Pacquiao's body punching: What the hell happened?

[Thraxox]

Pacquiao back in 2001 till to 2008 pre Dela Hoya, he is known for being not only destructive in his punches but also his punch variety. He is a very strong body puncher back in the lower weight, that's how he beat Barrera back in 2003, that's how he beat Erik Morales to slow him down after Morales boxed him out 4 rounds out of 5 in the second fight, and that's how Manny Pacquiao killed Diaz with in punching to the body, that's how he slowed down and knock out Solis, then after the Dela Hoya fight, it all disappeared (Except for the Hatton Fight)

Any possible explanation?

[New England]

dude you understand that pacquiao has been on the slide for like 5 + years, right? the guy was in freakish wars at the lower weights. then he moved up and fought durable, big, hard punching welterweights. he never had a style that got him out of the way of all of their gas, either. the guy is hugely deteriorated. that he's able to compete in the contemporary WW climate is a testament to his awful matchmaking of late, and the poor health of the WW division. arum only having a few viable WW opponents that he can actually make the fight with, and keeping him from crawford doesn't help that, either.

[Thraxox]

dude you understand that pacquiao has been on the slide for like 5 + years, right? the guy was in freakish wars at the lower weights. then he moved up and fought durable, big, hard punching welterweights. he never had a style that got him out of the way of all of their gas, either. the guy is hugely deteriorated. that he's able to compete in the contemporary WW climate is a testament to his awful matchmaking of late, and the poor health of the WW division. arum only having a few viable WW opponents that he can actually make the fight with, and keeping him from crawford doesn't help that, either.

I think you're right. Do you think Pacquiao is only 50% of what he used to be in 2008?

[Mike D]

I think you're right. Do you think Pacquiao is only 50% of what he used to be in 2008?

I do, yeah. Which is a testament to his greatness because all in all he's still pretty damn good. But his tank is running empty. I think the gas light is about to come on...if it hasn't already. I don't think he has enough to beat the young, top shelf lions anymore.

I consider Vargas second tier -- he's good, but he's not an A level guy. He's a solid B level. And that Pacquiao/Vargas fight wasn't the one sided affair that a lot of the sports media portrayed it to be that following morning.

Manny had to dig deep to get that W. That was a dead even fight midway through. He won but it was a struggle at times, and that doesn't bode well at all for his prospects against the Crawfords/Thurmans/Garcias of the world

[Sadiqkingofko]

dude you understand that pacquiao has been on the slide for like 5 + years, right? the guy was in freakish wars at the lower weights. then he moved up and fought durable, big, hard punching welterweights. he never had a style that got him out of the way of all of their gas, either. the guy is hugely deteriorated. that he's able to compete in the contemporary WW climate is a testament to his awful matchmaking of late, and the poor health of the WW division. arum only having a few viable WW opponents that he can actually make the fight with, and keeping him from crawford doesn't help that, either.

I agree, and he hasn't faced a power puncher since losing to Marquez

[Sadiqkingofko]

I do, yeah. Which is a testament to his greatness because all in all he's still pretty damn good. But his tank is running empty. I think the gas light is about to come on...if it hasn't already. I don't think he has enough to beat the young, top shelf lions anymore.

I consider Vargas second tier -- he's good, but he's not an A level guy. He's a solid B level. And that Pacquiao/Vargas fight wasn't the one sided affair that a lot of the sports media portrayed it to be that following morning.

Manny had to dig deep to get that W. That was a dead even fight midway through. He won but it was a struggle at times, and that doesn't bode well at all for his prospects against the Crawfords/Thurmans/Garcias of the world

I had the Vargas fight 7-5 in Manny's favor

[New England]

I agree, and he hasn't faced a power puncher since losing to Marquez

marquez is not a power puncher. just took some drugs and ran into a manny pacquiao who had been walking into punches for 15 years.

[Sadiqkingofko]

marquez is not a power puncher. just took some drugs and ran into a manny pacquiao who had been walking into punches for 15 years.

that's not my point, he's been matched against guys that can knock him out ever since that fight

[Mike D]

I had the Vargas fight 7-5 in Manny's favor

I thought it was 8-4 myself, plus a point for the knockdown, but yeah, 7-5 or 8-4...either way it was a struggle for Manny. Compared to the Manny that we all remember from his glory days, he was VERY pedestrian that night.

[Larry the boss]

marquez is not a power puncher. just took some drugs and ran into a manny pacquiao who had been walking into punches for 15 years.

Jmm isnt a power puncher??? since when?? his ko rate is higher then Mannys..man has 40 kos