOs) at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City . . . The next installment of Showtime's "Super Six" super middleweight series is set for Saturday night in Oakland as WBA 168-pound champ Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs), of Denmark, rumbles with Oakland's Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs), the only American gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Send e-mail to fernanb@phillynews.com
Source: philly.com
NOW THAT the buzz attendant to Manny Pacquiao's latest butt-kicking success has risen to the level of a thousand angry hornets' nests, the next logical step for the Filipino Flash is to proceed to a clear-the-decks megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other claimant to the unofficial but highly prestigious title of world's best pound-for-pound boxer.
"The money we are talking about is astronomical," HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said shortly after Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) wrested the WBO welterweight championship from Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) on an emphatic, 12th-round technical knockout Saturday night at Las Vegas' MGM Grand.
"This fight has to happen. It happened about five times in the '80s. Think of Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. That's the type of fight this is. This should be our Super Bowl. It will break records."
Or maybe not. It's impossible for a proposed fight to break records if it never takes place, and there is at least a possibility that Pacquiao-Mayweather will remain stuck "on a bridge to nowhere," according to a man who knows just how far the distance can be from what fight fans want and what they don't always get.
Rock Newman is best remembered as the manager of former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. They made millions of dollars together, and Bowe's epic trilogy with Evander Holyfield remains the finest three-act passion play between big men since Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier pushed one another to the limits of human endurance in the ring. But Bowe never swapped punches with Mike Tyson, his homeboy from the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, nor with Lennox Lewis, who beat him in the 1988 super heavyweight gold-medal bout at the Seoul Olympics. Each of those scraps would have done huge business.
"From a financial standpoint, you certainly would have wanted those fights to be made," Newman said of Bowe-Tyson and Bowe-Lewis. "But there are circumstances why fights that make sense don't happen. Nothing is automatic in boxing. Sometimes you wind up on a bridge to nowhere, and that bridge never gets crossed."
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), who is coming off a unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19, has made no secret of his dislike of his former promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who just happens to be Pacquiao's promoter. "Money" insists that he won't throw down with "Pac-Man" unless Arum recuses himself from the promotion, which won't happen, or if he gets anything less than a 60-40 split in his favor, which also won't happen. It is Mayweather's contention that since he's undefeated and Pacquiao isn't, he deserves a larger slice of what figures, even in the throes of a recession, to be a very substantial pie.
Newman said it is his experience that even the nastiest personal conflicts tend to be resolved when the stakes rise high enough.
"Bob Arum, who can be maddening to deal with, is a financially practical person," Newman said. "His regard for the bottom line would supersede any of that other stuff with Mayweather. Sure, there'd be a lot of posturing back and forth, but at the end of the day both sides are too sensible to let past squabbles get in the way of doing what needs to be done. That's what I think, anyway."
Count Newman among those who are amazed by the zooming popularity of Pacquiao, a liftoff not seen in boxing since the the mid- to late-1980s, when Tyson was knocking a succession of petrified opponents colder than a Siberian winter. In his last three outings, the dynamic southpaw - whose devastation of Cotto enabled him to become the first fighter to win titles in seven weight classes - has blown through Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto.
"If anyone claims they could have predicted [Pacquiao's global superstardom], they don't know what they're talking about," said Newman, who allows that Pacquiao has won over fight fans around the world because "there is a purity to his savagery" and he has "a singular, intense, destructive focus."
Asked to pick a winner between Pacquiao and Mayweather, though, Newman still leans toward the Grand Rapids, Mich., native.
"I've observed Floyd from the time he was a 4-year-old kid hitting the speed bag," Newman said. "His boxing IQ is greater than anyone else's. I'm not saying his skills, power or any of that are best, but his boxing IQ is. He knows everything about range, about angles, about how to hit and not get hit. As an in-the-ring intellectual, he would figure out a way to win."
Punch lines
The Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao replay will be televised by HBO at 10 p.m. Saturday. If you weren't a Pacquiao fan before, you will be after seeing him systematically disassemble the very capable Cotto . . . North Philadelphia's Teon Kennedy (13-0-1, 5 KOs) bids for the vacant USBA super bantamweight title when he takes on Francisco Rodriguez (14-2, 8 KOs), of Chicago by way of his native Mexico, in the 12-round main event Friday night at the Blue Horizon . . . Also on Friday, Camden light-heavyweight Prince Badi Ajamu (27-3, 15 KOs) takes on Daniel Judah (23-4-3, 10 KOs) at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City . . . The next installment of Showtime's "Super Six" super middleweight series is set for Saturday night in Oakland as WBA 168-pound champ Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs), of Denmark, rumbles with Oakland's Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs), the only American gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Send e-mail to fernanb@phillynews.com
Source: philly.com
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10 Reasons Pacquiao and Mayweather should fight
By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring
A weekly boxing list compiled by Michael Rosenthal. This week: 10 reasons Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. should fight.
1. It would settle the debate over who is the pound-for-pound king.
2. It would settle the debate over who is the best fighter of the decade.
3. It would generate a tremendous amount of money for all involved.
4. Pacquiao would cement his place among the all-time greats with a victory.
5. Mayweather would prove he’s as great as he thinks he is with a victory.
6. The event would be a tremendous boost for boxing.
7. How often do the Nos. 1 and 2 fighters in the world have an opportunity to meet?
8. We want to see Mayweather in a competitive fight.
9. We want to see Pacquiao in a competitive fight.
10. We want to see how high pay-per-view numbers can get.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
A weekly boxing list compiled by Michael Rosenthal. This week: 10 reasons Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. should fight.
1. It would settle the debate over who is the pound-for-pound king.
2. It would settle the debate over who is the best fighter of the decade.
3. It would generate a tremendous amount of money for all involved.
4. Pacquiao would cement his place among the all-time greats with a victory.
5. Mayweather would prove he’s as great as he thinks he is with a victory.
6. The event would be a tremendous boost for boxing.
7. How often do the Nos. 1 and 2 fighters in the world have an opportunity to meet?
8. We want to see Mayweather in a competitive fight.
9. We want to see Pacquiao in a competitive fight.
10. We want to see how high pay-per-view numbers can get.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
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Mayweather calls Pacquiao out, Arum says silence is golden
Los Angeles Times
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been quiet for weeks as Manny Pacquiao prepared for, then delivered, a stirring performance in his 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto Saturday night in Las Vegas.
On Monday, Mayweather (40-0) released a statement through his publicist expressing concern that pound-for-pound and world welterweight champion Pacquiao hasn't been more aggressive in pushing for a showdown that could be the most lucrative event in the sport's history.
The release said Mayweather listened to several comments made by Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, and trainer, Freddie Roach, but "still has yet to hear Manny Pacquiao himself say he wants to fight him."
Pacquiao, after the Cotto victory, said he does the fighting and lets Arum select who he'll fight. He has also expressed doubt Mayweather wants to fight him.
"Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to my promoter ... ," Mayweather said in the statement. "I have yet to hear him actually say, 'Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.' We are the fighters and if one fighter is talking about fighting another fighter, then they should just come out and say it. Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win."
That qualifies as calling Pacquiao out.
Defensive specialist Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for saying "Money" only cares about cash and not producing entertaining fights.
"Why is he talking about what I won't do instead of what he wants to do?" Mayweather asked in the statement. "Plain and simple, it's because he knows he can't beat me under any circumstances.
"Less than an hour after his fight, ... the talk turns to me. Their whole promotion was just a Mayweather sweepstakes. ... The world is much more intrigued by the thought of someone fighting me who can beat me. ... Manny Pacquiao's people have done a good job of creating an image of him to be this unbelievable fighter and now the so-called guy to beat me. But like all the rest, he's not the one.
"Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself."
Pacquiao wasn't immediately available Monday.
His promoter Bob Arum declined to discuss the beginning of negotiations, and said he's urging those around his company to keep quiet publicly.
"The one way this will be upset and not happen if it is negotiated through the newspapers," Arum told The Times Monday. "All I want to say is that my guy [Pacquiao] has said, 'We're here, we're ready to fight Mayweather.' "
So there you go.
Arum added he was deluged Monday by more interest from suitors looking to host the fight, including officials from the new New York Giants/Jets stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, the City of New Orleans, and Las Vegas authorities pitching the construction of a 30,000-seat outdoor facility.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been quiet for weeks as Manny Pacquiao prepared for, then delivered, a stirring performance in his 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto Saturday night in Las Vegas.
On Monday, Mayweather (40-0) released a statement through his publicist expressing concern that pound-for-pound and world welterweight champion Pacquiao hasn't been more aggressive in pushing for a showdown that could be the most lucrative event in the sport's history.
The release said Mayweather listened to several comments made by Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, and trainer, Freddie Roach, but "still has yet to hear Manny Pacquiao himself say he wants to fight him."
Pacquiao, after the Cotto victory, said he does the fighting and lets Arum select who he'll fight. He has also expressed doubt Mayweather wants to fight him.
"Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to my promoter ... ," Mayweather said in the statement. "I have yet to hear him actually say, 'Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.' We are the fighters and if one fighter is talking about fighting another fighter, then they should just come out and say it. Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win."
That qualifies as calling Pacquiao out.
Defensive specialist Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for saying "Money" only cares about cash and not producing entertaining fights.
"Why is he talking about what I won't do instead of what he wants to do?" Mayweather asked in the statement. "Plain and simple, it's because he knows he can't beat me under any circumstances.
"Less than an hour after his fight, ... the talk turns to me. Their whole promotion was just a Mayweather sweepstakes. ... The world is much more intrigued by the thought of someone fighting me who can beat me. ... Manny Pacquiao's people have done a good job of creating an image of him to be this unbelievable fighter and now the so-called guy to beat me. But like all the rest, he's not the one.
"Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself."
Pacquiao wasn't immediately available Monday.
His promoter Bob Arum declined to discuss the beginning of negotiations, and said he's urging those around his company to keep quiet publicly.
"The one way this will be upset and not happen if it is negotiated through the newspapers," Arum told The Times Monday. "All I want to say is that my guy [Pacquiao] has said, 'We're here, we're ready to fight Mayweather.' "
So there you go.
Arum added he was deluged Monday by more interest from suitors looking to host the fight, including officials from the new New York Giants/Jets stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, the City of New Orleans, and Las Vegas authorities pitching the construction of a 30,000-seat outdoor facility.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
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Pacquiao live at Mandalay Bay post-fight concert (video)
By Paula Duffy, Examiner.com
In this four minute video clip of the Manny Pacquiao concert he is seen running the gamut from upbeat old rock n' roll to the ballad he sang on Jimmy Kimmel.
With a set that began with Ritchie Valens' classic, "La Bamba" he then cruised through a Spanish language pop tune and finished with a duet of "Sometimes When We Touch".
His back-up singer's harmonic voice gave the song the touch it was missing when he crooned alone at the mic during a pre-fight appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel late night show.
His face was bandaged after taking quite a few blows from the warrior named Miguel Cotto, but he showed no signs of wear and tear as he jumped around on stage in great spirits.
This one is for all of you who voted with your comments in my previous article about wanting post-fight coverage by "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto".
Enjoy the snippet of video and realize that it is a rare athlete who took punishment as he did that would be kicking up his heels on a concert stage.
In this four minute video clip of the Manny Pacquiao concert he is seen running the gamut from upbeat old rock n' roll to the ballad he sang on Jimmy Kimmel.
With a set that began with Ritchie Valens' classic, "La Bamba" he then cruised through a Spanish language pop tune and finished with a duet of "Sometimes When We Touch".
His back-up singer's harmonic voice gave the song the touch it was missing when he crooned alone at the mic during a pre-fight appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel late night show.
His face was bandaged after taking quite a few blows from the warrior named Miguel Cotto, but he showed no signs of wear and tear as he jumped around on stage in great spirits.
This one is for all of you who voted with your comments in my previous article about wanting post-fight coverage by "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto".
Enjoy the snippet of video and realize that it is a rare athlete who took punishment as he did that would be kicking up his heels on a concert stage.
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‘A damn good resume’
By Marshall N. B., Boxing News World
Manny Pacquiao’s recent one-sided victory over tough Miguel Cotto cemented his stature and without a doubt placed him alongside boxing greats Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
The question now is: Where does Manny stand with these boxing greats?
I asked highly regarded boxing historian and author Adam Pollack where would he place Manny on the all-time pound-for-pound rankings. Here’s what he had to say.
Not sure where I'd place Pacquiao on the all-time pound for pound rankings, but he certainly deserves a place amongst the best all time. Victories over world champions all the way from 112 up to 147 is highly significant, especially since he's not only defeated a high caliber of opponent, but also because he's done it in good fashion:
1998 KO8 Chatchai Sasakul (who was 33-1 and had avenged his lone loss), for the WBC flyweight 112-pound title. Sasakul didn't lose again until 2005, and he had started boxing as a pro in 1991.
Manny goes all the way up to 122 in late 1999 and defeats guys like 41-5 Raynante Jamili, 23-0 Seung-Kon Chae, 19-0 Nedal Hussein, 41-3 Wethya Sakmuangklang, all by KO. Impressively stops 33-1-1 Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight title, defends with KOs over 44-3 Jorge Julio and 37-2 Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym, and others.
Moves up again. 2003 KO11 over 57-3 Marco Antonio Barerra, THE best 126-pound featherweight in the world and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at that time. Prior to that fight, Barerra had recent victories over Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia, and Kevin Kelley.
Defends with a 2004 D12 against 42-2 Juan Manuel Marquez, a heck of a featherweight in his own right, dropping Marquez three times in the 1st round. Marquez had victories over Manuel Medina, Robbie Peden, and Derrick Gainer.
In 2005, he moved up in weight yet again, to 130, and lost a decision to 47-2 world champion Erik Morales, but came back to twice KO Morales with impressive performances. Morales' career included victories over Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, Barerra, Kevin Kelley, Guty Espadas, Jr., Paulie Ayala, Jesus Chavez, and Carlos Hernandez.
Manny again defeats Barrera, and narrowly defeats Marquez in a rematch (dropping him agian in the process). Marquez was coming off victories over Barerra and Rocky Juarez. In Marquez's next two fights, he KOs both Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz.
In 2008, Pac moves up in weight to 135 and KOs 34-1-1 David Diaz. That's his first and only fight at lightweight.
Yet, in his very next fight in 2008, he moves all the way up to 145 to take on 39-5 Oscar de la Hoya, who in 07 had lost a split decision to Mayweather. Pac not only defeats him, but hands him a beating and stops him in 8 rounds.
Next stop, 2009 fight at 140 against 45-1 Ricky Hatton, whose best weight was 140, who was undefeated at 140. Hatton had victories over Pendleton, Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie, Kostya Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango, and Jose Luis Castillo. After losing to Mayweather at 147 via 10th round stoppage, Hatton had victories over Lazcano and Malignaggi. Pac blows through Hatton in 2 rounds.
Next fight in 09 against 34-1 Miguel Cotto at 145. Cotto's resume included many top fighters and former champions, including Cesar Bazan, Carlos Maussa, Randall Bailey, DeMarcus Corley, Ricardo Torres, Paulie Malignaggi, Carlos Quintana (who subsequently split two bouts with Paul Wililiams), Zab Judah, Shane Mosley (who subsequently beat Mayorga and KO’d Margarito). Although Cotto lost to Margarito, questions remained regarding whether Margarito had some help via illegal handwraps. Cotto had won two comeback fights, over 34-1 Jennings and 35-2 Josh Clottey, a strong and durable fighter who held victories over Corrales and Judah, and had lost a close decision to Margarito. Pac drops Cotto twice and dominates him.
I'd say that was a damn good resume.
***
Adam Pollack is a prolific boxing historian and author. He is also a practicing criminal defense attorney in Iowa City, IA. He is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com, chair of USA Boxing's Rules and Regulations Committtee, chair of USA Boxing's Judicial Committee and a member of its Women's Task Force. He is also a boxing coach for the ICOR (Iowa City/Coralville) Boxing Club and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.
To date, Adam has published four books, John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, In the Ring With James J. Corbett, In The Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons, and his latest publication, In the Ring With James J. Jeffries.
With his win against Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao chiseled his name alongside all-time boxing greats
Manny Pacquiao’s recent one-sided victory over tough Miguel Cotto cemented his stature and without a doubt placed him alongside boxing greats Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
The question now is: Where does Manny stand with these boxing greats?
I asked highly regarded boxing historian and author Adam Pollack where would he place Manny on the all-time pound-for-pound rankings. Here’s what he had to say.
Not sure where I'd place Pacquiao on the all-time pound for pound rankings, but he certainly deserves a place amongst the best all time. Victories over world champions all the way from 112 up to 147 is highly significant, especially since he's not only defeated a high caliber of opponent, but also because he's done it in good fashion:
1998 KO8 Chatchai Sasakul (who was 33-1 and had avenged his lone loss), for the WBC flyweight 112-pound title. Sasakul didn't lose again until 2005, and he had started boxing as a pro in 1991.
Manny goes all the way up to 122 in late 1999 and defeats guys like 41-5 Raynante Jamili, 23-0 Seung-Kon Chae, 19-0 Nedal Hussein, 41-3 Wethya Sakmuangklang, all by KO. Impressively stops 33-1-1 Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight title, defends with KOs over 44-3 Jorge Julio and 37-2 Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym, and others.
Moves up again. 2003 KO11 over 57-3 Marco Antonio Barerra, THE best 126-pound featherweight in the world and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at that time. Prior to that fight, Barerra had recent victories over Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia, and Kevin Kelley.
Defends with a 2004 D12 against 42-2 Juan Manuel Marquez, a heck of a featherweight in his own right, dropping Marquez three times in the 1st round. Marquez had victories over Manuel Medina, Robbie Peden, and Derrick Gainer.
In 2005, he moved up in weight yet again, to 130, and lost a decision to 47-2 world champion Erik Morales, but came back to twice KO Morales with impressive performances. Morales' career included victories over Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, Barerra, Kevin Kelley, Guty Espadas, Jr., Paulie Ayala, Jesus Chavez, and Carlos Hernandez.
Manny again defeats Barrera, and narrowly defeats Marquez in a rematch (dropping him agian in the process). Marquez was coming off victories over Barerra and Rocky Juarez. In Marquez's next two fights, he KOs both Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz.
In 2008, Pac moves up in weight to 135 and KOs 34-1-1 David Diaz. That's his first and only fight at lightweight.
Yet, in his very next fight in 2008, he moves all the way up to 145 to take on 39-5 Oscar de la Hoya, who in 07 had lost a split decision to Mayweather. Pac not only defeats him, but hands him a beating and stops him in 8 rounds.
Next stop, 2009 fight at 140 against 45-1 Ricky Hatton, whose best weight was 140, who was undefeated at 140. Hatton had victories over Pendleton, Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie, Kostya Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango, and Jose Luis Castillo. After losing to Mayweather at 147 via 10th round stoppage, Hatton had victories over Lazcano and Malignaggi. Pac blows through Hatton in 2 rounds.
Next fight in 09 against 34-1 Miguel Cotto at 145. Cotto's resume included many top fighters and former champions, including Cesar Bazan, Carlos Maussa, Randall Bailey, DeMarcus Corley, Ricardo Torres, Paulie Malignaggi, Carlos Quintana (who subsequently split two bouts with Paul Wililiams), Zab Judah, Shane Mosley (who subsequently beat Mayorga and KO’d Margarito). Although Cotto lost to Margarito, questions remained regarding whether Margarito had some help via illegal handwraps. Cotto had won two comeback fights, over 34-1 Jennings and 35-2 Josh Clottey, a strong and durable fighter who held victories over Corrales and Judah, and had lost a close decision to Margarito. Pac drops Cotto twice and dominates him.
I'd say that was a damn good resume.
***
Adam Pollack is a prolific boxing historian and author. He is also a practicing criminal defense attorney in Iowa City, IA. He is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com, chair of USA Boxing's Rules and Regulations Committtee, chair of USA Boxing's Judicial Committee and a member of its Women's Task Force. He is also a boxing coach for the ICOR (Iowa City/Coralville) Boxing Club and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.
To date, Adam has published four books, John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, In the Ring With James J. Corbett, In The Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons, and his latest publication, In the Ring With James J. Jeffries.
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