He puts on the kind of exciting performances that make people take note and he certainly has the public support and positive publicity to become an even bigger star, but as Manny Pacquiao achieves yet another milestone with his blow-out against Miguel Cotto this past Saturday, the call to place him among boxing’s all-time greats is louder than ever.
Now that the standing ovation has settled down, we can take a closer look at where Manny stands in history by looking at how his career holds up amongst his peers.
As a frame of reference, we’ll take a look at Pacquiao’s career compared to the previous Big Man on Campus, Oscar De la Hoya. We’ll look at Manny as compared to Oscar in the area of major championship bouts and title reigns, with a breakdown of titles, defenses and attempts at unification:
Manny Pacquiao
Championships
Flyweight- Beat Chatchai Sasakul
defenses- 1 (Gabriel Mira)
Super Bantamweight- Beat Lehlohonolo Ledwaba
unifications 1- (draw w Agapito Sanchez)
defenses- 4 (Jorge Julio, F. Rakkiatgym, Emmanuel Lucero, Draw with A. Sanchez)
Super Featherweight- Beat Juan Manuel Marquez
defenses-0
Lightweight- Beat David Diaz
defenses- 0
Welterweight- Beat Miguel Cotto
defenses-0
Other notable opposition: Marco Antonio Barrera (2 wins), Ricky Hatton, Erik Morales (2-1), Oscar Larios
Record in officially recognized world title fights: 4-1-2
*It should be noted that, although not recognized as official world title bouts, Pacquiao beat lineal champs Barrera and Hatton at Featherweight and Jr. Welterweight respectively for the Ring Magazine title.
Oscar De la Hoya
Championships
Super Featherweight- Beat Jimmi Bredahl
defenses- 1 (Giorgio Campanella)
Lightweight- Beat Jorge Paez
unifications- 1 ( w over Rafael Ruelas)
defenses- 6 (Carl Griffith, John Avila, John Molina, R. Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, James Leija)
Jr Welterweight- Beat Julio Cesar Chavez
defenses -1 (Miguel Angel Gonzalez)
Welterweight- Beat Pernell Whitaker
unifications- 1 (L against Felix Trinidad)
defenses – 7 (David Kamau, Hector Camacho, Wilfredo Rivera, Patrick Charpentier, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ike Quartey, Oba Carr)
lost title to: Felix Trinidad
Jr. Middleweight- Beat Javier Castillejo
unifications- 1 (w over Fernando Vargas)
defenses- 3 (Fernando Vargas, Yory Boy Campas, Ricardo Mayorga)
lost title to: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Middleweight- Beat Felix Sturm
defenses- 0
lost title to: Bernard Hopkins
other notable opposition: Shane Mosley (2 Losses), Manny Pacquiao (L), Arturo Gatti
Record in officially recognized world title fights: 24-5
Summary
So, is Pacquiao ready to be tossed into the mix with names like Sugar Ray, Armstrong and Ali? The sober truth for the Pacquiao true-believers is “no.”
But he definitely stacks up with De la Hoya and that puts him at, or near, the top of modern day greats…and Manny still has a few fights left in him…Not bad for a skinny kid from the slums of General Santos City.
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if you could name one boxer who started at 106 lbs and end up at 145lbs being a champion at 7 division, i will try to kiss your ass…you are not in the league of bart sugar,emmanuel steward,teddy atlas and thomas hauser who thinks otherwise. you are a de la hoya ass kisser…WAKE UP DUDE !!!
I think you are pretty much spot on with your analysis. Although ranking fighters has always been very tough because of the “emotion” factor. I think as an all time great, Pacquiao still has a lot of proving to do although he may not be able to do it as retirement is looming ahead for him. But as the greatest boxer in the modern era, he might have a chance at that. Not bad for a malnourished kid from General Santos City.
A very pathetic perspective that ignores the more visible aspect of the Pacman’s uniqueness amongst boxing greats. But I am certain you’ll be converted to a believer on March 13, 2010 when the Pacman gobbles Floyd, chew into pieces and spit out dead flat into the canvass.
when to defend a title that no one knocks to contest??? you think 7 weight division is really that easy???? you have to kick the ass of the owner of the chair sitting in there. are YOU really that nuts of a writter???
correct dude ,,,, name a fighter that accomplished 7 weight division ,, defended or not 7 weight title is a history kid writter.
I think that Paul Magno is a Manny Pacquiao hater. He definitely finds a way to contest whatever Pacman achieved. Nevertheless, your strategy is very good compared to other writers. But I think you should do some of your assignments and research other issues that you are throwing to Mr. Manny. Just a warning to you because you might see yourself in the court with Mayweathers, Dela Hoya and Schaefer. Thanks and a Merry New Year!
Ah after reading some of you’re later blogs I see a trend…
JM Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, MA Barrera: See them in Canastota at the HOF.
Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, David Diaz: top 5 in their weight class at the time of their KO to Paquiao.
Since Ray Leonard has there been a fighter to put together that kind of roll call? Not Oscar. Not Money. Maybe Bernard Hopkins can speak up. Not Roy Jones. The man is at least the best of his generation, and therefore deserves to be mentioned in the all-time conversation.
When Pacquiao defeated de la Hoya, we knew he was really special to defeat someone else who was special and bigger, but we were quick to notice he could stand toe to toe and use his speed against the bigger guys. There is only one guy capable of matching this and that is Shane Mosley and nobody else. He is the only fighter capable of beating Manny not that impostor Floyd who will surely lose to Shane. Then the games can begin without the monkey man Floyd.