Top 15 for me, lads. As things stand, he's top 30...a decisive victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr would be his greatest ever triumph.
Around 15 places is a HUGE leap. Of course, it would be a huge win, but it's hard for me to believe that one win can be worth that much given the quality of men between where you have Pacquiao now and where you would have him if he stopped Mayweather...
Well I guess I hold Floyd in higher regard that most of you because I don't give Manny Pacquiao a chance in the fight. I think stylistically hes' in big trouble. Aside from that, if Manny did pull off the win, he'd be in the possession of easily one of the most impressive resumes of the last 40 years. His achievements through the divisions, and the manner in which he has been handling bigger fighters, is a special achievement that not many fighters in history can boast. Admittedly, I don't actually have a list but he'd leapfrog a Pernell Whitaker and be awfully close to a Sugar Ray Leonard. Perhaps a top 20 place on second thought.
Its a Tall order for him but Pac has been surprising me. I did not expect his last 3 fights to go that well for him. I would love to see the active guy win, not the part timer
You do realize this sort of qualifier is rhetorical, yes? This will attract everyone from sweet_scientist to frankenfrank and everything in between.
If you could throw any active fighter out there who has the style to present real problems for Manny, it would be Floyd Mayweather, even above a Shane Mosley. Mosley is there to be hit, always has been, whereas Floyd's defensive capabilities speak for itself. Many accomplished fighters in the past have failed to land even a significant blow on him. Pacquoao is dynamic, throws a variety of punches from an assortment of angles, but I'll think he'll find himself surprised at how much Floyd's counters are going to effect him.
It's the timing. Mayweather times a man coming forwards as well as it can be done. Pity he doesn't do more on offense, but the potshots should be enough to take the wind out of Manny's sails.
If he and Mayweather both retire after a Pac KO win, top 20 full stop. If Mayweather himself then goes on to beat any combination of Mosley/Williams/maybe Berto or Martinez, Margarito-Cotto II winner (any 2 of the above)...this could catapult Pac through the siege defense of the well-fortified 15 without him lifting a finger.
...And possibly stop him dead. Manny cannot expect to find success in standing in front of Mayweather as he did against Miguel Cotto.