The greatest boxer ever

Two English writers recently named Manny Pacquiao as one of the greatest fighters ever in separate books about boxing. While Pacquiao’s legacy is now firmly established, he’s not done fighting and the word from Forbes Park is he prefers his next bout to be in Manila, probably in April.

Some experts insist Pacquiao has nothing left to prove and can walk away from the fight game a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. But it’s not like Pacquiao to end his career on a losing note. Like Lennox Lewis who rebounded from a shock knockout loss to Hasim Rahman in 2001 to avenge the defeat in a rematch seven months later, Pacquiao has in mind to pay back Juan Manuel Marquez in a fifth encounter. 

If Pacquiao and Marquez meet in September, the Mexican will be 40 by then. Age doesn’t seem to deter Marquez who knows his limitations in devising a strategy with trainer Nacho Beristain to capitalize on his strengths. Against Pacquiao last month, Marquez fought like an older fighter would, like George Foreman who was 45 when he poleaxed Michael Moorer, 27, in 1994. Marquez waited for the right moment to unload his counter right and put all his weight behind the shot that sent Pacquiao down for good. Marquez trained for power, not speed, realizing the only way he could negate Pacquiao’s relentless volume attack would be to land the perfect punch.  

Those who want Pacquiao to retire now are in for a long wait. Pacquiao, 34, has a lot of gas left in his tank. One knockout loss won’t convince him to hang up his gloves particularly as Marquez was on the verge of a total eclipse when he connected with two seconds left in the sixth. Pacquiao expects to whip an opponent, maybe Timothy Bradley or Humberto Soto, in a tune-up then exact revenge on Marquez in September. Next year, if Pacquiao fights true to form, he could be up against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in what may be the ultimate showdown of the decade.

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The first English writer to cite Pacquiao was Ian Welch in the 84-page bookazine “The Story of Boxing.” He listed the Filipino icon as a legend along with Muhammad Ali, Wilfred Benitez, Joe Calzaghe, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran, Chris Eubank, Foreman, Wilfredo Gomez, Rocky Graziano, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Roy Jones Jr., Jake LaMotta, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Mayweather, Sugar Ray Robinson and Mike Tyson. 

Welch also rated Pacquiao’s first fight against Marco Antonio Barrera as one of the most memorable bouts of all time. Others in Welch’s list were Marciano-Walcott in 1952, Ali-Foreman in 1974, Ali-Frazier in 1975, Duran-Leonard in 1980, Leonard-Hearns in 1981, Hagler-Hearns in 1985, Douglas-Tyson in 1990, Chavez-Taylor in 1990, Eubank-Benn in 1990, Bowe-Holyfield in 1992, Ward-Gatti in 2002, Corrales-Castillo in 2005 and Vazquez-Marquez in 2007.

Welch described Pacquiao as “one of the most successful boxers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries (who) already has numerous world titles to his name and looks set to dominate the fight scene for many years to come.” He added, “Pacquiao, nearly 40 pounds heavier in 2010 than when he started boxing professionally, also combines an acting and music career with politics, not bad for a man in his early 30s.”

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The second English writer to recognize Pacquiao was Steve Dawson in his book “How to Be the Greatest Like Muhammad Ali.” Dawson, who anchors on ESPN Star Sports, named Pacquiao as one of five fighters who could be the greatest fighter ever. The others were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Henry Armstrong and Roy Jones Jr. That pool puts Pacquiao in a highly elite circle.

“The PacMan has emerged as arguably Asia’s most successful sportsman ever,” wrote Dawson. “It’s hard to think of anyone who has earned more money or garnered more pure affection from their countrymen. Asia has supplied Formula 1 drivers, grand-slam winning tennis players, English Premier League footballers, Major League baseball starting pitchers, NBA superstars as well as many fine cricketers. But nobody currently generates as much respect on a global scale as Manny Pacquiao.”

Dawson noted that in 2008, ESPN’s Asia-based cable TV network conducted an online poll among its viewers on their vote for the Champion of Champions. The votes were in the millions and Pacquiao emerged No. 1 over the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“Like all greats, Pacquiao’s legacy will be defined at least in part by the quality of the other fighters of his era,” continued Dawson. “He beat greats Oscar de la Hoya (who was past his best) and Ricky Hatton (who was arguably at his peak) and could barely have done more than what has been asked of him.”

Dawson said the opponent who could cement Pacquiao’s claim to being the greatest fighter ever is Mayweather. “If they ever fight, Mayweather will represent an opponent who is classier (in the ring, sadly not out of it) than anyone Pacquiao has fought before,” added Dawson. “Mayweather has danced around a fight with Pacquiao for several years now. The fight may never be made but if it is, the winner has every right to be included in the list of the greatest ever, pound-for-pound.”