Three of Manny Pacquiao’s biggest fights
There’s no denying that Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers the world has ever seen. In the history of boxing, Pac Man is the only eight-division world champion, having won 12 major world titles. Next month he steps into the ring for his 71st professional bout, taking on Keith Thurman, who is unbeaten in his professional career.
Of a professional career spanning 24 years (and counting), Pacquaio has won 61 of his 70 fights to date, with 39 of those by knockout. He’s lost seven bouts, but with three of those in his last 10 fights, at the age of 40, is the Pac Man on the decline? He took a brief retirement and returned with a win. His fight against Thurman on July 20th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas is bound to be close. Think you can call it? Place your bets at: https://www.paddypower.com/boxing/boxing-matches/keith-thurman-v-manny-pacquiao-29251803.
In honour of Pacquaio’s stellar career, let’s take a look back at three of his biggest fights.
3) v Oscar De La Hoya, December 6th 2008
When Pac Man met the Golden Boy, while no title belts were on the line, the bout was dubbed ‘The Dream Match’ owing to both boxers’ accolades. Pacquiao was undoubtedly the world number 1 boxer at the time and the reigning WBC lightweight champion of the world, while opponent De La Hoya had held 10 world titles in six weight divisions.
De La Hoya was the favourite before the bout, with a height and weight advantage over Pacquaio and it being referred to as a mismatch. It was a mismatch – but not in the way that people expected. From the off, Pacquaio landed early punches, with the first four rounds being somewhat one-sided. The fight was called off at the end of the eighth round, by a technical knockout, although in reality, De La Hoya threw in the towel.
Four months later, the Golden Boy announced his retirement.
2) v Ricky Hatton, May 2nd 2009
It was the ‘Battle of East and West’ when Pacquaio took on Ricky ‘Hit Man’ Hatton, in what proved to be the ‘Knockout of the Year’. Victory for the Pac Man saw him level with De La Hoya with the most wins in different weight divisions (six).
It wasn’t Pacquaio’s quickest knockout, but it only took two rounds. The Filipino started strongly, knocking Hatton to the ground twice in the opening round, the first lasting eight seconds and the second blow with just nine seconds of the first round remaining. In the second round, with 2:59 on the clock, Pacquaio knocked Hatton unconscious, giving the referee no option but to end the bout.
The defeat was only Hatton’s second in his career but forced him to retire. Pacquaio on the other hand, won the IBO, The Ring and lineal light welterweight titles
1) v Floyd Mayweather Jr, May 2nd 2015
‘The Fight of the Century’ saw Pacquaio take on Floyd Mayweather Jr (AKA ‘Money’) for a whole host of titles, including WBA (Super), WBC, WBO and The Ring welterweight. Mayweather was the undefeated five-division world champion, while Pacquaio was an eight-division world champion.
The bout lasted the full 12 rounds, but in the end, it was Mayweather that was the victor, by unanimous decision: 118-110, 116-112, 116-112. The American landed 148 of his 435 punches, while Pacquaio threw 429 and only hit 81 – it was apparent that the Filipino lacked power as well as height. Pacquaio eventually blamed a shoulder injury on the defeat.
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