How highly do you rate Pac's perfomance in Pac-Barrera I?

MAB's peak was clearly 1999-2002, imo.

 

I was being sarcastic. How did you not get that, brah?

 

I apologize. Sarcasm doesn't translate well online lol.

 

The idea that Pacquiao ended MAB's career in 2003 is outrageous. He'd go on to school Paulie Ayala, Rocky Juarez, and achieve what I consider to be his career best win in beating Morales for a second time to become 130lbs champ.

 

I'd say its the opposite, he was more of an offensive force and far more aggressive at 122, at 126-130 he was more tactical and defensive, he completely reinvented himself for me, which gave him that longevity

 

:-(( These discussions get tedious beyond belief. He was in his prime by any useable definition of the word.

 

Being far more aggressive isn't the same thing as having a more varied and complete offensive arsenal.

 

I run the risk of coming across as a fan boy in saying it, but Barrera wasn't quite all there on the night of the Manny fight, and that's just the way I feel.

 

It's early where I am and I'm partially tired but you're correct. He had a war with Juarez then in the second fight he dominated it with no problems I've heard. Beat Morales again as you said and then had a close fight with Marquez that could've went his way. He's great.

 

It's often said that Pac has developed a lot technically over the last couple of years, but I hevn't seen him look better technically than he did against Barrera.

In fact, his technique was better against him than it was against for example Clottey and Margarito, even though he probably felt less need to be careful against them.

 

Tyszu was P4P no3 against Hatton at the age of 35 when he was clearly a faded force, P4P is generally a careers achievement and not a measure of prime. MAB was near prime against Pac but not at his absolute pinacle, he also had a terrible training camp comprimised by forrest fires and the last time he would ever fight a life and death fight was Morales 1

None the less Pac's fast straight punches and southpaw angle always beats MAB

 

Who knows, he could have had an off-night. He did after all perform better in the rematch. On the other hand, I've never seen Pac as sharp as he was in that fight.

On the whole, I prefer to see the glass as half full and give the winner his due, though, if there's not very good reasons not too. And I'm pretty consistent about this, I think.

 

He probably wasn't at his absolute, absolute best, but if one is to have that as a yardstick we won't get anywhere fast. He was still very, very good and would give a great account of himself as late as 4 years later against Marquez. By any workeable definition he was in his prime.

 

I think he throws better placed punches and has better footwork. His defense is still leaky but he can kinda get away with it because of his still fast footspeed. I think he's a bit more patient then he used to be though he still loves to pull the trigger. I thought his combinations against Clottey & Margarito looked sharper than against Barrera or JMM in the first fights he had with them. His timing was always excellent even when he was "one-armed" in his early days. I could be wrong so I'll go back and rewatch them in a few weeks/months time. I might even get what I can of Pacquiao's career set in the near future if possible.

 

Come on Addie, it can't be discredited, Pacquiao beat the **** out of prime Barrera. I'm not trying to be a **** mate, it winds me up when people say the same thing about Douglas' win over Tyson, and i worship the ground Tyson walks on.

I remember the fight well, there was an issue leading up to the fight, i remember something about a medical issue regarding Barrera's head surfacing, (was it a metal plate or am i losing the plot?), but still this was prime Barrera, let's have it right.