Alot of people you jackass. Guzman or Campbell at 135 PBF or Shane at 147 Bradley or Alexander at 140
I was starting to become a really big fan...... I have lost a little bit of respect. He is still a great fighter and nothing will take away from that. After the Mayweather thing, we all know the story, I lost a bit of respect. Not at all saying he is on steroids, but it was kind of a ***** move none the less.. Also It would be great if Roach kept his mouth shut about opponent selection. After Roach pretty much stated that he knew Oscar, Hatton, and Cotto were past their best which is why they took the fight, gave me the idea that they were selecting the opponents very carefully. Not to take away from Pac, but I do believe his risks are surely calculated much more than most would suggest.
I think he gets too much credit for mowing down limited or busted camp fighters. The whole testing fiasco didn't help.
When Roach was asked why they were fighting Cotto instead of Mosley, he said "Cotto isn't Mosley" or something like that. You think it is a coincidence that Mosley destroyed Margarito, and Cotto was beaten to a bloody pulp prior? I like Pac and everything, but people act like he doesn't select opponents and calculate risks just like any other fighter. He gets away with much more, other fighters get trashed for the same thing.
I think he deserves a good chunk of the praise and recognition he has received, and if Pac continues being successful at WW (maybe LWW) he will definitely a long way. Personally, I think he's still one or two stylistically diverse fights away from being considered an ATG at that particular weight division. So I don't hate him personally, but when I read threads of how people think Pac would demolish so many ATG Welters, it is pretty jarring. I think it sort of reach its zenith when ESB posted that awful article about Pac-Hearns being an all out war where Tommy would be pushed to his limits. Well, I could see that argument being credible if Pac beat say, Paul Williams (size) or someone who was generally considered to be a significantly harder puncher than Pac (I really don't know any Welters who can punch at Hearns' level). His accomplishments at the weight are great, but I think there's still some room for growth that *******s fail to acknowledge and it becomes one of the most jarring parts about posting in Welter threads or even reading them. The 140-147 divisions are so rich right now, appreciate that and that we have great talent to test these fighters. To say that one fighter reigns supreme (Pac or even Floyd) is frankly premature and insult to those talented fighters they have yet to face.
For real though, I don't see how anyone can outright HATE Pacquiao...aside from the OSTD debacle, he has few faults (unless you wanna count cheating on Jinky, which is nobody's business anyway). You can say whatever you want about his selection of opponents, but you can't deny that the man brings it everytime he steps into the ring. Someone else could have fought the same supposedly shot Barerra, Morales, De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto, and the result would have been different. Not to say that that "other guy" wouldn't have won those fights, but there is a good chance he wouldn't have nearly as spectacular doing it. I can guarantee you that Mayweather wouldn't have knocked out Morales in 3 rounds, he wouldn't have knocked Cotto out, and a fight featuring him against Clottey would have been a LOT more boring than Pac's fight with Josh was...Mayweather beats everyone he is supposed to beat in DULL fashion. Pacquiao beats everyone he is supposed to beat in ELECTRIFYING fashion.
Pac didn't matter then and nobody was examining his record or comparing him to others. It became hate when he got put on the P4P list for... Beating skeletal ODLH (what top 5 WW have beaten that corpse?) Beating busted camp Ricky Hatton (He fought like a bum.) Beating busted camp Cotto (Did you hear the corner? Can you imagine the camp?) It became pure hate: When he ducked the drug testing and started taking honors at WW for fighting ONLY Top Rank fighters and shot guys (see above). It became a joke: When Clottey wouldn't punch back but somehow got a 1.5 million dollar bonus! :huh When Margarito was mentioned as the next opponent. Nate Campbell is a prophet!:deal