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Manny Pacquiao's Greatest Victories
Manny Pacquiao's Greatest Victories
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Posted By Avi "Shoefly" Korine 2:40 PM
Following Manny Pacquiao's recent destruction of Miguel Cotto now seems a good time to place his recent wins in context to his earlier career achievements. It was tough to narrow the list down, but here is a list, in descending order, of Pacquiao's five greatest victories, (with one honorable mention) based on his performance, the opposition, and the importance of the fight.
Honorable Mention:
Manny Pacquiao SD 12 Juan Manual Marquez 2008: Following a disputed draw years earlier, the long awaited rematch finally happens and proves as great, but ultimately as controversial, as the first fight. Manny squeezes out the split decision, winning a title in his fourth division, and a record tying third Ring Magazine belt. The difference is a beautiful short left hand in the third round that sends Marquez to the canvass. In some ways this was Pacquiao's greatest triumph, a victory over an opponent seemingly designed to exploit his weaknesses. Still, the disputed nature of the decision keeps it just out of the top five.
# Five:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 8 Oscar De La Hoya 2008: In a fight I thought was a farce Manny moves up two weight classes to welterweight (147 pounds) and proceeds to give the great De La Hoya a beating to remember. Though people now dismiss this fight, very few (myself included) were smart enough to foresee what would happen. Manny jumped an incredible seventeen pounds and three weight divisions in only two fights to take on the PPV king and left him dejected and embarrassed in his corner. Manny's amazing in-and-out attacks flummoxed De La Hoya, who had no answers for Pacquiao's supernatural speed. The consensus is that De La Hoya was weight drained beyond recognition, but I defy anyone to tell me the result would have been different if the De La Hoya of the Steve Forbes fight, only a few months earlier, had been in the ring. Manny looked phenomenal and this was the fight that really turned him into an international superstar.
# Four:
Manny Pacquiao KO 2 Ricky Hatton 2009: In an incredibly destructive and violent performance Manny crushed the long reigning junior welterweight champion in only the second round. While many expressed doubts over Ricky Hatton's quality as an elite prizefighter, no one was prepared for the sheer brutality of this win. Pacquiao showed his incredibly improved right hand in setting up the final, unforgettable left hand that left Hatton a quivering heap on the canvas. The victory gave Manny his record fourth Ring Magazine title.
# Three:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Erik Morales II 2006: Manny had lost their first matchup in a close decision, his efforts hampered by a badly cut left eye. In the rematch, almost equal to the dramatic first fight, Manny started to show a variety and completeness he never had before. Mixing in right hands and blistering combinations, Manny broke Morales down in the middle rounds with debilitating body shots, before becoming the first and only man to stop him. While many say that Morales was past his prime, and this is true, his fine performance suggests he was still a top fighter, and only the improved Pacquiao could have stopped him. The trilogy with the great Morales seems to have become a little overlooked following Manny's success in the higher weight classes, but it was this fight and stoppage victory over the Mexican legend that showed Pacquiao could get even better.
# Two:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 12 Miguel Cotto 2009: While Cotto might not measure up to some of Pacquiao's other legendary competition, he was the biggest and strongest man Pacquiao had ever set foot in the ring with. Many thought Pacquiao would be overpowered by the young champion in his fighting prime, but Pacquiao shredded Cotto's defense and beat him up in getting the mercy stoppage. Pacquiao again showed his evolution as a fighter, at times seeming to fight Cotto's fight just to prove that he could. The win gave Pacquiao a belt in his record seventh division and silenced those who thought his efforts in the higher weight divisions were aided by flawed opposition.
# One:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera 2003: In the defining performance of his career Manny savaged the Mexican star, at the time in the top three pound-for-pound, and announced his arrival as a major player in the sport. Manny captured the featherweight title, (126 pounds) and won his second Ring Belt. Barrera was already a superstar, having embarrassed the flashy Naseem Hamed, and split fights with his legendary rival Erik Morales. Manny fought with passion and desperation, shooting his money punch, the straight power left over and over again. Barrera, who one suspects had no idea what was coming, ate inhuman amounts of punishment before the fight was mercifully stopped. Never before or since have I seen such a great fighter at his peak so dominated. The crown ***el of Manny's career, this was the fight during which many fell in love with the smiling warrior. While he has undoubtedely improved in the years since, this was his greatest victory.
An incredible list, and it leaves out many fine performances, but in my opinion these are Manny's greatest wins. There is only one fight which can supplant the Barrera win from the top spot, a victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be the final flourish of an amazing career, and arguably the greatest win since Duran beat Leonard in Montreal.
It will be a tough task, but with accomplishments like those above it's just about the only thing Pacquiao can do to surprise us anymore.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Posted By Avi "Shoefly" Korine 2:40 PM
Following Manny Pacquiao's recent destruction of Miguel Cotto now seems a good time to place his recent wins in context to his earlier career achievements. It was tough to narrow the list down, but here is a list, in descending order, of Pacquiao's five greatest victories, (with one honorable mention) based on his performance, the opposition, and the importance of the fight.
Honorable Mention:
Manny Pacquiao SD 12 Juan Manual Marquez 2008: Following a disputed draw years earlier, the long awaited rematch finally happens and proves as great, but ultimately as controversial, as the first fight. Manny squeezes out the split decision, winning a title in his fourth division, and a record tying third Ring Magazine belt. The difference is a beautiful short left hand in the third round that sends Marquez to the canvass. In some ways this was Pacquiao's greatest triumph, a victory over an opponent seemingly designed to exploit his weaknesses. Still, the disputed nature of the decision keeps it just out of the top five.
# Five:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 8 Oscar De La Hoya 2008: In a fight I thought was a farce Manny moves up two weight classes to welterweight (147 pounds) and proceeds to give the great De La Hoya a beating to remember. Though people now dismiss this fight, very few (myself included) were smart enough to foresee what would happen. Manny jumped an incredible seventeen pounds and three weight divisions in only two fights to take on the PPV king and left him dejected and embarrassed in his corner. Manny's amazing in-and-out attacks flummoxed De La Hoya, who had no answers for Pacquiao's supernatural speed. The consensus is that De La Hoya was weight drained beyond recognition, but I defy anyone to tell me the result would have been different if the De La Hoya of the Steve Forbes fight, only a few months earlier, had been in the ring. Manny looked phenomenal and this was the fight that really turned him into an international superstar.
# Four:
Manny Pacquiao KO 2 Ricky Hatton 2009: In an incredibly destructive and violent performance Manny crushed the long reigning junior welterweight champion in only the second round. While many expressed doubts over Ricky Hatton's quality as an elite prizefighter, no one was prepared for the sheer brutality of this win. Pacquiao showed his incredibly improved right hand in setting up the final, unforgettable left hand that left Hatton a quivering heap on the canvas. The victory gave Manny his record fourth Ring Magazine title.
# Three:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 10 Erik Morales II 2006: Manny had lost their first matchup in a close decision, his efforts hampered by a badly cut left eye. In the rematch, almost equal to the dramatic first fight, Manny started to show a variety and completeness he never had before. Mixing in right hands and blistering combinations, Manny broke Morales down in the middle rounds with debilitating body shots, before becoming the first and only man to stop him. While many say that Morales was past his prime, and this is true, his fine performance suggests he was still a top fighter, and only the improved Pacquiao could have stopped him. The trilogy with the great Morales seems to have become a little overlooked following Manny's success in the higher weight classes, but it was this fight and stoppage victory over the Mexican legend that showed Pacquiao could get even better.
# Two:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 12 Miguel Cotto 2009: While Cotto might not measure up to some of Pacquiao's other legendary competition, he was the biggest and strongest man Pacquiao had ever set foot in the ring with. Many thought Pacquiao would be overpowered by the young champion in his fighting prime, but Pacquiao shredded Cotto's defense and beat him up in getting the mercy stoppage. Pacquiao again showed his evolution as a fighter, at times seeming to fight Cotto's fight just to prove that he could. The win gave Pacquiao a belt in his record seventh division and silenced those who thought his efforts in the higher weight divisions were aided by flawed opposition.
# One:
Manny Pacquiao TKO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera 2003: In the defining performance of his career Manny savaged the Mexican star, at the time in the top three pound-for-pound, and announced his arrival as a major player in the sport. Manny captured the featherweight title, (126 pounds) and won his second Ring Belt. Barrera was already a superstar, having embarrassed the flashy Naseem Hamed, and split fights with his legendary rival Erik Morales. Manny fought with passion and desperation, shooting his money punch, the straight power left over and over again. Barrera, who one suspects had no idea what was coming, ate inhuman amounts of punishment before the fight was mercifully stopped. Never before or since have I seen such a great fighter at his peak so dominated. The crown ***el of Manny's career, this was the fight during which many fell in love with the smiling warrior. While he has undoubtedely improved in the years since, this was his greatest victory.
An incredible list, and it leaves out many fine performances, but in my opinion these are Manny's greatest wins. There is only one fight which can supplant the Barrera win from the top spot, a victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be the final flourish of an amazing career, and arguably the greatest win since Duran beat Leonard in Montreal.
It will be a tough task, but with accomplishments like those above it's just about the only thing Pacquiao can do to surprise us anymore.
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