Pacquiao earns place among world’s elite

Boxing is known as the sweet science for a reason, and its technical workings have perhaps been more closely dissected and studied than those of any other sport.

Some believe this ceaseless search for the slightest and most intricate of advantages imposes a limit as to how much one performer can be better than his peers.

Manny Pacquiao’s latest demolition job may have started to smash through that mind-set with the same sort of force he used on Ricky Hatton’s face and body on Saturday night.

Rarely has a boxer raised the bar of his profession so quickly and emphatically as the Filipino superstar is doing as he marches through a series of weight divisions.

Worryingly, for those with future designs on facing him, there is no ceiling in sight.

The Filipino superstar’s progress since his last defeat, to Erik Morales in 2005, has not purely been built with his physical gifts or inscrutable technique.

His poor upbringing in the Philippines may have limited his formal education, but trainer Freddie Roach believes Pacquiao is a boxing genius.

And, crucially, he has not just the mentality of a fighter, but the sporting intellect reserved for sports’ all-time greats.

Pacquiao probably hasn’t heard of Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French philosopher. But one of Pascal’s most famous phrases – “man’s greatness lies in his power of thought” – applies to him.

Pacquiao is not simply chasing recognition or success; his ultimate target is fulfillment.

Deep within the closeted mind of this introverted yet phenomenal athlete is the seed of thought that his upper limits are still some way from being tapped.

“I know I can improve my skills as a boxer,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Filipino television. “I am very pleased to have beaten Ricky Hatton but I think I can still get better. How much better, I don’t know.”

No one knows the full capabilities of the 30-year-old’s dancer feet and surgical fists.

However, fueled by the fulsome belief of Roach, the sense is that the end is not yet close.

The crushing flurry that struck out Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and sent the Englishman to a local hospital didn’t feel anything like a crowning achievement, more a stepping stone to future glories.

For the sport of boxing, the timing could not have been better. With Floyd Mayweather Jr. returning from his brief retirement, there are now two bona fide superstars of generational aptitude.

Pacquiao, though, is an athlete of the purest variety, for whom the essence of his profession is the essence of himself.

If the public began to tire of hyperbole and marketing shtick, it never sickens of witnessing greatness in full flow, and that is what Pacquiao is providing.

His understated personality is a wonderful antidote to the bling culture inherent in many professional sports and his methodology carries a powerful message.

“Every pro athlete should take what Manny does to heart,” said his promoter, Bob Arum. “This young man realized he didn’t know everything and that to be more successful he could still learn.

“He learns every fight, every training session, and gets better and better. The way he lives his life and the way he performs is an example to anyone.”

Pacquiao’s achievements speak for themselves and the way he sent Hatton crashing to the canvas for the final time was the most resounding of finishes.

It has been a long time since a boxer would have been mentioned in a mythical “pound-for-pound” list of the world’s finest athletes.

Yet while Pacquiao does not have the personality of a Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt or Rafael Nadal, his level of achievement must be considered on par.

“Manny Pacquiao is the best man out there in boxing,” said the New York Giants’ Super Bowl-winning running back Brandon Jacobs, an impressed spectator on Saturday. “I can’t think of a single athlete there who would not give him their total respect.

“Power comes in many forms, especially in my sport, but when you see it coming from a man who weighs 140 pounds it is an incredible thing to behold.

“This guy is an artist at what he does. He is the best pound-for-pound boxer and his ability transcends across all sports.

“He has to be one of the best athletes in the world.”

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

Posturing starts over for Pacquiao-Mayweather battle

Manny Pacquiao's devastating fists sent a powerful message to Floyd Mayweather Jnr about his comeback - the path to deciding boxing's pound-for-pound king goes through the Filipino superstar.

Unbeaten American Mayweather, the former undisputed welterweight champion, tried to upstage Pacquiao's junior welterweight showdown with Ricky Hatton by announcing his return from a 17-month layoff just hours before the fight.

Mayweather, who will face Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 in his return to the ring, dismissed the idea of fighting the Pacquiao-Hatton winner, saying he was taking his daughter bowling rather than watching the fight.

"I'm not worried about that," Mayweather said. "I don't have to call fighters out. They are all calling me out."

But it's safe to say Mayweather heard about Pacquiao's domination of English hero Hatton and the punishing left cross that knocked out Hatton one second before the end of round two to bring the Phillipines star a historic win.

Moments after the fight, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told the Filipino southpaw "You are going to be the greatest fighter who ever lived" and said he might be the best fighter he has promoted, a list that includes Muhammad Ali.

"If Mayweather wants a piece of the 'little Filipino', just be my guest," Arum said.

Pacquiao won the International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title to match a boxing record by claiming a crown in a sixth career weight class and back up his claim as boxing's pound-for-pound king.

Hatton was hospitalized as a precaution after lying unconscious on his back in the center of the ring, but doctors found no lasting physical injuries.

The top fight boxing fans hunger to see now is Pacquiao against Mayweather. It's the only mega-fight that will bring huge pay-per-view profits for both men and decide which is the true pound-for-pound king.

Posturing from both camps began with Mayweather's decision to book his first fight before Pacquiao's victory. Arum, who has the task of negotiating a deal, and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach fired the next verbal volleys.
"Mayweather, he just had to wait one day and he could have fought Manny. I think he's afraid of Manny. He made the fight maybe not happen," Roach said before predicting "Pacman" would beat Mayweather if they do fight.

"He doesn't like to engage in the ring. He's going to run from us."

While there is hope Mayweather-Pacquiao can happen by the end of the year, Mayweather must first handle Marquez in July and Arum says Pacquiao will wait until Miguel Cotto fights in July before deciding upon a next opponent.

A potential foe for both men before they meet is US veteran Shane Mosley.

"He knows he is at the end of his career and he wants to make some big money off me," Mayweather said.

Roach had a considerably higher opinion of Mosley.

"The most dangerous guy put there for Manny right now is probably Shane Mosley," Roach said. "They both like to fight and his pace is dangerous."

Another issue will be weight. Marquez, a star at 135 pounds, and Mayweather, a force at 147, have yet to settle on a catch weight for their fight, likely to be at 144 pounds.

A similar size issue will come into play during Pacquiao-Mayweather talks.

"At the right weight? No problem. At 147? Forget it," Roach said. "Manny doesn't need it. Manny's best weight is 140."

Dividing the money will also be troublesome, with both men likely to want the lion's share of the profits from the rich pay-per-view spectacle. Pacquiao made 12 million dollars against Hatton, who made eight million.

Mayweather played the loudmouth to lure a record 2.4 million purchases against Oscar de la Hoya and one million more against Hatton, saying he pushed the numbers even though his rival's fan base drove creation of the fight.

With Pacquiao as Asia's super fighter, a new untapped market could test Mayweather's moneyspinner skills.

Another factor will be pay-per-view numbers for Mayweather's comeback and the Pacquaio victory. Should tough economic times hold down the profits, it could push organizers to delay a showdown for financial conditions to improve.

AFP

After Hatton ... Pacquiao VS Mayweather

On May 1, 2009, it was confirmed that Mayweather is coming out of a 16-month retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on HBO PPV.^[40] The fight will be a Catchweight of 143 lbs. HBO will also be bring back the 24/7 Series prior to the fight.

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Brilliant Pacquiao cements legacy with win

Pacquiao VS Hatton highlights

After Manny "PACMAN" Pacquiao's tremendous win over Ricky "Hitman" Hatton, Mayweather is next if ever he wins or loose to Marquez scheduled fight soon.

Pacquiao VS Mayweather will be the biggest fight soon, and it will be Pacmans last fight to prove his supremacy..

LAS VEGAS – It took just 359 seconds to add the latest devastating chapter to a legacy that will last for decades.

Manny Pacquiao’s flurried fists made short work of Ricky Hatton on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and delivered the most emphatic proof yet that boxing has a superstar for the ages operating at his peak.

Pacquiao sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas twice in a frenetic first round, then sealed the contest with a brutal left hook that had Hatton out cold on his back with one tick remaining in the second round.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have announced his comeback from a brief and scarcely-believable retirement on Saturday morning. But there can be no doubt that Pacquiao is boxing’s undisputed king as he continues to ride a remarkable wave of momentum.

“Our strategy was the one punch,” Pacquiao said. “Left hook. Right hook. That was going to be the key to this fight.”

The Filipino fighter is a quiet and reserved man out of the ring, but between the ropes he morphs into an electrifying machine – and Hatton felt his full force.

The Hatton camp had hoped their man’s power would be telling, yet he simply had no response to Pacquiao’s pace and precision. A right hook put Hatton down with 54 seconds remaining in round one and proved to be the beginning of the end.

“I knew it was over,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “Ricky fights the same way over and over. He doesn’t have the ability to adjust.”

As Pacquiao moved in for the finish in the second round, Hatton tried to cling on only to be sent down again with a fierce straight left. Doctors immediately rushed to the aid of Hatton, who eventually and thankfully was able to walk from the ring under his own steam.

“I am surprised this fight was so easy,” said Pacquiao. “I did work hard in my training camp and it paid off. This is as big a victory for me as when I beat Oscar De La Hoya.”

That December triumph over De La Hoya did not convince the entire boxing fraternity of Pacquiao’s ability, primarily as the Golden Boy’s powers had so clearly dimmed from his prime. Now there is no speculation. Pacquiao is the top dog, until someone proves otherwise in the ring.

Floyd Mayweather Sr. was a no-show at the postfight news conference, leaving Hatton’s co-trainer, Lee Beard, to explain the mauling by Pacquiao.

“We knew about Manny’s speed and that it could play a factor in the fight,” Beard said. “What you saw was two rounds of action and Ricky got caught.”

Roach’s status as a trainer grows in line with each victory his top fighter posts and it became clear his game plan was perfect. Hatton could not avoid Pacquiao, who landed with 73 of his 127 punches. The Brit could only land 18 of 78.

“This is no shock at all,“ Roach said. “Hatton pumps his hands before he throws a punch, and it makes him a sucker for the right hook.

“Manny is a monster. He is the best fighter ever. There is no surprise here.”

Defeat was a bitter blow to the thousands of Hatton fans among the 16,262 in attendance who had journeyed across the Atlantic but saw their dreams dashed within a few brutal minutes.

The typical symphony of chanting carried on even after their man had been sparked out, but it may not strike up again. Hatton, who was alert in his locker room before being taken to the hospital, is one of the most popular boxers ever with an incredible fan base, but his fighting future is now in serious doubt.

For Pacquiao, the future is brighter than ever, and his legend continues to grow.

Said Pacquiao: “I can fight anybody.”

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

Perspective and Prediction

Manny Pacquiao’s spectacular victory over the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, has the boxing public salivating at the prospects of former multiple-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. challenging Pacquiao for pound-for-pound supremacy. Pretty Boy Floyd retired from professional boxing on June 6, 2008, but many pundits don’t take his retirement seriously.

Many boxing analysts deem Mayweather’s retirement as only temporary and it’s only a matter of time before something (or someone) whets his appetite for prizefighting. Pacquiao’s scintillating defeat of six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya is just the perfect motivation to coax the Pretty Boy from his self-imposed hibernation.

The “triangle theory” of boxing may not be applicable to everyone involved in the art of pugilism and has become the downfall of many a boxer. However, seeing Pacquiao utterly demolish De La Hoya makes one wonder if Mayweather’s close victory over the Golden Boy is any indication of the Pacman’s supremacy over the Pretty Boy, at least in the pound-for-pound sense.

Mayweather has indicated that he is willing to come out of retirement and face Pacquiao, and for good reason. Manny Pacquiao is the biggest threat to Mayweather’s legacy as the best fighter of this generation.

In fact, some boxing analysts and fans think that Pacquiao has the tools to put a blemish on Mayweather’s perfect record. The Pretty Boy would love nothing else but to prove that he is still the best fighter of the last 10-20 years by defeating his closest rival for that honor.

Should the fight happen (and most likely it will), what are possible scenarios and who will emerge as the victor? To do that, an in-depth analysis of both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses is in order.

Let’s take a look first at Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (39-0, 25 KOs), is considered as the best defensive genius in boxing since Pernell Whitaker. Mayweather’s specialty is firing combinations from long range and using his exceptional footwork and speed to avoid his opponent’s firepower.

Although Mayweather is an expert at defense, it’s a mistake to underestimate his offensive arsenals. The Pretty Boy is a master at slipping punches with laser-like accuracy. Add to that his awesome technical abilities, versatility, speed, stamina and defense, and you have the perfect fighter who can pose serious problems to sluggers like Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) is an offensive fighting machine who overwhelms opponents through blistering hand speed and firepower. His defense is somewhat suspect since he is a “hit me and I’ll hit you harder” kind of fighter, but his last fights against bigger opponents have shown that he can deflect or absorb heavy punishment.

To defeat Pacquiao, Mayweather has to implement all the techniques in his book, especially defense. The only way to control Pacquiao’s aggression is through perfect timing and counterpunching. When and if Pacquiao manages to launch those deadly combinations, it’s not farfetched for Mayweather to resort to grappling, holding and other “dirty” tactics to frustrate the Pacman.

To defeat Mayweather, Pacquiao has to pressure him from start to finish, allowing Pretty Boy little space to launch his long-range bombs. Pacquiao has to force Mayweather to the ropes and at the same time, move away quickly to avoid deadly counters.

It’s an interesting scenario of speed versus speed, offense versus defense, but in the end offense will prevail. Manny Pacquiao will force Floyd Mayweather, Jr. into a slugfest the entire fight, and prevail in a close but convincing unanimous decision.

The Fight that has to Happen

By Adam McGarry: Think about that for a second, really think about it. Sounds good , yeah? Current pound for pound Number one Manny Pacquiao against pound for pound king (Number 0?) Floyd Mayweather Jnr. The shouts of ‘That won’t happen’ can be heard already, but it’s not impossible. I believe, along with many, that Floyd Mayweather isn’t done with the sport, he’s just not interested in fighting anyone recently who he doesn’t see as any sort of threat to his throne.

All credible fighters in their own right but Floyd seems to believe he’s above any of them and hasn’t wasted any sleep over them. Oscar De La Hoya wasn’t too much of a threat in terms of athleticism and ability, definitely not post-prime, yet Mayweather took that fight over any other of the fighters around him.

It was the sheer lure of a blockbuster fight where he believed he couldn’t lose, and make millions at the same time. He wanted to beat the most popular fighter and Oscar gave it his all and on the night, he was gearing up for a rematch but Mayweather just wasn’t interested. Manny Pacquiao is different, Mayweather can’t even dream of the popularity Manny has, not many people do but when it comes down Manny being hailed as the best fighter on the planet has got to eat away at an ego like Floyd’s.

Manny did what Floyd couldn’t and stopped De La Hoya with relative ease, yes De La Hoya is slightly older but that won’t exactly have that much effect. De La Hoya was shot already. Manny drew a mere five million less for the De La Hoya fight than Mayweather did in his bout, so it’s not like Pacquiao’s not a box office mega star, whereas Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito for example, both fighters Mayweather has been accused of dodging, simply aren’t big enough draws for the boxing public.

The key to big office draws isn’t the passionate boxing fans (i hate to say), it’s the casual fan, who hears a name and thinks ‘oh that’ll be a good fight, i know those two’. After beating a legend in Oscar and near enough sending him into retirement on a stretcher, he’ll be plastered over every sports newspaper, website, magazine etc.

But here’s the beautiful part, Manny can actually fight around Floyd’s weight. Competitively. And he hadn’t lost anything of his erratic flashes of speed and tenacity, he’s probably one of, if not THE, most exciting fighter on this earth.

Again, that must hurt Floyd a little bit, pick away at that ego. The most exciting fighter on the planet vs. the best fighter on the planet, that’s just a fight that has to happen. Attack vs. Defense, Composure vs. Flair, Gung Ho vs. Pure Ability. The list goes on, and it would be a money machine, if you let Golden Boy promote it as well you’re talking record breaking.

Manny may have to get past Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton first, but if that fight is at welterweight, and Manny puts on a display like he did and Hatton can’t handle the jump up in weight again he could seriously get Floyds attention. Which no doubt he already has but a win over the another mass-popular fighter in Ricky would just have to bring him out.

Manny wouldn’t have too many options, and Mayweather can never resist a little bit more cash in the bank. The signs point to a generation defining fight for pound for pound supremacy, the calls have to start.

Surely Floyd wont sleep with everyone telling him there’s a little Filipino fighter with a nations worth of fans and possibly even more admirers and some serious talent. Give every boxing fan, casual or passionate, the fight the whole world wants to see.