Pac & FMJ and their 5 common opponents...

The fight hasn't happened, probably never will, so until then, and maybe all we'll ever have is this cold war. Proxy wars. Here's my look at their common opponents.


Oscar De La Hoya

Mayweather: W SD12

This fight wasn't as much of a struggle for Mayweather as a lot of people make it seem. Mayweather wasn't able to look magical, but he won clearly against a motivated, just south of prime DLH.

Pacquiao: W TKO8

A lot of people (including myself) didn't think Pacquiao stood a chance, but he proved us wrong by dominating Oscar in every conceivable way. But, there was CLEARLY something wrong with Oscar, made eveident that he cba to throw any punches back at Pacquiao. But was that Pacquiao's fault? No.

Better win: Though I fully acknowledge that wasn't Oscar out there, Pac's win was still better. FMJ looked stymied at times. Even when he began winning, he still wasn't outright dominating DLH. The fact that FMJ turned down a what could have been a lucrative rematch speaks volumes.

Ricky Hatton

Mayweather: W TKO10

Hatton came in undefeated and was coming off a big win over Luis Castillo. He was prime. After a tiny bit of success early on, Mayweather began schooling Hatton en route to a 10th round knockout.

Pacquiao: W KO2

Pacquiao basically let Hatton self destruct. He seldom came forward, instead letting Hatton run into shot after shot. Down twice in the 1st, and pole axed in the waning moments of the 2nd by one of the greatest KO shots in boxing history.

Better win: Pacquiao. Mayweather claims he "softened" Hatton up for Pacquiao, but that's a bunch of bull****. Ricky still looked prime vs Malignaggi. Hatton did seem more reckless and more about "going for broke" vs Pacquiao than he did for FMJ, but Pacquiao just took what Ricky gave him.

Shane Mosley

Mayweather: W UD12

This was a fight many thought FMJ wouldn't even take. Mosley was coming off a huge win over Antonio Margarito, and FMJ was coming off another layoff. I never doubted FMJ would win, but I thought he'd win by back peddling and pot shotting all night. He proved everyone wrong by coming forward for the majority of the fight - even after being rocked in the 2nd. I think he could have KO'd Mosley if he wanted. Still, it was a straight schooling.

Pacquiao: W UD12

Mosley was coming off a loss to FMJ and a uneventful outing against Sergio Mora. I cringed when this fight was made, and had to force myself to watch it. Pacquiao dominated an old, slow, jittery Mosley, but not in as exciting fashion as he should have. Mosley was making Pac look silly with lateral movement for much of the time, i.e., he was pretty much out-footworking Pac. Unimpressive win for Pac, dumb fight to take in the first place.

Better win: Mayweather. No need to elaborate.

Juan Manuel Marquez

Pacquiao: D, SD, MD

Marquez schooled Pacquiao for at least 25 of the 36 rounds they fought, imo. Pac deserved to lose both the second and third fights. Unlike everyone else, I wasn't selling JMM short going into the third fight. I knew it would still be a tough go for Pac, and it was.

Mayweather: W UD12

Mayweather was coming off a layoff and thoroughly schooled JMM for 12 straight rounds. FMJ was in complete control every step of the way, making a technician like JMM look outright stupid at times. Still, I just can't help but see this fight as a big guy beating up on a little guy. yes, Mayweather won using his skillset, not his size, but still...the way JMM was made to come up in weight just doesn't sit right with me.

Better win: This has to be judged on who had a better "outing" instead of a better win, considering Pac fought JMM three times, winning two - but two he should have lost, imo. Because I can't shake the size thing, and I also can't shake the fact the JMM dominated Pac the majority of the time...I have to call this one EVEN.

Miguel Cotto

Pacquiao: W TKO12

Let me start by saying too much stock is put into Cotto's loss against Margarito. He fought and won twice after that, including the tough Joshua Clottey. The fight against Pac was fought at a (unesessary) catchweight, but Cotto weighed exactly one pound less than he did against Clottey, i.e., he wasn't weight drained, as even he admitted. Pacquiao broke Cotto's will in 3 rounds en route to a mercy stoppage. Pac's best win altogether, imo.

Mayweather: W UD12

I honestly thought FMJ would shellack Cotto. I thought it would be Gatti or Corrales-esque. But Cotto looked strong, healthy, motivated, and ready to fight. He brought it, and made FMJ work for his victory. This isn't a knock against Mayweather. He brought his A game, and despite being in the toughest fight he's been in in a very long time, he stayed composed, stood his ground, and gave us a FOTY candidate.

Better win: FMJ fans will say Floyd fought the stronger, non weight drained Cotto. Like I said, I don't think Cotto was drained vs Pac, so that's a moot point to me. I will concede that Cotto may have been more confident vs Mayweather, but that's it. Pac did in first, and in more impressive, dominating fashion.

So. 5 common opponents. Imo, 3 of Pac's wins were better, one of Floyd's with one even.

Let's debate! :bbb