Very few fighters in boxing history have a resume like that of Manny Pacquiao. His list of opponents, victims in many cases, includes sports luminaries such as Erik ‘Terrible’ Morales, Marc Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar de la Foia, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, among many others.
Pacquiao, who returns to the ring this Saturday for his first fight since 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman, has 72 professional fights in his career and is the only 8-division champion in boxing history. And at the age of 42, in the face of his lawsuit against the Cuban Yordenis Ugás that could very well be the last of his career if he chooses, as anticipated, to run for the presidency of his country, the Filipino can look back and identify which of these moments, victories, in boxing gave you the most joy.
“When I look back on my career, I like to remember when I won in the welterweight division against [Óscar] De la Hoya. It’s the happiest moment of my boxing career, ”Pacquiao said recently in an interview with ESPN Sports’ Katia Castorena.
De la Hoya had been struggling as a junior middleweight when he agreed to an intermediate weight of 145 pounds to face Pacquiao in December 2008. The Filipino made his professional debut at 106 pounds and had never fought above 135, and that was only once, knocking out David Diaz for the lightweight CMB title. The fear was that the older man (De la Foia) would abuse the younger one (Pacquiao).
Instead, Pacquiao stabbed the Golden Boy brutally, forcing his side to throw in the towel after eight rounds, in a triumph that catapulted him to fame and put an end to De la Hoya.
The fight was Pacquiao’s first in welterweight, after previously reigning in 5 divisions (112, 122, 126, 130, 135). A year later, after knocking out Hatton to win a super lightweight title, Pacquiao would defeat Cotto to win the OMB welterweight title, beating De la Foia by the most divisions won in boxing history. .
Pacquiao, unlike the vast majority of his former rivals, remains active at the elite level. The Philippine senator is looking to win a fifth welterweight championship against Ugás that would make him the third oldest male world champion behind Bernard Hopkins and George Foreman.
“It’s another blessing because at least I contributed a great record in the history of boxing. And of course, bringing honor to my country and inspiring boxing fans, especially the Filipino people,” he said. PacMan ‘.
Manny Pacquiao, do you still have something to contribute to boxing?