Breakdown of our current ATG fighters of this generation

Pac

Like Floyd, he's a certifiable ATG that belongs in the top 25 (if not higher, depending on your ranking system), and like Floyd, is still active and could elevate his standing once retired.

He's won titles in 8 divisions (despite scepticism over his 8th division), and started all the way back at 112, fighting for the most part all of the top dogs in each of his 7 divisions (outside of David Diaz), and has been involved in some memorable fights and trilogies/sagas.

As with Floyd, anybody can rip his resume apart, but seeing it for what it really is, it's hard to do so.

1. Barrera - HOF, top 3 pound for pound champion, coming off some impressive wins (most notably Hamed), who many thought would run through Pac. What followed once an absolute annihilation, and put Pac on the map as one of the best fighters in the world.

2. Morales - HOF, highly regarded coming off his amazing trilogy with the aforementioned Barrera (and many of whom considered the 3rd fight either a draw or close win for Barrera due to the late start by Morales, and although he lost the first fight in an absolute war, went on to knock Morales out twice. Some say he was faded, but Morales did make a somewhat successful comeback years later to show that he wasn't completely shot.

3. Juan Manual Marquez - HOF, another Mexican legend to add to his list, that created one of the greatest rivalries of the modern era. Despite the disputed decisions, the fights were so close and were so divided between fans as to who one, that Pac just further enhanced his legacy in these fights. It's hard to say who was the greatest Mexican of the first 3 mentioned, that's a debate that would have many sides.

4. Lehlo Ledwaba - The universally ranked number 1 Super Bantamweight, with only 1 loss early in his career. An under rated win, and imo, one of his best. And Pac dominated and stopped him in an extremely impressive performance.

5. Miguel Cotto - HOF, a top WW contender against a small (former flyweight) lightweight, who was once considered the hot prospect of the WW division before Margarito and Clottey got to him. Everybody under the sun wrote Pac off, but the performance and domination of this fight was a sign to be seen. Arguably the most impressive performance of Pac's career. This, combined with the Ricky Hatton annihilation, put Pac on the map as the p4p no1 fighter in the world (if not already after Dela Hoya).

6. Ricky Hatton - Possible HOF, this was before the Cotto fight, and light with Cotto, everybody under the sun was writing Pac of as being too small and feared for his life. What ensured was one of the greatest KOs in this century. A former p4per coming off a loss of Floyd Mayweather, but still incredibly dangerous.

7. Chatchai Sasakul - The number 1 ranked flyweight champion, on a hot streak, who although was doing quite well (against a very young Pac), ended up being KO'ed. Another under rated win on Pac's resume to give him his first world title.

8. Antonio Margarito - Despite the hoax title, Margarito was a beast of a man who outweighed Pac by more than 15 pounds. And what ensured was an absolute beat down of the (much) bigger man, breaking his orbital bone in the process and forever destroying him as a fighter.

9. Oscar Dela Hoya - ATG, no matter what you say about his age and his weight for the fight, 99.9% of people thought this was a mismatch and that Pac would be blown out of the water. On the contrary, it was Dela Hoya who was blown out of the water, showing the world that Pac could not only compete with the 'bigger' man, but also do so in style. Those who hadn't followed Pac at this stage, would NEVER forget his name, attitude, and most importantly, he fighting style.

Add guys like Timothy Bradley, despite the scores (current world champ and p4p fighter), David Diaz (at the time a world champ), Shane Mosley (although faded) and Joshua Clottey (coming off a controversial loss to Miguel Cotto).

Again, to not give this guy Kudos, is a joke.

Thank you Manny, for all the great memories. You will be missed.

 

I know I may cop heat on this forum for saying such a thing, but yes, I have Floyd above Manny.

Floyd's top 20, which could be anywhere in that list of 20, no number specifically. Pac's between 20-25 (more specific), but I think what he does for the rest of his career may either increase (or decrease) that rating.

 

As I said, any casual can pick apart any fighters resume. Here's a quote to the post you quoted from a quality poster Nonito Smoak in this very thread:

 

I'm not sure I get where you are coming from. Mosley is certainly borderline ATG, considering he had the most impressive run at lightweight since Sweet Pea, 2 wins over Dela Hoya (jumping 2 whole weight divisions) as well as a 3 division title in a division he never belonged in (and still gave the best LMW of the era, Winky, some tough close fights), and was p4p no 1 there for a stage too, during a great era.

In any case, no way JMM and Morales break the ATG barrier. So let's meet in the middle and say all 3 are simply HOF.

So the point still stands.

Nice to know that's all you got out of it though, I'm sure you didn't read the breakdowns in full, or either or even 1 of them.

 

Wow. I haven't posted in a year, and this is what I'm getting from the Pac fans?

I've had numerous 'great posts' remarks from non-Floyd and Pac fans so far.

I'm just trying to break this whole silly debate between their respective fans by posting a thread acknowledging the brilliant achievements of both fighters.

Did you read the Pac breakdown?

Come on now.