FIRST, let us set the record straight. Manny Pacquiao, even before his amazing conquest against Miguel Cotto last Sunday, is already and must be considered one of the greatest fighters in boxing history. For the record, his 12th round technical knockout victory over the Puerto Rican champ cranked Pacquiao’s stock to the next level that makes it ridiculous or even impossible for him not to face the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. for his next bout. After all, the finest boxers in his comfort zone have fallen one by one from his naughty little fists. Name them: Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Eric Morales, David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Cotto. Those guys were all legitimate world champions at one point of their boxing career. And those guys were never the same after bowing to Pacman, who collected boxing titles along the way. The print media, TV and even Pacquiao, himself, had said he now has seven titles in different weight classes. Let us count them.
Pacquiao won his first world boxing title, the World Boxing Council flyweight (112-lb), on Dec. 4, 1998 against Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand. The heavily favored Thai was kayoed by the little-known Pacquiao in the 8th round back then.
Pacman captured his second title, the International Boxing Federation super bantamweight (122-lb), when he scored a sixth round TKO victory over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on June 23, 2001 in his first ever bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His third, the WBC super featherweight (130-lb), came when he defeated Marquez by decision on March 15, 2008 in Las Vegas.
Title number four was the WBC lightweight (135-lb) crown of Diaz whom Pacquiao had beaten via a 9th round TKO on June 28, 2008 also in Las Vegas.
Then there was his stunning second round knockout victory over Ricky Hatton last May 2 for the International Boxing Organization light welterweight (140-lb) crown at the MGM Grand.
And last Sunday, Pacquiao walked away with the World Boxing Organization welterweight plum of Cotto. But that’s just six titles if you even count the IBO a legitimate sanctioning group. A kumpadre of mine and a respectable boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino pointed to me that the IBO is not as prestigious as the WBC, IBF, WBO and World Boxing Association. Kumbaga, hindi ka-level ng IBO ang WBC, IBF, WBO at WBA. But still, Pacman deserves all those titles because, as Atty. Ed had also stressed, hindi naman pipitsugin ang mga tinalo niya para makuha ang mga titulong iyon. What bothers me though is title number seven which Pacquiao’s handlers, including his publicist and my kumpadre Winchell Campos, said was the most important one of all — The Ring magazine featherweight crown.
The Ring may be the bible of the boxing world but the titles they give were handed subjectively. Kahit nga ‘yung People’s Champ title ni Pacquiao ay hindi lehitimo. Ibinigay lamang iyon kay Pacman ma-tapos niyang bugbugin ang orihinal na People’s Champ na si Barrera noong Nov. 15, 2003 sa San Antonio, Texas. But even if I do not consider that Ring magazine citation and the People’s Champ recognition in this list, the fact remains that Pacquiao is The Greatest Fighter of this generation. And that is setting the record straight.
Fred Nasiad, Sports Editor
BANDERA, 111709
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