Mayweather-Pacquiao: 17 Years To a Superfight: 99-01

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.

1999: Mayweather Builds a Reign, Pacquiao Reigns Briefly

February 17, 1999
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (19-0, 15 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Carlos Rios (44-2-1, 30 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Mayweather made his second career, and first championship, start in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rios, of Argentina, had suffered both his losses to quality fighters. He was stopped in six challenging Luisito Espinosa for the WBC Featherweight title in 1997 and lost a decision to then future WBC Featherweight titlist Cesar Soto in 1998. He picked up a single win between the Soto loss and his challenge of Mayweather.

Mayweather had an obvious size advantage in the fight to go with edges in speed and skill. Rios did his best to make it a fight early. Attacking Mayweather wildly in the second, Rios landed some flush rights and lefts. Mayweather matched him in the trenches for some exciting exchanges. The fight settled into a rhythm after the second with Mayweather playing the aggressor and Rios looking for spots. Working the body and loading up with power upstairs, Mayweather sought the homecoming knockout.

It never came but Mayweather kept trying. Mayweather hurt Rios late in round eight and stunned him in the eleventh. Some guys just don’t fall. Mayweather lost only one round on one of three judge’s scorecards.

Historical Note: The fight was a rare national broadcast in the US on the TNT cable network and featured Shane Mosley and Gil Clancy on commentary.

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Rios
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 3-0, 2 KO

February 20, 1999
Manny Pacquiao (24-1, 15 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Todd Makelim (7-4, 4 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Retrospect informs Pacquiao was struggling with the Flyweight limit even as he arrived at that title. This non-title fight allowed Pacquiao to come in four pounds over the 112 lb. limit at 116. The pounds told a tale. Pacquiao fought with more speed and energy than was evident in his title win over Sasakul. The quality of opponent was a factor. So was Pacquiao’s assault to the body. Pacquiao dropped Makelim with a left to the ribs in the second and brutalized him in the third to draw the towel from the corner.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO3 Makelim

April 24, 1999
Manny Pacquiao (25-1, 16 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Gabriel Mira (19-7-1, 15 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: After winning the title on the road in Thailand, Pacquiao made his first defense in Quezon City in his native Philippines. Mira entered the fight having won seven straight. He bested former title challenger Yong-Soon Chang in 1998 in a WBC eliminator to earn a mandatory shot. Fighting deliberately on offense and carelessly on defense, Pacquiao was rocked in the second and looked in trouble. He answered before the round was over, dropping Mira with two booming straight lefts. Mira was felled again just after the bell with a left, Pacquiao receiving a warning for the shot. In the fourth, Pacquiao savaged Mira with three more knockdowns to draw the stoppage.

Historical Note: This was the only fight of Pacquiao’s career refereed by Hall of Fame official Richard Steele.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO4 Mira
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 2-0, 2 KO

May 22, 1999
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (20-0, 15 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Justin Jukko (33-2-1, 25 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Jukko entered the bout as a late replacement for former Featherweight titlist Gregorio Vargas. Three months earlier, Antonio Hernandez stopped Jukko in 11 for an interim WBA title in the division.

Floyd started out aggressively against Jukko, easily winning the first three rounds. Jukko worked his way into the fight in rounds four and five, throwing more and having some success to the body. Floyd remained a hard target, blocking and slipping his way through most of the fire. In round six, Mayweather picked up his offense and rocked Jukko with rights. By the end it was a thorough boxing clinic with enough test from the challenger to make it entertaining. In the ninth, Mayweather landed two blistering rights hands to drop Jukko. The challenger didn’t beat the count. Mayweather had his third title defense at 130 lbs.

Historical Note: The bout came on the undercard of the WBC/lineal Welterweight title fight between champion Oscar De La Hoya and perennial bridesmaid Oba Carr. De La Hoya won with an eleventh round knockout.

Outcome: Mayweather KO9 Jukko
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 4-0, 3 KO

September 11, 1999
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (21-0, 16 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Carlos Gerena (34-2, 28 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Gerena came into the contest having won six straight. His last defeat had come via decision at the hands of Genaro Hernandez in a May 1998 title challenge. The bout with Mayweather would ultimately be his last title opportunity.

Gerena started the fight dirty, landing a series of low blows and drawing an early warning. Mayweather answered by the end of round one, dropping Gerena twice in the final minute. Mayweather boxed patiently from there, piling points. The game Gerena made a battle of it in the fourth, the best round of the fight. Each attacking the body, Gerena and Mayweather battled for long stretches inside. Mayweather never lost control and by the sixth was landing with punishing ease. At the end of the seventh, Gerena pointed at his bicep and taunted Mayweather for having “no punch.” The ringside doctor disagreed and halted the beating in the corner. Mayweather added his fourth successful title defense at 130 lbs.

Outcome: Mayweather RTD7 Gerena
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 5-0, 4 KO

September 17, 1999
Manny Pacquiao (26-1, 17 KO, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Medgoen Singsurat (18-0, 11 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Pacquiao entered the ring already an ex-champion having failed to make the Flyweight limit. He weighed in one pound over at 113. Singsurat was an unheralded challenger but held home court in his native Thailand.

The drain of making weight was evident from the start. There was none of Pacquiao’s trademark aggression or speed. He attempted to box, counter and move, a style unsuited to him and aimed at survival. Offering little more than a flailing right jab, Pacquiao was nearly felled with a left early in the first. Singsurat walked him down for the duration of the bout as Pacquiao gamely tried to play keep away. Pacquiao was hurt to the body in the second. When he did fight back, his shots lacked snap and Singsurat walked through them. In the third, a right hand to the body sent Pacquiao down in a heap, rising to his feet as the referee counted ten.     

His time at Flyweight was over. Emphatically.

Outcome: Singsurat KO3 Pacquiao
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 2-1, 2 KO, 1 KOBY

December 18, 1999
Manny Pacquiao (26-2, 17 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated) vs. Reynante Jamili (41-5, 32 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Three months after losing his title on the scales and being knocked out for the second time is his career, Pacquiao leapt three weight divisions for his 122 lb. debut. Jamili entered the contest with two consecutive wins after a failed WBC 122 lb. title try against Erik Morales in July 1999.  Morales stopped Jamili in six. Jamili was rated #5 by the WBC entering the Pacquiao bout and it was contested for a WBC sub-title in the division. 

The extra pounds told in Pacquiao’s approach as he was back to playing the aggressor. His defense remained a liability. Fighting deliberately, Pacquiao loaded up on left hand haymakers and ate clean counters often in the opening frame. It didn’t matter in round two. A single, explosive left dropped Jamili to his back and it looked like he might not get up.  He did, popping up at the count of seven but the straight left of Pacquiao was waiting. Two more knockdowns drew the towel from Jamili’s corner.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO2 Jamili

2000: Mayweather Finds a Test, Pacquiao Survives a Scare

March 4, 2000
Manny Pacquiao (27-2, 18 KO, Ring Magazine #8) vs. Arnel Barotillo (22-9-3, 15 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: For his second straight fight at 122 lbs., Pacquiao faced a former title challenger in the division. Barotillo challenged Vuyani Bungu for the IBF title in 1997, losing a decision. He entered the Pacquiao fight having drawn and then won two straight after a decision loss to eventual titlist Lehlo Ledwaba in a 1998 title eliminator.

Barotillo got off to a good start. Pacquiao began at range, jabbing and boxing. Barotillo found him with some clean right hands and hard shots to the body. By the third, Pacquiao had moved inside with Barotillo and they traded heavy shots. Pacquiao’s were heavier. Late in the round, Pacquiao dropped Barotillo but the bell rang before he could do more damage. In the fourth, Pacquiao kept him hurt. The closing sequence saw Pacquiao strike with a hard lead right, Barotillo crashing to the floor with a delayed reaction as the referee promptly halted the bout.

Historical Note: Pacquiao entered Ring’s Top Ten at 122 lbs. after his previous win over Jamili and would remain a fixture in the top ten as he worked his way towards a title shot. 

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO4 Barotillo

March 18, 2000
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (22-0, 17 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Gregorio Vargas (40-6, 28 KO, Ring Magazine #10)

The Fight: Vargas, forced by illness to pull out of a fight with Mayweather in 1999, came in on a roll. The former WBC Featherweight titlist had won six straight, including a stoppage of former titlist Tracy Harris Patterson and a decision over an undefeated Ben Tackie. 

The veteran created his share of challenges for Mayweather. He bloodied Mayweather’s nose, left him with a swollen right eye, and forced several exchanges along the ropes throughout the fight. Those exchanges created countering opportunities. Mayweather dropped Vargas with a left to the body late in the sixth. Round nine was the best of the fight as the two men went toe to toe, both landing hard shots to the head and body. The crowd roared for that; they also booed in spots, including during the final round, as Mayweather boxed safely for most of three minutes. Mayweather won ten rounds on one judge’s scorecard, and eleven on two others. The margin of victory said little about the degree of difficulty in what was Mayweather’s toughest title fight to then.

Historical Note: “He doesn’t look like any 12 million dollar fighter to me.” Those were the words of color announcer Larry Merchant as the final round closed on this HBO broadcast. As a time capsule of the Mayweather story beyond the ring, the Vargas broadcast is a vivid chapter.

This was Mayweather’s first fight after rejecting a multi-fight contract with HBO for more than $12 million. Along with rejection came his referring to the offer as a “slave contract” in comparison to what HBO was then paying Featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed. Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, the HBO broadcast was more critical of Mayweather than in any of his previous appearances.

In the post-fight interview, a visibly unhappy Floyd would listen as his father referred to some of his career choices as “mistakes,” their turbulent relationship being aired for the first (but not last) time on-air.  The mistake in his father’s mind was portrayed on-air as Mayweather’s decision to take on rap producer James Prince as his manager.  The relationship with Prince was one that would launch some of boxing’s best campfire stories (see: Google).

This was the first Mayweather fight at the MGM Grand. His fight with Pacquiao will be his 14th appearance in the arena. It will be Pacquiao’s 12th.

In sporting terms, the broadcast is also notable for the co-feature. Diego Corrales made his second defense of the IBF 130 lb. crown against Derrick Gainer earlier in the night. Steward and Merchant pondered what Mayweather might do with the power and pressure of Corrales. Mayweather—when asked after the fight—said he’d have no problem meeting Corrales in the future.

The nucleus of a showdown was had. 

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Vargas
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 6-0, 4 KO

June 28, 2000
Manny Pacquiao (28-2, 19 KO, Ring Magazine #9) vs. Seung-Kon Chae (23-0, 18 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Chae entered having fought exclusively in South Korea against beginner’s fare. Pacquiao represented his first real test as a professional. 

He hadn’t studied nearly enough.

Chae gave it a shot, going to close quarters with Pacquiao. He nailed Pacquiao with a left hook in the corner, the former Flyweight champion still showing little regard for defense. At center ring, they were shoulder to shoulder digging to each other’s bodies. A right hook wobbled Chae. Moments later, after a series of hard shots from Pacquiao, a short left inside sent Chae down for a count. Chae beat the count but turned away from the referee and leaned over the top rope, still dazed. Pacquiao had his third straight early rounds finish at 122 lbs. 

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO1 Chae

October 14, 2000
Manny Pacquiao (29-2, 20 KO, Ring Magazine #9) vs. Nedal Hussein (19-0, 25 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: For the second fight in a row, Pacquiao faced an undefeated opponent. Hussein was no Chae. There are fights like this on the records of many great fighters. They stand out on the storied roads to superstardom as night’s they were as lucky as good. This is one of those nights for Pacquiao.  Would the outcome have been different were the fight contested outside the Philippines?  We’ll never know.

Everything about this fight was ugly: the behavior of the fighters, the one-sided officiating of the fight, and the ending.  It’s also a highly watchable alley fight with plenty of normal boxing excitement.

The first three rounds were fought at an intense clip, the heavier punching Pacquiao a little step ahead along the way. Hussein fought a dirty fight from the beginning, pushing off with the elbow, wrapping and spinning, and hitting a hair below the belt on a couple occasions. It cost him in a critical moment.

In round four, Hussein caught Pacquiao with a jab on the sweet spot and Pacquiao went down badly hurt. He beat the count and referee Carlos Padilla, of the Philippines, took a long look at Pacquiao before resuming the action. Trying to clear his head, Pacquiao held on for dear life as Hussein tried to shake him off. With the referee unable to separate them, and Hussein not wanting to lose the advantage, he took matters into his own hands. A blatant forearm/elbow across the face of Pacquiao cost Hussein a point and gave Pacquiao more time to recover.  Later, still in the fourth, Hussein pushed with his head to try to break another prolonged clinch. He drew an angry warning from Padilla.

The fight continued to mix violent punching, two-way clinching, and a Hussein who came to win by any means necessary.  Pacquiao was winning more of the rounds but his defensive liabilities meant Hussein was still getting plenty of chances.  In the ninth and tenth rounds, Pacquiao wobbled Hussein but couldn’t drop him. Instead, a nasty cut was opened on Hussein’s left cheek. Despite the cut being out of the field of vision, the ring doctor ruled it severe enough to stop the fight despite furious protest from Hussein. Pacquiao led the fight on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage. With two cards within two points (87-85), the outcome was far from assured. Pacquiao escaped, a near disaster averted.  

Historical Note: Hussein would go on to twice challenge, unsuccessfully, for major titles. He lost a decision at 122 lbs. to Oscar Larios (WBC) in 2004 and to Scott Harrison (WBO) at Featherweight in 2005. Hussein was part of a fighting family.  Older brother Hussein Hussein was a title challenger at Flyweight and would co-feature with Pacquiao against Jorge Arce in 2005 on the undercard of Pacquiao’s first battle with Erik Morales.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO10 Hussein

October 21, 2000
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (23-0, 17 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #2, Lineal) vs. Emanuel Burton (22-16-4, 10 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Fighting above 130 lbs. for the first time since 1998, Mayweather replaced his father with uncle Roger Mayweather as head trainer. Burton came into the fight off a win after having lost three straight. The assumed tune-up turned out to be so much more.

Floyd got off to a quick start, outboxing Burton in the first. Things turned in the next four rounds. Fluidly mixing up his offense from body to head, the mercurial Burton found Mayweather with some big shots. Mayweather came right back at him. Mayweather may not have lost a round. It didn’t matter. It was a war, both men bloodying each other’s noses and giving the fans a show.

The action ebbed just slightly in the next few rounds as Floyd assumed a more dominant posture. Burton still had moments but they were fewer and the punishment was mounting. In a moment one doesn’t see often, the referee summoned the ring doctor during round eight to check on bleeding from Burton’s ear. In the ninth, Floyd let loose with an early left handed assault and the corner of Burton threw in the towel. For his second fight in a row, Floyd would talk about pain in his hands, a problem that would come into play in 2001.   

Historical Note: The broadcast was a main event on HBO’s short-lived and often forgotten “KO Nation” afternoon series. Three fights later, Burton would lose the 2001 Fight of the Year to Micky Ward.

Mayweather entered the bout having slipped behind fellow titlist Diego Corrales in the Ring’s ratings due to the greater activity of Corrales. The Burton fight was only Floyd’s second since September 1999. Corrales had gone 5-0, with 4 KOs, over the same stretch. Mayweather talked after the fight about a possible showdown in the summer of 2001. They would resolve their issues sooner than that.   

Outcome: Mayweather TKO9 Burton

2001: A Highlight Year for Both Men, and an Intersection

January 20, 2001
Diego Corrales (33-0, 27 KO, Ring Magazine #1) vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (24-0, 18 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #2, Lineal)

The Fight: This fight was everything boxing fans hope for on paper: the two best fighters in the division, both undefeated, both 23 years old. Originally intended for later in the year, domestic violence charges against the late Corrales hurried the timeline. Corrales had emerged as a rival over the previous year and a half, coming back from a sluggish start to stop undefeated Roberto Garcia for the IBF belt. Four defenses, three by knockout, followed while Floyd was largely inactive.

Instead of a classic fight, the world saw was a virtuoso performance.

There was a palpable tension through each of the first six rounds even as Floyd built a shutout. Corrales was ever in pursuit; just missing with shots upstairs and struggling to land clean to the body along the ropes. When he did get through the guard, he couldn’t land combinations of consequence. Floyd continually took the action back to the middle of ring, lacing Corrales with clean rights over the top and keeping him off balance with hard jabs to the belly.

A lead left hook immediately into the seventh sent Corrales to the floor for the first time. Corrales came up swinging and kept getting tagged. In the final minute, another lead left floored Corrales and Mayweather went for the finish. An all-out attack on the ropes finished with a right to send Corrales down for the third time. Corrales rose and survived to hear the bell.

Corrales tried to get back in the fight, particularly in the ninth. Anytime Floyd went to the ropes, he targeted the body in search of a hole to save himself. He never found it. In the tenth, the masterpiece was completed. A lead left and little push was ruled a slip; another lead left was not. Corrales, stunned, rose at seven and circled away from Mayweather on weary legs. Corrales tried one last big combination. It missed the mark. Floyd closed the show with two lead right hands for the fifth knockdown of the fight.

Corrales bravely stood again, his eyes turning to the corner. Desperately, he pleaded, “No!” His corner man and stepfather was standing on the apron, towel in hand. “What the hell are you doing?” Corrales pleaded, trying to shove him off the corner. Referee Richard Steele concurred with the family verdict.

Celebrating with his father, seated ringside on the night, and his uncle in the corner, Mayweather had the biggest victory of his career.

Mayweather has never been better than he was on the night he notched his sixth defense at 130 lbs.

Historical Note: Corrales vacated the IBF belt in the fall of 2000 with an eye towards moving to Lightweight or this would have been a title unification contest. Any doubts about the strength of Mayweather’s claim to history’s crown at 130 lbs. are muted with this contest. It was the second time since winning the title (including his win over Angel Manfredy) that Mayweather won a contest between Ring’s top two at Jr. Lightweight. It was also the second time (including the Genaro Hernandez win) that Mayweather defeated Ring’s number one man in the division.

As a footnote, the pre-fight portion of the HBO broadcast featured a look at the efforts of Corrales to make 130 lbs. Heavily interviewed was his nutritionist Alex Ariza. Ariza would become a prominent figure over the year in the now culminating Mayweather-Pacquiao rivalry, first working for years with Pacquiao and now working with Mayweather.

Outcome: Mayweather TKO10 Corrales
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 7-0, 5 KO

February 24, 2001
Manny Pacquiao (30-2, 21 KO, Ring Magazine #7) vs. Tetsutora Senrima (19-4-3, 10 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated); Non-Title

The Fight: Five months removed from a controversial win over undefeated Nedal Hussein, Pacquiao looked to extend his unbeaten knockout streak at 122 lbs. Senrima entered off a decision loss; he’d won his previous eleven.

Senrima came out aggressive at the opening bell. That would prove painfully ineffective. The quicker, more powerful Pacquiao put him on his heels and kept him there. For almost all of the five rounds, Pacquiao treated Senrima like a heavy bag. An early body focus opened up a mix of combinations. Senrima attempted a stand in the third, landing some eye catching shots to the head of Pacquiao. It was to no avail. By the end of the fourth, it was a nasty beating. The pummeling continued unabated in the fifth until the referee saved Senrima from further punishment.

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO5 Senrima

April 28, 2001
Manny Pacquiao (31-2, 22 KO, Ring Magazine #4) vs. Wethya Sakmuangklang (40-3, 29 KO); Non-Title

The Fight: Sakmuangklang put together three straight wins after a failed Featherweight title challenge of Guty Espadas Jr. in 2000. His best offense against Pacquiao was below the belt. Losing a point in the fourth, there were extended breaks in rounds four and five as Pacquiao recovered from low blows. After the break in the fifth, Sakmuangklang picked his shots up and had Pacquiao backing up late. The Thai found holes for some clean lefts and rights. Pacquiao responded in the sixth, hurting Sakmuangklang and pursuing him around the ring. A final flurry dropped Sakmuangklang, badly hurt. He attempted to rise, nearly standing. His leg buckled and he dramatically folded to his knees. The referee waved the action complete.  

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO6 Sakmuangklang

May 26, 2001
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (25-0, 19 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Carlos Hernandez, 33-2-1, 21 KO, Ring Magazine Unrated)

The Fight: Hernandez was riding an eight-fight winning streak into this, his second major title shot. Genaro Hernandez soundly outboxed him in 1997.

It started out pretty good. Hernandez snuck in a right hand late in the first and engaged Mayweather in phone booth warfare in rounds two and three. Mayweather got the better of it and his hometown fans in Grand Rapids roared approval. Mayweather was forced to change tactics in the next round.

Increasingly using only his left hand, Mayweather began moving, clinching, and switching to southpaw. Hernandez continued a dogged pursuit, occasionally landing clean rights or lefts against a less offensive Mayweather. Late in the sixth, Mayweather landed a short right and bent over in pain, his glove scraping the canvas. The referee ruled a self-inflicted knockdown, the first of Mayweather’s career. Mayweather’s hand problems cost him in a fight.

The once promising battle was an eyesore from there, ineffective fight versus steady flight. Making matters worse, a wet canvas caused multiple slips in the second half. Mayweather, continuing to mix in southpaw work, contained Hernandez. The booing was strong by round nine and stayed there off and on. The ring doctor was called in to examine a nasty swelling between the eyes of Hernandez in the eleventh, the challenger allowed to go on. Hernandez would lose a point in the final round for a blatant elbow as he tried for a late all-out assault. It wasn’t nearly enough.

Historical Note: Hernandez would win a belt in his third try, defeating David Santos for a vacant IBF 130 lb. belt in 2003. He would make one defense before losing a unification showdown with WBC titlist Erik Morales.

Outcome: Mayweather UD12 Hernandez
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 8-0, 5 KO

June 23, 2001
Lehlo Ledwaba (33-1-1, 22 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #2) vs. Manny Pacquiao (32-2, 23 KO, Ring Magazine #4)

The Fight: Ledwaba was attempting his sixth defense of the IBF crown. His only defeat had come in 1993 via second round stoppage. Pacquiao, while regarded at least by Ring as a top five challenger at 122 lbs., was unheralded enough to get the fight on two weeks notice. Ledwaba’s original opponent was slated to be Enrique Sanchez. By night’s end, he probably wished he had just postponed.

Joined in the corner for the first time by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao boxed on even terms with Ledwaba for the first couple minutes. Each man was able to land his jab, Ledwaba’s longer and Pacquiao’s quicker.  In the final minute of the first, Pacquiao drew blood from the nose of Ledwaba and hurt him to the head and body with straight southpaw lefts.

Pacquiao’s superior speed, accurate left and steady circling of Ledwaba produced a violent second round. A short left dropped Ledwaba and the titlist was in trouble. He momentarily halted the attack with a body shot, giving Pacquiao pause. That didn’t last long.

Showing signs of improved head movement, Pacquiao was able to slip and catch Ledwaba repeatedly in the third. Ledwaba, his white trucks stained with his own blood, staged the best rally he could in the next two rounds. Jabbing and firing straight rights to the body, he kept Pacquiao honest. Pacquiao still dominated both rounds with clean lefts and fiery combinations. Pacquiao closed each frame with a hurtful left.

Another left thirty seconds into round six dropped Ledwaba on his rear. The South African rose slowly. His legs weak beneath him, Ledwaba nodded that he could go on. Pacquiao came forward, unleashing one more left to drop him for the third time in the fight. The referee waved the bout closed. Only 22 years old, Pacquiao had a title in his second weight class, extended his unbeaten knockout streak at 122 lbs. to seven, and had the breakthrough performance of his career.

Historical Note: Pacquiao’s second title came in his US and MGM Grand debut. It was part of the pay-per-view undercard for Oscar De La Hoya’s WBC and lineal Jr. Middleweight title challenge of Spain’s Javier Castillejo. De La Hoya won a unanimous decision, a major title in his fifth weight class, and a lineal crown in his third (also including the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight crowns).    

Outcome: Pacquiao TKO6 Ledwaba
Pacquiao Record in Major Title Fights: 3-1, 3 KO, 1 KOBY

November 2, 2001
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (26-0, 19 KO, WBC, Ring Magazine #1, Lineal) vs. Jesus Chavez (35-1, 24 KO, Ring Magazine #4)

Manny Pacquiao (33-2, 24 KO, IBF, Ring Magazine #3) vs. Agapito Sanchez (31-9-2, 16 KO, WBO, Ring Magazine #10)

For the first time, long before a record-shattering showdown was a glimmer in anyone’s eye, Pacquiao and Mayweather shared the stage in San Francisco.  They each got a good fight.

Pacquiao almost got more than he was looking for in his first unification attempt.

Sanchez was attempting the first defense of the vacant WBO belt he earned with a seventh-round knockout of Jorge Monsalvo. The Dominican veteran was riding a nine-fight winning streak and had been in with some of the best. Sanchez had been the distance in losses to Juan Manuel Marquez, Freddie Norwood, Guty Espadas Jr., and Marco Antonio Barrera. He scored the first official knockdown of Barrera in their fight. 

All his experience was on display early as the shorter Sanchez outjabbed and outboxed Pacquiao in round one.  An accidental head clash early in the second opened a cut over the right eye of Pacquiao, stated on HBO as the first cut of Pacquiao’s career. Pacquiao attacked with lefts in response, walking into some clean counters. Sanchez received a warning late in the second for not breaking a clinch on the referee’s command. The referee would factor again shortly.

A low blow from Sanchez landed immediately into the third, Sanchez warned of a point deduction for another foul. They clashed heads again and the clinches grew more testy, Pacquiao warned for pushing off. Sanchez would foul next, palming Pacquiao’s face upwards in a clinch and losing a point for the infraction. In terms of clean punching, it was narrowly a round for Pacquiao.

Both men were warned at the start of the fourth to box clean. It didn’t help. Sanchez kept landing below the belt, one nasty cup shot followed by a punch to the back of the head. Pacquiao went to the floor and a break in the action gave the referee time to take another point from Sanchez. Round four closed with an angry, exciting two-way exchange.

Both men battled fiercely in round five, Sanchez continuing to throw below the belt but wisely keeping it on the referee’s blind side. Another clash of heads in round six worsened the cut over Pacquiao’s eye and sent the fight to the cards. Each fighter had a judge in their favor by two points with the third seeing a draw. Had Sanchez kept it clean, those two points could have meant a win. It was a tough fight to score after the first two rounds.

Pacquiao kept his belt and finished what was overall a strong year for the burgeoning Filipino icon. 

In the main event, Chavez entered on a 31-fight win streak dotted with tough outs like Tom Johnson, Troy Dorsey, and John Brown. Chavez charged out at the bell, pressing and winging to the head and body. Mayweather started moving and gradually settled in the first round. Picking his spots for precise, clean counters, Mayweather used his defense to keep Chavez from connecting big.

The next four rounds featured breathless two-way action. Chavez, throwing some 100 punches per round, committed to the idea that the best way to overwhelm the defense of Mayweather was to throw until something got through. Some hard rights and plenty of body shots did. Mayweather picked his spots to fight back, viciously connecting in combination and finding a regular opening for potent right uppercuts.

Mayweather opted to move and box in the sixth and much of the seventh. Chavez found him late in the latter and they returned to warfare. In rounds seven and eight, Chavez unleashed everything he had for long stretches on the ropes. In the final minute of both rounds, Mayweather came on with accurate, ripping punches to wobble his man. In the ninth, repeated uppercuts had Chavez’s head flying upwards. In the corner after the round, Chavez trainer Ronnie Shields opted to keep his exhausted man on the stool.

It was a brilliant bookend to Mayweather’s win over Corrales, 2001 one of Mayweather’s finest career years.

Historical Note: Sanchez would lose his belt in his next fight, stopped by Joan Guzman. Chavez would go on to win the WBC belt at 130 lbs. and the IBF title at 135, the latter in a tragic contest with Leavander Johnson. The Chavez win would be Mayweather’s last in the Jr. Lightweight division.

Interestingly, the HBO production had Pacquiao rehydrating to 132 lbs. for his 122 lb. unification bout. Mayweather rehydrated to 137 ½ from 130 lbs. Slowly, they were growing closer. 

Outcomes: Pacquiao Tech. Draw 6 Sanchez; Mayweather RTD9 Chavez
Mayweather Record in Title Fights: 9-0, 6 KO
Pacquiao Record in Title Fights: 3-1-1, 3 KO, 1 KOBY
 
To be continued…

Previous Installments

1998                

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

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com