Mannys name belongs up there with Armstrong and the rest

Actually that is false. Pacquiao was more physical in the lower weight classes. His competiton level also dropped off as he moved up in weight. He never fought anyone great past 130.

 

Yeah, the Marquez fights are a blemish. Marquez brings him down to size. There's no getting round that. But I always give credit to great fighters who actually have 3 or 4 fights against their 'stylistic nemeses', when other great fighters have (wisely?) refused to entertain rematches with their most troublesome foes, or avenged a defeat then called it quits at 1-1.

Yes, he got bigger. He was probably well juiced, but then Marquez's physique and power in fight 4 was just as remarkable or 'odd'.
Anyway, the likes of Clottey, Margarito, Cotto were definitely a lot bigger than Pacquaio.
Really, I always found his featherweight days the most impressive version, and perhaps the Oscar and Hatton fights.

 

Yeah, one of the few times I thought, for a second, **** Have we just seen a man killed ?

 

More physical meaning stronger, faster, higher workrate. Its pretty obvious in his featherweight days that he was had a lot more of that stuff.

 

Why are the marquez fights a blemish. Pacquiao did actually beat a prime Marquez.

Ali went life and death with Frazier.

 

They are a blemish is the sense that Marquez sits at least equal with Pacquiao, head to head, over the series.
That lessens Pacquiao's general superiority in his era.
But as I've already said, I have to give credit to Pacquiao for fighting his toughest opponent 4 times. A lot of the ATGs avoid such challenges, or time them or cherry-pick them.

 

Pacquiao had 12 knockouts in 13 fights at 122-126. Stopping even Ledwaba and Barrera.

I thought IMO that he carried better power at the lower weights.

 

Very great but he never ever proved himself a level above Marquez.

Admittedly some greats do struggle with certain opponents but usually those struggles occur during a pre or post prime period (Jofre v Harada).

Let's do the Griffith Test. Can anyone strongly argue without any room for doubt that Pacquiao deserves to be ranked above Emile Griffith?

 

Yeah, the referee hesitated. Perhaps the KO was so real it must have looked unreal. I don't know, It was awesome, frightening stuff.

 

Marquez was his equal H2H or close to it.

But Manny stopped Barrera who rates even higher than Marquez. So does that matter or not?