On Saturday afternoon, I told someone that I thought Floyd Mayweather Jr. would beat Manny Pacquiao, if the fight between the world's two best boxers finally materializes. After watching Pacquiao destroy Ricky Hatton on Saturday night, I no longer think that.In fact, I now think this: Pacquiao, the little man who started his professional boxing career in the Philippines fighting at 106 pounds, would beat any boxer at any weight class under 160. Yes, you read that right: Pacquiao would have to move all the way up to middleweight before I'd bet against him.
The way Pacquiao just tore through Hatton Saturday night was nothing short of breathtaking. Hatton is a good boxer -- he was the world junior welterweight champion, and when he fought the undefeated Mayweather, he managed to win a couple of rounds before finally succombing in the 10th. But against Pacquiao, Hatton never knew what hit him, falling twice in the first round before getting knocked cold in the second.
Similarly, Pacquiao and Mayweather both fought Oscar De La Hoya, and while Mayweather beat De La Hoya by split decision, Pacquiao destroyed De La Hoya for nine rounds before making him quit on his stool. I have a hard time seeing how anyone who watched the last two fights for both Mayweather and Pacquiao could deny that Pacquiao is the better boxer.
In fact, Pacquiao is so great that I think he could move up another 15 pounds or so and beat the best junior middleweights in the world, Vernon Forrest and Paul Williams. Obviously, Pacquiao's strength and reach disadvantage would cause him problems against those opponents, but he's just so fast and so smooth a puncher that I think he'd move in and out, connect with flurries of punches and frustrate either Forrest or Williams.
Obviously, size does matter in boxing -- that's why there are weight classes. At some point, the 5-foot-6, 138-pound Pacquiao would be unable to keep winning if he kept moving up in weight class, and I think that point is at 160 pounds: The middleweight champion of the world, Kelly Pavlik, is 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds and would probably be able to use his reach, his power and his strong jab to beat Pacquiao.
But put the best pound-for-pound boxer in the ring with any opponent smaller than Pavlik, and my money is on Pacman.
Pacquiao-Hatton Photos
LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxers Ricky Hatton (L) and his brother Matthew Hatton of England host an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricky Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. Matthew Hatton won his welterweight fight against Ernesto Zepeda of Mexico on the undercard. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton;Matthew Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxers Ricky Hatton (L) and his brother Matthew Hatton of England host an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricky Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. Matthew Hatton won his welterweight fight against Ernesto Zepeda of Mexico on the undercard. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton;Matthew Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England borrows a hat from a fan as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (L) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England borrows a hat from a fan as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England poses with fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (L) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England wears a fan's hat while hosting an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
I really don't see the deal with this Mayweather Jr. character. I really don't. What has he done other done being undefeated? ( Which to me is completely meaningless ) especially when you keep docking opponents. He's boxing resume will never come close to Manny's.
"I have a hard time seeing how anyone who watched the last two fights for both Mayweather and Pacquiao could deny that Pacquiao is the better boxer."
You are right on the money on that one. His fight against dela hoya was a split-decision, Manny on the other hand destroyed delahoya. It took floyd 10 rounds to stop Ricky. Manny just killed him, almost literally.
Mayweather has picked apart more up and comers and known fighters than Pacquiao, you must have just got into boxing recently or something...and the De la hoya who fought mayweather was not the same who fought manny he tried to go down in weight way to fast for his age and was a shadow of himself...as far as who will win in a fight between mayweather and Pacquiao we'll see soon enough. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Oh yeah and lets not forget most fighters will agree that that the mayweather-de la hoya fight wasn't a split decision and should have been unanimous
no one has beat mayweather and because it is a sport you cannot compare who beat who--every year in every sport the national champion(in this case the best fighter}may lose on a given night or not win as impressively. The bottom line is no one has beat floyd mayweather, and until he is beat and claims he is back in the sport , he is the best pound for pornd fighter in the world because he has beaten everyone that was put in front of him unlike pacman, nvertheless I think he will have more of a problem with a Shane moseley because of his power.
do u think dela hoya shoud hve retired after each of his losses? should have retired after his loss to cotto? etc, etc...he's still a good fighter, now if he fights and loses in his next fight then i'd say adios....
anybody especially michael smith, thinks that pacquiao can beat anybody from 160 down is on drugs, hell do you think he could have beat margorito ? the way he beat cotto, he looked unbeatable, and cotto before him. stop he is a little man with fast hands and can punch don't be fooled ricky hatton was beaten before even mayweather, by the same style, and the dude was robbed, pr fighter, i forgot his name so hatton is a product of the media, commonsense tells you to keep your left hand up if you don't want to get hit with the right hook, no adjustments.. let's see what happens when someone has speed and is offensive, and is making him think about getting hit. he is good not that good.
My dad used to say "sometimes when you open your mouth the fool jumps out" the person who wrote this article is in la la land, who has Pacquiao really fought that isn't shot or over the hill? They are all has been's anyone with good boxing skill can beat a has been. Your an idiot and that will be proven when Mayweather frustrates and makes Pacquiao just another ordinary fighter. The news media is a joke and so are you. Next thing you'll be telling me is that Barack Obama is white.
actually.... Barak Obama is white.... His mother is as White as any White person that ever existed.
Ever heard of Erik Morales? Marco Antonio Barrera? Juan Manuel Marquez? (Who, btw, is Mayweather's next opponent). Maanny has beaten them all, and lost what I thought was a close decision to Morales in their first fight (Manyy won the 2nd fight).
Who has he fought? Anyone willing to fight him, and only loss in 10 years was to Morales. The dude is good, has a very strong left hand and now has a right hook (how many southpaws have a killer right hook? Name one.) He will give Mayweather all he can handle, and Mayweather's only shot is a dancing decision; he gets in a punching contest with Pac Man and he's toast.
HEY NEGRO! THE PROBLEM IS IF YOUR IDOL GAYWEATHER WILL FIGHT PACQUIAO BUT YOUR IDOL CHERRY PICKS HIS OPPONENTS AND I DON'T THINK HE WOULD FIGHT PACQUIAO BECAUSE HE IS TREMBLING TO HIS KNEES RIGHT NOW. LOOK AT WHO HE IS FIGHTING AFTER ANNOUNCING HIS RETURN....IT'S THE TINY 135 LBS. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ! IF HE'S REALLY WHAT HE SAY HE IS, WHY NOT FIGHT THE BEST LIKE SHANE MOSLEY???? HE IS A COWARD WHO GOES AFTER SMALL GUYS HE THINKS HE CAN BEAT.BUT MARQUEZ IS TOUGH AND HE MIGHT MAKE YOUR GAYWEATHER HIS BITCH..
Did Oscar or Hatton throw any punches?I KNOW FLOYD WILL! CAN PACMAN FIGHT AN OPPONENT THAT IS QUICKER AND STRONGER THAN HIM? THIS IS WHAT HE WILL FACE IN FLOYD "MONEY" MAYWEATHER. OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MONEY HAS THE BEST DEFENSE AND IS THE BEST COUNTER PUNCHER. IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE LIKE PAUL WILLIAMS TO BEAT FLOYD BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT AND REACH ADVANTAGE.
The fact of the matter is you can't hit mayweather with a flush hard punch there's no effective way of getting past his defense or atleast nobody has found a way...and mayweather is always in incredible shape on fight day so it would benefit floyd for this to go the distance.-
are you kidding me man?? you gayweather asshugger surely dont know the kind of speed and power Pacman has.. defense of gayweather will never be useful against pacman coz pacman throws at all angles and gayweather only has two hands.. how can you dodge and block almost simultaneous punches? all of pacman's opponents thought the same that they can handle his speed.. man.. when they got inside the ring with pacman it was too late to discover the speed was too much for human beings and the power is like that from a heavyweight.. gayweather's ass is numbered believe me asshugger.. GAYWEATHER IS NUMBERED!!! wait till gayweather makes the mistake of challenging pacman which i doubt if he will.. pacman will expose your gayweather how fraud P4P he is
IT'S AMAZING HOW PEOPLE JUMP ON BANDWAGONS SO QUICK. I SOON WE FORGET! I REMEMBER ALL THE BULLSHIT PEOPLE WAS SAYING AFTER MARGARITO KO'D COTTO THEN SUGAR EMBARRASSED THE HYPED UP CHEATER. BEATING TWO HAS BEEN IS NOT IMPRESSIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU STUDY HOW FLOYD BEAT BOTH OPPONENTS AND USED HIS BLUEPRINT. I HATE TO BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU FOLKS BUT THERE IS NO KNOWN BLUEPRINT ON BEATING FLOYD.
The first fight between Maywether and Castillo
I disagree...all you have to do is hit him (hard)...I don't know how hard Hatton hit Mayweather, but Hatton is nowhere near as fast as Manny. Manny can take punches.
pac knocked hitman out.now let pac and prettyboy both have a tune up fight and then lets see whos boxing best by putting them against each other because come on who can beat either of them as mills lane allways said lets get it on
Lets get some facts straight. Margo chetto beat cotto with cement in his gloves. Mosley easily exposed that. And cotto gave mosley a boxing lesson my friend. #2 Pacman is good but not that good. He barely beat Marquez and he is not the best. Paul williams would destroy pacman at 160 lbs fight. Cotto and pacman would be a great fight but thats a fight I see cotto knocking pacman out at 147 lb fight. I think pacman has a good chance in beating floyd if he can catch him and that would be a great fight to watch. Best fighter in boxing is Paul williams,then cotto then Floyd then Pacman.
YA, that's a silly stretch. Paul Williams would destroy Manny as easily as Manny destroyed Hatton. Just Too big, and he is also a punching marvel.
Mayweather is a toss up too. Mayweather has the best defense and would force Manny into errors. Not saying he could capitalize on them, just that they'd happen.
Why is everyone forgetting that Manny BARELY beat Marquez, and does have a loss on his record? News flash - he's a great great fighter, but anyone can lose.
I guess we'll see how good they both are when Mayweather and Marquez fight...but they should have fought a year or 2 ago. I ain't sure Marquez is anywhere near as good as he was when he fought Manny, and Manny is better than he has ever been...accurate, powerful punches, no wasted energy because he seldom misses...
Yeah, we'll see...