by Cliff Rold

On May 2, 2015, boxing will finally have its Super Bowl.  After five long years of he said-he said, it’s finally here.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao for the Welterweight Championship of the World.

But what if the road didn’t really begin at the negotiating table in late 2009?  What if this collision course began just months apart, before anyone could have predicted this finish line?

In the second half of 1998, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao each won their first major titles and have stayed in or near the championship ranks for almost two decades since. The seeds of a showdown were planted then. They are blossoming now in what will be, even adjusted for inflation, the most profitable and maybe even most watched prizefight ever.

Over the course of this series, we take a look back at the championship years of each man, beginning with each of his first title wins and working our way towards May 2nd.  Their development, historical achievements, highs and lows will be reviewed fight by fight with an eye towards the context of each contest.

Where were they in their careers? Using various ratings and historical resources as reference, how were they and each of their opponents regarded at the time of the fights? At the end, a comprehensive statistical review of each man will culminate in a final preview and prediction for the fight itself.

This is Mayweather-Pacquiao: 17 Years to a Superfight.

To set the table, let’s begin with a look at the prizes on the line beyond the dollar signs.

What They Are Fighting For

The winner will have the bragging rights of a generation. A rematch or two seems unlikely given how long it took to get them together once. There is every reason to believe this is winner take all. This fight will likely ensure one man a lasting place in the all-time pantheon of the top ten to twenty prizefighters of all time. It might remove the other from the equation.

There will be plenty of hardware up for grabs.  Mayweather enters the WBC and WBA beltholder at Welterweight, Pacquiao the WBO. Someone is going to need both shoulders and a waist when the final bell sounds.

Beyond a place in boxing’s mythical pantheon, there are also tangible historical accomplishments possible.

The match pits the only two men in history to capture lineal crowns in four different weight divisions.  Pacquiao did it first at Flyweight, Featherweight, Jr. Lightweight, and Jr. Welterweight. Mayweather matched the feat in 2014, adding the historical Jr. Middleweight rights to Jr. Lightweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight. 

Combining lineal crowns with sanctioning division belts, Pacquiao’s overall total is titles in eight divisions with additional belts at Jr. Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, and Jr. Middleweight. Pacquiao did not win a WBC, WBA, IBF, or WBO belt at 126 or 140 lbs. Mayweather totals five with an additional belt at Jr. Welterweight. Mayweather held a major sanctioning body title in each of the divisions where he has reigned.

Whether one sees Mayweather as the lineal king at 147 lbs. entering the Pacquiao fight or not (and there can be some dispute), they are the consensus top two Welterweights in the world right now. The winner will be the indisputable king when this is over.

If that winner is Pacquiao, he will have broken the lineal tie with Mayweather, against the man who matched his feat. It took until 2009 for one man to capture history’s crown in four weight divisions. If Pacquiao can reset the bar to five, it’s anyone’s guess how long that record may stand.

In addition, Pacquiao will be attempting to be the third man to win title in three of what are often referred to as the “Original Eight” weight classes.  Bob Fitzsimmons won the Middleweight, Heavyweight, and Light Heavyweight titles in the early days of the Marquis of Queensbury Rules.  Henry Armstrong simultaneously held the Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight crowns in the 1930s.

Pacquiao could match and even better their totals with a win over Mayweather. If he can defeat Mayweather, he’ll have added Welterweight to Flyweight and Featherweight while skipping over Bantamweight and Lightweight, a span of five of the “Original Eight.”

Floyd Mayweather can stop all of that potential history in its tracks.

Prologue: Before They Were Champions

Pacquiao was the first of the two to turn professional, beginning his career with a four-round decision over Edmund Ignacio on January 25, 1995 as a 16-year old Jr. Flyweight.  Pacquiao’s lone pre-title career loss came under odd circumstances in his twelfth start in February 1996. In the third round, opponent Rustico Torrecampo landed what appeared to be headbutt and low blow at the same time. The referee ruled a knockdown and Pacquiao was counted out.

Pacquiao rebounded with twelve straight wins, the most impressive a knockout of 34-2 Thai veteran Chokchai Chockvivat to earn his first title opportunity.

Mayweather turned professional with a second-round stoppage of Roberto Apodaca on October 11, 1996. Mayweather was just months removed from a Featherweight Bronze Medal at the Atlanta Olympics. He defeated then future two-time World Amateur Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Lorenzo Aragon before an untimely exit. Mayweather’s one-point loss to Bulgaria’s Serafim Todorov was highly controversial. It was the last time anyone had their hand raised against Mayweather in a boxing ring.

The Olympics were the culmination of a stellar amateur career for Mayweather that saw him win major tournaments from Light Flyweight to Featherweight from 1993-96. Mayweather wasted little time working his way through the preliminary portion of his paid tenure, winning twice in 1996, ten times in 1997, and five times in 1998 to earn his first title shot. Wins over veterans Louie Leija, Hector Arroyo, and Tony Pep stood out.

Then Mayweather challenged one of the most accomplished Jr. Lightweights of all time. 

1998: The Title Years Begin

October 3, 1998
Genaro Hernandez (38-1-1, 17 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (17-0, 13 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: The late Hernandez was attempting his fourth defense of his second reign as a Jr. Lightweight champion.  He had previously held the WBA title from 1991-94, making eight defenses before vacating to challenge Oscar De La Hoya for the WBO Lightweight belt in 1995. Hernandez was stopped by De La Hoya in six, his only loss, and had never been defeated at 130 lbs.

Mayweather entered having just gone ten rounds for the first time two fights prior.  He was sublime on the night. His speed and defense built a strong early lead. In round seven, Mayweather showed off the substance beneath the obvious talent.  A desperate Hernandez brought the fight to Floyd to save his title. Mayweather met him in the trenches, taking some good shots and landing more of his own. In the eighth round, Hernandez again came out strong. Over the course of three minutes, Mayweather took violent control. Hernandez never went down but the fight was beaten out of him.  Hernandez retired on the stool before round nine. He never fought again.

Floyd Mayweather, 21-years old and just short of two years into his professional career, had his first major sanctioning body title and his first historical crown.

Historical Note: Online historical resource the Cyber Boxing Zone recognizes Genaro Hernandez as the rightful lineal champion entering the Mayweather fight. CBZ traces the beginning of that lineage to Azumah Nelson’s win over Jesse James Leija in 1996. Hernandez defeated Nelson in 1997 and was a first-time addition to the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballot in 2014.

Using Ring as a barometer, Nelson’s claim could as easily be traced to his 1992 rematch with Jeff Fenech. Fenech entered that bout rated number one, Nelson number two. Over the course of his reign at 130 lbs., Mayweather would further strengthen his claim to the historical crown, winning two fights featuring Ring’s #1 and #2 contenders, the first of those in his very next fight.

Outcome: Mayweather RTD8 Hernandez
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 1-0, 1 KO

December 4, 1998
Chatchai Sasakul (33-1, 24 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Manny Pacquiao (23-1, 14 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Sasakul entered having won 13 in a row with two defenses since upsetting undefeated Yuri Arbachakov for the title in 1997. The title win avenged the lone loss of Sasakul’s career. In his first attempt at the title in 1995, Sasakul lost a decision to Arbachakov. 

Pacquiao entered off two consecutive first-round knockouts and, at 5’6 ½ to Sasakul’s 5’2 ½, looked the much larger man in the ring. From the outset, it was clear Pacquiao’s left hand could hurt Sasakul, backing him up whenever it landed. Pacquiao’s struggle was landing it consistently. This wasn’t the Pacquiao fans are used to seeing now. There was speed there but little head movement. His feet were quick but often off balance. His combination punching ability was unrefined.

The smaller man boxed well, staying inside Pacquiao’s big swings, landing deft counters, and making the less experienced man chase. A case could be had for Sasakul winning every round. Pacquiao entered the eighth shut out on one card and down 6-1 and 5-2 on the others.

Late in the eighth, Pacquiao finally found the home run he was looking for. A left at center ring buckled Sasakul, who backed to the ropes looking for his balance. Pacquiao patiently came forward, jabbing and just missing full contact on left uppercut. A final straight left sent Sasakul to the floor. The champion tried to rise but could not, rolling to his back as the referee counted ten.

Manny Pacquiao, just weeks shy of his 20th birthday, had his first major belt and first lineal crown.

Historical Note: The lineal and WBC Flyweight titles have been in synch since 1975. It continues as the longest active lineage in boxing today. Miguel Canto and Shoji Oguma were the top two contenders for the vacant WBC and Ring Magazine honors when Canto won a decision over Oguma in January 1975. Canto’s claim to the historical crown was further crystallized in 1978 when rival Betulio Gonzalez won the WBA crown from Guty Espadas. Canto successfully defended his title against Gonzalez in May 1975 and October 1976.     

Outcome: Pacquiao KO8 Sasakul
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 1-0, 1 KO

December 19, 1998
Floyd Mayweather (18-0, 14 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Angel Manfredy (25-2-1, Ring Magazine #2)

Mayweather picked arguably the toughest assignment in the division for his first title defense.  Manfredy came into the fight unbeaten since his fifth professional fight in 1994.  Wins over Jorge Paez, Arturo Gatti, and John Brown gave him confidence and he was viewed as a legitimate test for Mayweather.

Mayweather passed the test with flying colors.  Beating Manfredy to the punch, he controlled the first round. Manfredy attempted to step up his game in the second and was getting into the fight, attacking with lead rights when he couldn’t establish the jab. Countering off the ropes in the final minute, Mayweather wobbled Manfredy with a clean right. Manfredy went to the ropes and Mayweather unleashed a fusillade of body shots, uppercuts, and sweeping rights and lefts to the head. Manfredy offered nothing in return and the fight was halted with thirteen seconds remaining in the round.

Historical Note: Mayweather’s first successful defense ended a 7-0 campaign in 1998 and earned him his first Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year honor. If there were any doubts about who the new man at 130 lbs. was, Mayweather answered them with this decisive win. Fighter of the Year was split with the BWAA naming then-Lightweight titlist Shane Mosley. It would not be the last time the names Mayweather and Mosley were linked.

Outcome: Mayweather TKO2 Manfredy
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 2-0, 2 KO

To be continued…               

Research Note: Records compiled with the use of www.boxrec.com

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com