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Manny Pacquiao versus Sugar Ray Robinson
Rafael
Rafael: Pacquiao is an all-time great, but Robinson is, by wide acclimation, the single greatest fighter in boxing history. Period. He was fast. He could punch with both hands. He had one of the best chins ever (he was stopped only once in 202 professional fights). At one point, Robinson was 128-1-2, with the lone defeat coming by decision to future Hall of Famer Jake LaMotta (whom he would ultimately go 5-1 against). And Robinson fought and beat numerous other Hall of Famers as well. It was only late in his career that he began losing more regularly.
Pacquiao has faced many top fighters, but not the all-time greats that Robinson did -- including LaMotta, Henry Armstrong (viewed by many as the second-best fighter of all time), Kid Gavilan and Carmen Basilio. Match a prime welterweight Robinson with Pacquiao at his best at welterweight, and I have to go with Robinson by a mid-rounds knockout. He just had too much of everything. Pacquiao is great. Robinson was the greatest.
Mulvaney
Mulvaney: Seriously? Robinson was the greatest welterweight -- probably the greatest boxer -- who ever lived. Pacquiao, fabulous as he has been, has fought at welterweight or higher just four times in his career; only two dozen of Robinson's 200 fights were below that weight class. This was a man who lost just one of his first 123 contests, and at 147 pounds he was close to fistic perfection.
Too tall, too fast, too strong, too skilled, too slick on his feet. Robinson spears Pacquiao all night long before dropping and stopping him in the middle rounds.
Tessitore
Tessitore: Sugar Ray Robinson would box Manny Pacquiao all night long. He would counterpunch with ease. He'd be able to match speed and would have an edge in size. Manny would fall short and lunge for Sugar Ray, who would pick him off. I like Robinson by unanimous decision.
Kenny
Kenny: Let's just take Robinson out of the equation. At welterweight, he has no peer -- no, not even Pacqauio.
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