Did Manny Actually Get Better? Or Opponents Perfect for him?

[HeroBando]

Cotto was there for the taking. Margarito as well. But he couldnt pull the trigger.

The fact that he had them for the taking tells you about his ability. 8/10 current welters would not have Cotto or Marg for the taking.

Btw, I like the past prime Judah part, in 2008. The LWW Champ Garcia is just working on a Judah rematch, in 2013. I guess that means quality is lacking in the division, in a major way.

[SplitSecond]

pacquiao peaked in marquez II, he boxed beautifully in that fight in fact

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

He got better. Anyone who actually watched him back in the day knows the guy was LITERALLY a one handed fighter, he was still exciting tho.


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[HarvardBlue]

He got better but he never became a complete fighter. He was always vulnerable to someone who can box. Like someone said before, Hatton and Cotto fought the wrong fight against Pacquiao. Hatton never stood a chance but I think Cotto had an opportunity to win that fight. He just didn't adjust or gained respect for Pacquiao's power. Like Rios, most of his other opponents were tailor made for him. The funny thing is even though he dominated most of his matches during that time frame, he always looked like he got the beating of his life after each fight. I still can't believe he was bleeding from his ears after the Clottey fight.

[Light_Speed]

Yes he really got better, you probably picked one of those "perfect opponents" to beat him and now with hindsight you're saying they were cherry picked.

[Rome-By-Ko]

Cotto was there for the taking. Margarito as well. But he couldnt pull the trigger.

TBH,I thought Clottey beat Cotto,and did'nt Clottey hurt his hand in the Marga's fight if I'm not mistaken??Clottey clearly won the early rds in that fight,before suddenly he just stopped throwing..I thought I heard he had hurt his hands..

[TRTboy]

He fought his best competition at 122 and 126 Morales, Barrera and Marquez. Those 3 are hall of famers. Having gone through those 3 of course he was going to have an easier time with his future opponents having gone thru the experience of elite competition. But it was not like pac was fighting bums it's just he already saw and beat the best.

Guys like cotto, clottey, mosley, de la hoya, hatton, bradley weren't on that level as the 3 mexicans.

[Rome-By-Ko]

He fought his best competition at 122 and 126 Morales, Barrera and Marquez. Those 3 are hall of famers. Having gone through those 3 of course he was going to have an easier time with his future opponents having gone thru the experience of elite competition. But it was not like pac was fighting bums it's just he already saw and beat the best.

Guys like cotto, clottey, mosley, de la hoya, hatton, bradley weren't on that level as the 3 mexicans.

Bradley beat Pac and might even beat Marquez..Which is more then Barrera and Morales would be able to say..So I guess should Bradley beat Marquez he's an HOF then..

[Pacquiao'd]

He didn't get better, he just stopped fighting hall of fame fighters.

The quality of Barrera Morales and Marquez far exceeds cotto, margarito, clottey etc.

Not only do Barrera Morales and Marquez have exceptional ring iq's and craftiness, but they have balls and hearts of steel.

They're the kind of fighters that you have to be special to beat.

EM and Marquez both beat him

[T18Z]

Bradley beat Pac and might even beat Marquez..Which is more then Barrera and Morales would be able to say..So I guess should Bradley beat Marquez he's an HOF then..

We all know that didn't happen.