Manny Pacquiao: Has He Sold Out ? and Is He Really The Best Pound For Pound?

[Addition]

everyone is entitled to their own opinions
margarito p4p numba 1 yeaah

Why am I not suprised?

I need my head examined then.

So who's your P4P no.1?

[Boofdatruth]

I CAME ACROSS THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSING PACQUIAO AND THE AUTHOR BROUGHT UP SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS. HERE CHECK IT OUT AND COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK.


25.08.08 - By Michael Herron: It seems everyone has bought into Larry Merchant and HBO's insistence that Pacquiao is the best pound for pound (P4P) fighter in boxing. Yes, Pac is an exciting fighter but are his accomplishments and performances in the ring really up to P4P standards? His claim to the top spot, in my opinion, is largely based on his wins over Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Truth is, only his first fight with Barrera is representative of a top P4P fighter performance; which I will describe as beating the best while they are the best. Let’s not forget he lost his first fight with Morales and only beat him after he lost to Raheem. By the time of the rematch Morales was a shot fighter, and the third fight was just unnecessary. In addition, let me add that the Barrera rematch was also unnecessary as Barrera at that time was also far past his prime.

Looking closer at Pacquiao it seems that whenever he has a not so great performance in the ring, his next fight is usually against an opponent that will make him look good.. After his draw with Marquez, he went and beat up on Fahsan 3K battery; after his loss to Morales, he was matched against an average Hector Velasquez; and finally, after his controversial rematch with Marquez, he faced a mild threat against David Diaz. The point of the soft touches is to keep our friend Larry Merchant, HBO, and Pacquiao’s voracious fan base convinced that “Pacman” is the best.

The biggest problem is that a top pound for pound fighter should be able to distinguish himself as the best fighter in and around his natural weight class. After two controversial fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has not proven that he is the better fighter. Many fans, scribes, and boxing analysis agree that Marquez should be 2-0 against Pacquiao. This, in my opinion, is a glaring inconsistency.

The most recent pound for pound champion, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has often been criticized for his performance in his first fight with Castillo. To solidify his status, however, he immediately rematches Castillo and beat him convincingly. Pacquiao, on the other hand, seems to get a free pass from critics even though he has not beaten Marquez convincingly! So the question is, why is/was Mayweather’s first fight with Castillo constantly brought up in regards to casting doubt toward his pound for pound standings, yet these same critics are willing to disregard Pacquiao’s poor outings versus Marquez?

And finally in this pound for pound argument, how can the boxing world ignore the fact that Pacquiao has feasted on Mexican fighters who by culture and tradition tend to fight in the same style? Pacquiao, it must be stated, has beaten no top American fighters and has squared off with no pure boxers; in particular, "Black" fighters--Latin, African, or American. Names that immediately come to mind are Joan Guzman, Nate Campbell, Joel Casamayor, Zahir Raheem, and even Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

So to end this argument, I'll give Pacquiao credit as the pound for pound most exciting fighter in boxing, but definitely not the pound for pound best fighter. Now I wouldn't say Marquez is the best pound for pound but as far as skills are concerned he should be rated higher than Pacquiao; and if he beats Casamayor, it will confirm it for me. My suggestion is that the top pound for pound spot remain vacant unless a true pound for pound fighter emerges or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. returns triumphantly to the sport.

The opinions in this article are right on point. But if Bigpop says it wasn't published by boxingscene I can only say great opinion, not great article Does that make sense, or do I have to say it another way? lol

[Boofdatruth]

Why am I not suprised?



So who's your P4P no.1?

Joe Calzaghe

[fightingfigs]

The opinions in this article are right on point. But if Bigpop says it wasn't published by boxingscene I can only say great opinion, not great article Does that make sense, or do I have to say it another way? lol

Ys Pacquiao is number 1

[Chups]

Man, I'm about to tear this post to pieces lol. PAc was stopped early in his career not once, but twice. He lost to a Morales who was not even Morales, but a flash of himself. He beat up a Barrera who didn't fight back, and Barrera looked better in their rematch. Did Pac beat Marquez in his last fight? I'm not so sure. I'll give you the first fight even though it wa a draw. Naw, I take that back. You guys name Sasakul as this great fighter PAc beat lol, and you know nothing about him. Guys here googled him lol.

?? I have no idea why you brought up Barrera backing up against Pacquiao when it clearly justifies why Pac is P4P number 1. "A great fighter like Barrera gets backed up by a 4 to 1 underdog not in the P4P list." Barrera was at number 4 at that time....after the fight, Pacquiao was catapulted to number 8. Barrera didn't look better in the rematch...what he looked like is a *****, period.

Last time I heard Pacquiao won a split decision against the P4P #5 Marquez, just as Calzaghe won a split decision against Hopkins.

You're in no position to belittle Sasakul because you are not Asian. Asian fighters are not popular in the U.S. There are many great fighters in Asia who would easily beat American legends but didn't get to because of lack of exposure. Pacquiao wouldn't have if not for Murad Muhammad and Co. who are U.S. based promoters. I wouldn't say Sasakul is great but he was a Champion and a legend in Thailand. Pac was the underdog in that fight.

Cal HAS NOT LOST, and he has faced stiff comp like Eubank, Reid, Sheika, Brewer, Mitchell, Lacy, Bika, Kessler and old Hop. Cal probably looked bad in about 2 maybe 3 fights his while career AND HE STILL WON. You can put up those past prime names and wins over Barrera, Morales, and the rematch of a 34 year old Marquez. PAc did not face them in THEIR prime.

Who are those? LOL!! Sorry man....I only know Lacy and old Hop. (and maybe Kessler) They're gonna be forgotten, HOF wouldn't even mention thier name except for Hop.
An Old Hop would have beaten all those you mentioned even when they were at thier primes. This shows you that a past prime legend carries more weight than prime regular fighters.





** I give you this boof, It's OK that you're questioning the P4P number one and comparing him to the P4P number 2. It's been done before when Hopkins was number one (Many thought Floyd should be) and when Floyd was number one (Many thought Pacquiao should be). Now it's Pacquiao turn to get his position challenged by the number two.


Peace.

[Addition]

Joe Calzaghe

Pac has fought better opponents (Barrera & Morales) and beaten them. Zag notable wins are against Kessler, Lacy and an ageing Hopkins, how should he be ahead of Pac.

[Boofdatruth]

?? I have no idea why you brought up Barrera backing up against Pacquiao when it clearly justifies why Pac is P4P number 1.


What in the heck are you even talking about???

[Boofdatruth]

Belittle Sassakul? Look, If you aren't going to read what I'm posting lets end the argument lol. The mainstream doesn't know how good this guy is. He is unknown, and guys are listing him and probably haven't seen him fight. Don't talk to me about who would've beat who when talking about the Asian fighter who could not come here, I deal with facts. This right here that I underlined below was so funny to read lol.

Who are those? LOL!! Sorry man....I only know Lacy and old Hop. (and maybe Kessler) They're gonna be forgotten, HOF wouldn't even mention thier name except for Hop.
An Old Hop would have beaten all those you mentioned even when they were at thier primes. This shows you that a past prime legend carries more weight than prime regular fighters.

I'm not questioning why PAc is number 1. He ISN'T number 1 in my book. PAc is a fine fighter. Outside of the big 3 who has he beaten that compare to who Cal beat? lol. Who are the prime fighters that PAc beat?

[Boofdatruth]

Pac has fought better opponents (Barrera & Morales) and beaten them. Zag notable wins are against Kessler, Lacy and an ageing Hopkins, how should he be ahead of Pac.

No, he hasn't fought better opponents. He fought the bigger names, but overall, he has not beaten the better comp between the two sorry.

[joseph5620]

Joe Calzaghe

That's my pick for number 1. Calzaghe is unbeaten. Pac is not.