by Cliff Rold

On May 2, 2015, boxing will finally have its Super Bowl.  After five long years of he said-he said, it’s finally here.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao for the Welterweight Championship of the World.

But what if the road didn’t really begin at the negotiating table in late 2009?  What if this collision course began just months apart, before anyone could have predicted this finish line?

In the second half of 1998, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao each won their first major titles and have stayed in or near the championship ranks for almost two decades since. The seeds of a showdown were planted then. They are blossoming now in what will be, even adjusted for inflation, the most profitable and maybe even most watched prizefight ever.

Over the course of this series, we take a look back at the championship years of each man, beginning with each of his first title wins and working our way towards May 2nd.  Their development, historical achievements, highs and lows will be reviewed fight by fight with an eye towards the context of each contest.

Where were they in their careers? Using various ratings and historical resources as reference, how were they and each of their opponents regarded at the time of the fights? At the end, a comprehensive statistical review of each man will culminate in a final preview and prediction for the fight itself.

This is Mayweather-Pacquiao: 17 Years to a Superfight.

2002: The “0” is Threatened, Pacquiao Holds Serve

April 20, 2002
Jose Luis Castillo (45-4-1, 41 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (27-0, 20 KO, Ring Magazine #2); Vacant Ring Magazine Title

The Fight: Castillo burst from the 135 lb. pack in 2000. He upset Stevie Johnston for the WBC title in a fight broadcast on ABC. He survived a rematch in Johnston’s hometown of Denver in his first defense, earning a draw. Entering the Mayweather bout, the former sparring partner of the great Julio Cesar Chavez was unbeaten in thirteen fights.  At 25, Mayweather was attempting to win a title in his second weight class.

Mayweather admonished Castillo about low blows at the center ring introduction, asking that he “keep them up.”  It wasn’t an issue in round one. Mayweather won the battle of the jabs and landed some stiff rights, bloodying Castillo’s nose. An incidental trip sent Castillo down at the start of the second and he bounced right up. Castillo, continuing to work the jab, found Mayweather with some rights to the body and head. The slow starter was warming up.

Mayweather used his legs for most of rounds three and four. Castillo trapped him late in the third and landed a good right but he couldn’t keep him there. Castillo received a warning for leading with the head in the fourth. Later in the round, he’d wrap Mayweather around the waist and banged at the hips to slow the moving target down.

Switching between southpaw and orthodox, Mayweather continued to move. Both men had moments in the sixth, Mayweather slipping after a hard body shot he complained was low. Mayweather was increasingly forced to the ropes, Castillo effectively cutting off the ring.

Castillo had a big seventh round, hammering Mayweather to the body and finding him upstairs along the ropes. Mayweather received two warnings for pushing off with the elbow. In the eighth, Castillo kept his momentum but cost himself a point for hitting on the break just before the bell. Castillo struggled to land in the ninth and Mayweather flirted with his own deduction, landing a punch after the bell.

Round ten was big for Castillo, even featuring a string of body shots as he circled all the way around a hunched over Mayweather. Mayweather drew another warning for pushing off and, after taking some leather on the ropes, lost a point for it when they went back to mid-ring.

Castillo was even better in a phone booth eleventh but Mayweather stayed in the trenches and landed plenty of his own. Castillo kept flirting with the belt line but wasn’t called for it. It looked like anyone’s fight with a round to go. Both men embraced to start the twelfth. They’d punch from there, Castillo landing more, landing harder, and earning the roar of the crowd.

That roar would turn into an angry cascade of boos. Mayweather was announced the victor by scoring margins of five points on one card and four on two others. The wide scores didn’t reflect the fight in the ring. For the first time in his career, there was doubt about whether Mayweather had really won a fight. Mayweather claimed an arm injury had hampered him in the post-fight interview with HBO.

A rematch was needed.

Historical Note: After Pernell Whitaker moved out of the Lightweight division in 1992, no one had firmly reestablished the historical crown at 135. Did Mayweather do it here? Ring began recognizing single champions atop divisions again in 2001. Ring moved Mayweather to its #2 contender spot in their August 2002 issue. Having not competed substantively in the division before, that is a debatable decision though not without merit. He did have wins at Lightweight, and was dominant enough at 130 to make a case that simply rising in weight merited the rating. Castillo, with the win over Johnston and another over the only man to defeat Johnston, Cesar Bazan, was clearly the top of the class.

Whether recognizing his lineal claim from this fight (which this series will; the Cyber Boxing Zone encyclopedia does as well), or from the rematch in December, the Castillo rivalry in 2002 can be seen as producing Whitaker’s heir.

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Castillo
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 10-0, 6 KO

June 8, 2002
Manny Pacquiao (33-2-1, 24 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Jorge Eliecer Julio (44-3, 32 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Julio, a former WBO Bantamweight titlist, lost his title to Johnny Tapia in 2000 after three successful defenses. He also lost his next fight to solid contender Adan Vargas before moving up in weight for two easy victories. Coming into the Pacquiao fight, he had never been stopped.

For about two minutes, he kept pace with Pacquiao, boxing with the bigger puncher. In the final minute of the opening round, Pacquiao began to wobble Julio with left hands. A left and right landed and an off balance Julio went to the floor. The referee ruled a slip. A left hand seconds into round two dropped Julio down with no room for error. Pacquiao let loose, drilling Julio near the ropes and sending him down again with the left. Before he could fall a third time, the referee saved Julio under heavy fire. Pacquiao had his second defense at 122 lbs. 

Historical Note: Pacquiao was given a highlight position on the undercard of Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis. He rose to the top contender’s spot in Ring’s ratings after the February 2002 rematch between Paulie Ayala and Clarence Adams crowned their champion at 122 lbs. How that should be regarded historically is worth questioning. Ayala’s clean second win over Adams came after a string of highly questionable decision victories over Johnny Tapia in a rematch, Hugo Dianzo at 118 lbs., and Adams in their first fight.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO2 Julio
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 4-1-1, 4 KO, 1 KOBY

October 26, 2002
Manny Pacquiao (34-2-1, 25 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym (37-2, 23 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Rakkiatgym hadn’t lost since 1993 in his seventh fight. With trainer Freddie Roach back home in the US, Pacquiao took a home title defense and gave the fans a brief, explosive fireworks show. A right hook dropped Rakkiatgym. The challenger beat the count only to be dropped two more times on left hands. The referee allowed the action to continue and Pacquiao dropped him for the fourth and final time with a right hand to draw the mercy stoppage. It was Pacquiao’s ninth win, and knockout, at Jr. Featherweight   

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO1 Rakkiatgym
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 5-1-1, 5 KO, 1 KOBY

December 7, 2002
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (28-0, 20 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine Champion, Lineal) vs. Jose Luis Castillo (46-5-1, 42 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1)

The Fight: Castillo had one tune-up fight before the second dance with Mayweather, scoring an easy knockout of trial horse Verdell Smith in August. Mayweather was making his first start since his contested April victory.

While not as dramatic or memorable as that encounter, the rematch followed some of the same pattern. Mayweather, consciously moving more, built an early lead while Castillo tried to track him down. The Mexican battler started to do so in the fourth, concentrating on the body and employing the tactic of holding with one arm and ripping with the free hand. By the halfway point of the fight, Castillo’s rough approach had brought the fight to almost even terms.

Castillo continued to press and both men gave cause to favor them as the second half progressed. Castillo was forcing the fight. Mayweather was more accurate when he let his hands go but was fighting to Castillo’s advantage. With three rounds to go, it was the sort of fight that could have been as close as a point either way. Mayweather, using his head, took back the control he’d had in the opening rounds. Castillo never quit coming but the speed of Mayweather kept him a step ahead down the stretch. The former champion couldn’t finish the rally like he’d appeared to do earlier in the year.

It was another entertaining fight. This time at least, Castillo could know he received just rewards in the scoring with two judges scoring it 7-5 and another 7-4-1. 

 Historical Note: As noted above, the second Castillo fight pitted the two when they were more clearly the top two in the division, strengthening Mayweather’s claim as the rightful historical champion. This was the first time as a champion Mayweather went the distance in consecutive title fights.

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Castillo
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 11-0, 6 KO

2003: Mayweather Stays Busy, Pacquiao Goes Global

March 15, 2003
Manny Pacquiao (35-2-1, 26 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov (17-5-1, 8 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Yeshmagambetov entered the bout having won five of his previous six. A tune-up on paper, it marked Pacquiao’s debut at the Featherweight limit. The first round gave no indications of serious competition. A left hand dropped and hurt Yeshmagambetov and Pacquiao controlled the next two rounds. Lured into an exchange by the gutsy Kazakh in the first minute of round four, Pacquiao was floored with a hard right hand. Pacquiao got up right away but he was shaky and covered up as Yeshmagambetov pressed the advantage. By the final minute, Pacquiao had his legs back and was punching again. Loose tape on the glove of Yeshmagambetov gave a temporary respite and the action moved to round five. Loose tape again halted action and then Pacquiao finished. A left hand sent Yeshmagambetov reeling across the ring and down to the floor. Pacquiao landed another left to send him flailing across the ring again and the referee stopped the fight. 

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO5 Yeshmagambetov

April 19, 2003
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (29-0, 20 KO, WBC/Ring Magazine, Lineal) vs. Victoriano Sosa (35-2-2, 26 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Sosa entered having gone 11-0-1 since a failed challenge of IBF Lightweight titlist Paul Spadafora in 2000. Sosa dropped Spadafora in the third round only to lose a competitive decision.

Fighting in the agricultural bedrock of the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, California, Mayweather wasn’t expected to get much challenge. Sosa instead put up a spirited fight. Taller and longer armed than Mayweather, Sosa had some success getting through and around the guard of Mayweather and got the crowd into the fight. Mayweather, after building an early lead, solved what riddles emerged in the second half and became a difficult target. Landing more, and cleaner, he won a wide unanimous decision and garnered his second successful defense at 135 lbs.

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Sosa
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 12-0, 6 KO

July 26, 2003
Manny Pacquiao (36-2-1, 27 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Emmanuel Lucero (21-0-1, 12 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Lucero’s lone career blemish had come two fights earlier in a first-round technical draw. He was a decided underdog but gave Pacquiao some technical issues in the first round. Lucero came out bending over at the waist, guard high on his head, winging when he got close. The longer armed Pacquiao struggled to get his left hand home. By the end of the first, and through the second, Pacquiao started to use Lucero’s stance against him by ripping to the exposed body below him. In the third, a single left hand detonated on Lucero’s head and sent the challenger spinning into the ropes. He was in no shape to go on and the fight was immediately halted.

Historical Note: This would be Pacquiao’s farewell to the Jr. featherweight division. His record in the division ended at 10-0-1 with all of his wins by knockout.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO3 Lucero
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 6-1-1, 6 KO, 1 KOBY

November 1, 2003
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (30-0, 20 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine Champion, Lineal) vs. Phillip NDou (31-1, 30 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #3 at 130 lbs.)

The Fight: Taller than Floyd, Ndou had established his credentials as a Jr. Lightweight contender with 21 straight wins. In 2001, he stopped Carlos Rios (the first title challenger to take Mayweather the distance) in five. His lone decision win came later that year over future titlist Cassius Baloyi.

Mayweather, fighting for the last time to date in his hometown, came out aggressively against the heavy-handed volume puncher. He was looking to put on a show and it brought out the best in both men. Down four rounds, Ndou let it all hang out in a fantastic fifth. With Mayweather working off the ropes, Ndou threw everything he had. Mayweather slipped, countered, and took some leather as the crowd roared. An exhausted Ndou bit down and went after Mayweather again in the sixth, taking flush shots for the chance to get something home to change his fate.

Mayweather had other outcomes in mind. Taking advantage of the winded Ndou in the seventh, Mayweather closed a sustained attack with three consecutive right hands to drop Ndou to his knees. Ndou rose, wishing to continue, arguing as his corner rose to the apron to halt the beating. It was a one-sided thriller. 

Historical Note: The win over N’Dou gave Floyd 3 successful title defenses at Lightweight and marked his final night in the division. Including all fights officially contested over 130 and under 135 lbs. in his career beginning at his pro debut, Mayweather’s record as a Lightweight was 16-0, 11 KO. His record at or below 130 lbs. was 15-0, 10 KO. 

Outcome: Mayweather TKO7 N’Dou
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 13-0, 7 KO

November 15, 2003
Marco Antonio Barrera (57-3, 40 KO, Ring Magazine Champion, Lineal) vs. Manny Pacquiao (37-2-1, 28 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #1 at 122 lbs.)

The Fight: Barrera, a former two-time titlist at 122 lbs., entered the fight on an eight-fight win streak with four defenses of the historical Featherweight crown. He won the 126 lb. honors with a masterful rout of undefeated Naseem Hamed in April '01. His record since a pair of losses to Junior Jones in 1997 was 16-1 with 1 No Contest. The lone loss in that stretch came with much scoring debate in the 2000 Fight of the Year, his first of three battles with Erik Morales. Barrera earned a contested decision in the June '02 Morales rematch.

Inside the first minute, Barrera got an early scoring advantage when Pacquiao landed a left and tripped to the canvas. It was errantly ruled a knockdown. Pacquiao was unfazed and used superior speed, improved head and upper body movement, and his hard left to outduel Barrera for the rest of the round. Working off the jab, Barrera was trying to time the rhythm of Pacquiao while the challenger started working in combination.

Thirty seconds into the third, Pacquiao dropped Barrera with a crisp left. Pacquiao tested for a finish and Barrera fired back. Pacquiao got the better of it but they battled fiercely to the bell.

Pacquiao dominated the next two rounds before Barrera rallied in the sixth. A big Barrera right hand had Pacquiao raising his arms to say he wasn’t hurt and a late slip by Barrera was correctly ruled. An accidental head butt in round seven opened a cut on the left eye of Barrera and there was conversation in the corner about whether the fight should go on. A desperate Barrera came out looking for a saving bomb and engaged Pacquiao in exciting exchanges for the rest of the round. Barrera was warned late in the round for an intentional butt.

Another clash of heads affected Barrera in the eighth, but not as much as a whirlwind of lefts and some snapping right hooks. Under sustained assault in the ninth, desperation got dirty. Barrera lost a point for a blatant punch on the break after a clinch.

Barrera offered little in the way of offense in the tenth, circling away most of the round. He ran out of ring in the eleventh, dropped for the second time. The porud Barrera rose again but had nothing left. Being brutalized along the ropes, his corner motioned to the referee to halt the fight with seconds left in the round. It was, officially, the first stoppage loss of Barrera’s career.

His fifth-round loss to Jones in their first fight was ruled a disqualification when Barrera’s corner entered the ring before the end of the round.

Already a massive star in his native Philippines, the win over Barrera established Pacquiao’s bona fides as an emergent global star.

Historical Note: At 24, Pacquiao was a champion in his third weight class at only 24 and became the first man to win the lineal crowns at Flyweight and Featherweight.

Barrera came into the ring off a troubled camp, interrupted by the disclosure of a previous head injury that ended with a plate inserted in his head and a fire near his training camp. His claim to the historical title at 126 lbs. can be traced directly to Ring’s recognition of WBA titlist Eusebio Pedroza as the rightful champion following the death of Salvador Sanchez in 1982, or through Hamed. Hamed defeated Wilfredo Vazquez, a direct successor to Pedroza shorn of the WBA belt just prior to his fight with Hamed, and won each of the other major sanctioning body titles during a lengthy championship run. 

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO11 Barrera
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 7-1-1, 7 KO, 1 KOBY including lineal (6-1-1, 6 KO, 1 KOBY, WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO only)

To be continued…

Previous Installments

1998   

1999-2001              
               
Research Note: Records compiled with the use of www.boxrec.com

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com