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Pacquiao vs Valero- Who's the More Powerful Puncher?
The Showdown 06.18.09: Valero vs. Pacquiao -
Who's the More Powerful Puncher?
Posted by Patrick Cassidy on 06.18.2009
Two of the strongest in the game slug it out for superiority, who will come out on top?
Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero
It is time once again for another Showdown, the column dedicated to having two opponents of any category slug it out for superiority. Last time we had the welterweight division take on the lightweight division to see which one was the best weight class in boxing. This week we have Manny Pacquiao and Edwin Valero shooting it out to decide just who the bigger puncher is. As always we'll list the pros and cons of both men and then determine a winner.
So let's get into it…
Manny Pacquiao
Pros: He didn't get to the number 1 spot on the lb for lb list by fighting tomato cans. Manny has consistently fought and beaten the world's best opposition, and often with explosive results. De La Hoya, Barrera, Hatton, Morales, Diaz, and many others have felt the crushing power that lies within the Pacman. The list of those that he's knocked out or retired is a who's who of power makers within the sport and shows the power that lies within. The explosiveness he possesses is reminiscent of a pitbull who is short in stature but overwhelms you with the speed and viciousness of his attack. It's something you can not stop but only mitigate and that is what makes him so dangerous.
Cons: Aside from his last outing (and most explosive), he normally wears his opponents down rather than blowing them out early on which can lead to the belief that the destruction he has put upon his opponents has more to do with his output rather than his power. Besides the Hatton fight, which he timed Hatton with a picture perfect shot, he rarely takes a fighter out in the first half of the fight. The only other fight where he was able to eliminate his opponent early was against a faded Erik Morales in 2006 during their final fight.
The early knockouts he does have, has come against mostly local opposition who were not the world class fighters that he would eventually face. This certainly would lead one to believe Manny is not necessarily powerful but rather just too much for his opponents. I would tend to believe this argument, though that's not to say Manny is not one of the hardest punchers in the sport, he just not may be the best.
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Edwin Valero
Pros: This Venezuelan sensation may be an unknown commodity to anyone outside the Hardcore fight fan circle but you can take our word for it that he is the epitome of destruction when he is in that ring. Just look at the fact that the two time champion has never actually seen the 11th and 12th rounds or the fact that his first 18 opponents never made it out of the first round with this monster of a man. It appears too he's only getting better as a boxer which could make him a real threat to anyone in the world including Manny Pacquiao if he can build a respectable defense. He's still very raw but what he possesses in those gloves can put any fighter in the world on their back.
Cons: For as unknown as Valero is to many casual fans, his opponents have been even worse and for good reason. He's just not fought the true best there is to fight and that has a lot to do with the ban that was placed upon him within the US that has only recently been rescinded by the Texas state athletic commission with more to possibly come. However, we just don't know what is going to happen when he gets in there with a real contender. He got close with the very tough Antonio Pitalua who he finished within two. But Pitalua was 39 and had compiled his 45 wins off of mostly pedestrian competition (although he had beaten former title holder Jose Santa Cruz).
So until we can see Valero in with a strong chinned fighter who poses a threat to him, it will be hard to truly gauge what those hands can actually do.
The Result
Pacquiao shows the power
Now that we've hashed out the comings and short comings of the two fighters we now are left with a very hard decision. I truly think Valero is the stronger puncher of the two but it's just so hard to go against a guy who has knocked out some real legends of the sport. It's kind of like the argument of comparing a Negro League Legend to that of a Major League Legend. We just don't know because they were never on a level playing field. So until Valero gets the opportunity to shine I'm going to have to give the nod to Manny Pacquiao based off his resume of work in a very close decision.
Stay tuned for next week when we match Cotto vs. Mosley over who would make the better opponent for Pacquiao. Also, if you have any suggestions for future match ups, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email with your suggestions.
Until then, see ya next week.
Who's the More Powerful Puncher?
Posted by Patrick Cassidy on 06.18.2009
Two of the strongest in the game slug it out for superiority, who will come out on top?
Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero
It is time once again for another Showdown, the column dedicated to having two opponents of any category slug it out for superiority. Last time we had the welterweight division take on the lightweight division to see which one was the best weight class in boxing. This week we have Manny Pacquiao and Edwin Valero shooting it out to decide just who the bigger puncher is. As always we'll list the pros and cons of both men and then determine a winner.
So let's get into it…
Manny Pacquiao
Pros: He didn't get to the number 1 spot on the lb for lb list by fighting tomato cans. Manny has consistently fought and beaten the world's best opposition, and often with explosive results. De La Hoya, Barrera, Hatton, Morales, Diaz, and many others have felt the crushing power that lies within the Pacman. The list of those that he's knocked out or retired is a who's who of power makers within the sport and shows the power that lies within. The explosiveness he possesses is reminiscent of a pitbull who is short in stature but overwhelms you with the speed and viciousness of his attack. It's something you can not stop but only mitigate and that is what makes him so dangerous.
Cons: Aside from his last outing (and most explosive), he normally wears his opponents down rather than blowing them out early on which can lead to the belief that the destruction he has put upon his opponents has more to do with his output rather than his power. Besides the Hatton fight, which he timed Hatton with a picture perfect shot, he rarely takes a fighter out in the first half of the fight. The only other fight where he was able to eliminate his opponent early was against a faded Erik Morales in 2006 during their final fight.
The early knockouts he does have, has come against mostly local opposition who were not the world class fighters that he would eventually face. This certainly would lead one to believe Manny is not necessarily powerful but rather just too much for his opponents. I would tend to believe this argument, though that's not to say Manny is not one of the hardest punchers in the sport, he just not may be the best.
-----------------------------------------------
Edwin Valero
Pros: This Venezuelan sensation may be an unknown commodity to anyone outside the Hardcore fight fan circle but you can take our word for it that he is the epitome of destruction when he is in that ring. Just look at the fact that the two time champion has never actually seen the 11th and 12th rounds or the fact that his first 18 opponents never made it out of the first round with this monster of a man. It appears too he's only getting better as a boxer which could make him a real threat to anyone in the world including Manny Pacquiao if he can build a respectable defense. He's still very raw but what he possesses in those gloves can put any fighter in the world on their back.
Cons: For as unknown as Valero is to many casual fans, his opponents have been even worse and for good reason. He's just not fought the true best there is to fight and that has a lot to do with the ban that was placed upon him within the US that has only recently been rescinded by the Texas state athletic commission with more to possibly come. However, we just don't know what is going to happen when he gets in there with a real contender. He got close with the very tough Antonio Pitalua who he finished within two. But Pitalua was 39 and had compiled his 45 wins off of mostly pedestrian competition (although he had beaten former title holder Jose Santa Cruz).
So until we can see Valero in with a strong chinned fighter who poses a threat to him, it will be hard to truly gauge what those hands can actually do.
The Result
Pacquiao shows the power
Now that we've hashed out the comings and short comings of the two fighters we now are left with a very hard decision. I truly think Valero is the stronger puncher of the two but it's just so hard to go against a guy who has knocked out some real legends of the sport. It's kind of like the argument of comparing a Negro League Legend to that of a Major League Legend. We just don't know because they were never on a level playing field. So until Valero gets the opportunity to shine I'm going to have to give the nod to Manny Pacquiao based off his resume of work in a very close decision.
Stay tuned for next week when we match Cotto vs. Mosley over who would make the better opponent for Pacquiao. Also, if you have any suggestions for future match ups, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email with your suggestions.
Until then, see ya next week.
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