Is Manny Pacquiao unbeatable? -- Examiner

By Edward Castro, Examiner.com

It is safe, even fair, these days to question the superiority of Manny Pacquiao?

After all he is one of the most popular professional athletes on the planet.

And he is perhaps just one fight – a win over Floyd Mayweather – away from boxing immortality.

Or is he?

Let’s take a look at the quality of his opposition.

In next month’s bout he takes on Antonio Margarito, who was last seen in the ring having his lunch handed to him by Shane Mosley.

Before that Pacquiao faced Miguel Cotto, whose previous bout was a knockout loss to Margarito.

Pacquiao destroyed Ricky Hatton, who, just a year earlier, was schooled by Mayweather.

Pacquiao took on Oscar De La Hoya, who had lost three of his last previous bouts.

And there are his bouts with Mexican superstars Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. Pacquiao was forced to settle for a 12-round draw against Marquez and faced shot fighters in both Barrera and Morales.

And then there are the knockouts. Yes, Pacquiao has been knocked out twice. TWICE.

Sure, Pacquiao was just a kid when he suffered these defeats. The first was a KO loss to Rustico Torrecampo back in 1996 and the other was in 1999 at the hands of Medgoen Singsurat. Both were knockout losses, both arriving in the third round. And both were caused by body punches.

Floyd Mayweather has never been knocked out.

Just food for thought.

Source: examiner.com