I have a question about Pacquiao

To go from 122/126/130 to shutting out and completely dismantling welterweights...It's crazy stuff. I would have never expected anything like this. I thought he MIGHT wind up fighting Ricky Hatton if he had a successful run at lw, but even then, if you would have told me he would score 3 kd's in 2 rounds and viciously stop him in the 2nd, I would have said you're crazy. Pac's a legendary fighter. It's an honor to have him in this era.

 

I would have thought it was impossible without the aid of some sort of performance enhancing products, which is why I find it strange that on the one hand people want to praise him for such an amazing rise in such a short space of time while being 100% convinced that he hasn't used anything illegal to get there.

 

Someone did predict Pacquiao fighting and beating ODLH and Ricky Hatton, but I think he got banned.

 

Great fighter. What else is there to say? His punching form doesn't blow me away, and I don't think his defense is impenetrable.

And Popkins, you've been a fan boy for longer than a moment now.

 

indeed!

 

You're right and the last two years are why Pacquiao is now considered a potential ATG.

EPSN ranked top 50 boxers of all time in 2007 and Manny wasn't even considered. Bet you he would be top 35 or 40 now. There are many here who like to pretend that Pacquiao's best accomplishments were pre-2007 and that's complete horse****.

Fact is a guy who is life and death at featherweight at 30 years of age can jump up and demolish good welterweights within 1.5 years is unprecendented. IMO the constant PED accusations are warranted until Pac accepts random blood testing and performs the same way.

 

We know very well what people thought of the chances back then of Pacquiao beating DLH, Hatton or Cotto, because PacDBest made all the threads about those potential match ups and everyone said it was ridiculous to even consider it and took the **** out of him.

 

I think what Pacquiao has accomplished over the last few years is amazing, and he deserves all the accolades and praise he is getting for it. Pac's career may even be MORE exalted in hindsight. 20 years from now, people might be ranking him in the top 5 ATG, especially if he beats the winner of Mayweather-Mosley.

 

Was a big high school aged fan of the teenage flyweight back in the mid-late 1990's.

Used to stay up late at night, once a week (a school day) just to watch the boxing TV show "Blow By Blow", where the kid was starting to make waves.

Coolest moment of his young career: seeing him win the regional title (his first ever) against a veteran Thai champ of 3 years, back in 1997. And of course the December '98 win vs Sasakul in Thailand.

After he got Ko'd by Singsurat in Thailand and forced to go up to 122, I was positive that his legit world title hunting days would be over. Too big of a leap, I thought. I would still support his fights and watch him even if he becomes some sort of an exciting, all action, regional journeyman/gatekeeper, though. Will probably have less power and punch resistance now at the much higher weight, but he'll still give a good show for the crowd.

The guy surprised me with what he did to his career, post 112.

 

very good points, but I kind of expected a question.

 

I'd rather you make them than Asero or Enzo.

Nothing new, and it doesn't just apply to Manny Pacquiao. I feel some people are guilty of perhaps underrating the Filipino, but there are also those who seem to think his victory over Oscar De La Hoya elevates him to an insane degree. It elevated his popularity, but he's fought and defeated much tougher opposition.

It's more the expression of personal taste than criticism. Nothing wrong with his punching technique but I prefer the more compact offensive fighters, who sit down and throw systematic, accurate, short, combination's to head and body. That's not how I would describe Manny Pacquiao, and in respect to his defense, I'm of the opinion that it will fail him if he was to make arguably the biggest fight of all time with Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's a personal opinion.

What's not up for debate is Manny Pacquiao's credentials. Stunning.

 

Excellent post. Although I think Pac's win over Clottey will be viewed merely as a footnote. Something like Haugen-Chavez, remembered for the venue as much as anything.