Max Kellerman: Manny Pacquiao Does What Floyd Mayweather Should Do

When Floyd Mayweather retired last year, he did so as the undisputed best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. But now that Mayweather is returning, he's no longer the best. That distinction now goes to Manny Pacquiao, and HBO's Max Kellerman did a great job of explaining exactly why that is: Pacquiao challenges himself against bigger opponents, and goes after them like a warrior.

"On the same day Floyd was announcing his comeback against a naturally smaller man, Pacquiao was destroying a naturally bigger man," Kellerman said. "Don't forget, Manny Pacquiao won his first world championship as a flyweight. And he continues to do what boxing fans have always wanted Floyd to do: Make fights against the biggest, most threatening opponents and, once the bell rings, go to war. Manny Pacquiao is one of the very greatest aggressive fighters in the history of boxing. Floyd Mayweather is one of the best pure boxers who ever lived. They're the two best of their era, and in my opinion, if they meet, it will be the most historically significant fight since Pernell Whitaker and Julio Caesar Chavez over 15 years ago."

I couldn't agree more. The reason I would now pick Pacquiao and not Mayweather as the best in the world is that Pacquiao has pushed himself in a way that Mayweather hasn't.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-13-2009 @ 12:09PM

greersigma said...

What are you talking about? Floyd beat De La Hoya; beat Patton; zab judah; gotti; If he fights Floyd, he will be outclassed...by the way, has pacquiao fought anyone who wasn't washed up...yes, he did...marquez..and he should of lost both those fights..

5-14-2009 @ 4:56AM

tybuzz said...

I don't want to see mayweather and pacquiao fight. because i don't want people like greersigma to say WHEN PACQUIAO DEFEATS mayweather to say "OH mayweather jr. WAS A SHOT FIGHTER". every fighter that fought pacquiao and beaten was considered SHOT AFTER they climb the ring with pacman, but when they fought fighters like, well, mayweather jr., they weren't shot fighters AFTER they fight mayweather jr. jm marquez won both fights??? where?? in the EA Fight Night simulations?? you have solid proof pacman got BEATEN?? no amount of time researching has came up that marquez WON the fights. I think your a great player of EA Fight night games the way you(marquez) defeated pacman. smile!

5-14-2009 @ 2:48AM

lleliasll said...

Yeah then he retires when he could have taken it to the next level and fight Mosely, Cotto, Williams, Margarito? Where as Pacman fought the great mexican warriors. Plus Gatti and Judah are not hall of famer caliber fighters, Morales, Marquez and Barrera are. It took Floyd only 2yrs ago to barely beat Oscar, Pac man made the fool quit on his stool and retire.

5-17-2009 @ 11:59AM

FAMAI said...

the problem with fighting un-retired boxers like Dela Hoya and Mayweather is that they always have an excuse if they win. I agree with the write who says that Floyd will have a built-in excuse if he loses to Manny or rather, his fans will have an excuse for their idols loss. Mayweather should prove himself first against bigger opponents. Pacquiao did that's why he's the best now.

5-19-2009 @ 9:23AM

skbysnacks said...

He did terrible against those guys and look what Pacman did to them. Mayweather is making a big mistake coming back because he won't be undefeated anymore.

5-13-2009 @ 12:16PM

Life of Music said...

I totally agree with this article. Now, I'm not saying that Mayweather isn't a great fighter, but I am saying that I think Pacquiao is also. If, and when, the two of them meet, I feel Pacquiao will win. Mayweather is a smart figher, but I don't think he has fought someone who can move the way Pacquiao does since he fought Castillo, which some people say he lost. Pacquiao doesn't have boring fights. Sometimes Mayweather can. All I say is I hope they fight soon, if Mayweather can beat Marquez, which is going to be a hard fight for him, and I hope they both fight hard and are safe.

5-13-2009 @ 12:23PM

raytdizon said...

All I hear from Mayweather Sr is blah, blah, blah... guy has been hit so many times in the head during his boxing career, the affects are now showing. He talks too much nonsense because he doesn't know what he is talking about.

5-13-2009 @ 1:39PM

Darryl said...

In boxing you are only as good as your last fight. The big factor here was Floyd still training doing his absense? If he has all other things being equal a bigger man almost always beat a smaller man. My vote has to go to Floyd if he has stayed active

5-14-2009 @ 3:04AM

kirk3451 said...

Mayweather Jr. is a good fighter no doubt.. but great? naaahhh.. Pacquiao is great... when Mayweather Jr and Pacquiao meets on top of the ring.. the world will see just how great Pacquiao is.. and Pacquiao cant wait to prove to the world just how great he is that's why he really wants to fight Mayweather Jr.. Pacquiao wants to leave a great masterpiece in boxing by defeating Mayweather Jr via a knockout the world hasnt seen yet and prove that he is the greatest boxer "not this time, not that time, but for all time" to borrow the line of Mayweather Sr....

5-13-2009 @ 9:20PM

suavebrownie said...

No doubt the pacman is a very good fighter. But then again so is mayweather. Mayweather is the best pound for pound, but now there is a new challenge...we cannot put him down because he didnt fight he fights we wanted him to..but recognize the smartness and superior qualities mayweather has. Pacman is on top now..will he be when he fights someone one of his own caliber???

5-14-2009 @ 1:19AM

Steve C. said...

I'm a huge fan of Manny and Floyd and both can make their case for why they're the best. Check out my extensive post on this debate at http://starburbsblog.com/2009/05/whos-the-true-king-of-the-ring/. I personally believe JMM beat Pacman twice and that Floyd would win. Floyd adapts his style based on the opponent is smart, careful, and flawless fighter. Manny is a brilliant, courageous, daring fighter. I agree Mayweather has never fought someone as good as Manny, but I also think Floyd's got another level yet to be seen b/c he hasn't been challenged. Floyd doesn't try to KO naturally bigger fighters unlike Manny. He did against Hatton, who's smaller, and he will try to systematically break down and KO Marquez and Pac assuming he fights both. I never base my predictions on common opponents b/c styles make fights and boxers get better and worse (look at Manny now compared to the first JMM fight). The De La Hoya that showed up against Manny was weak, slow and just had an IV to hydrate hours before the fight. He was in unbelievable shape for the Mayweather fight. I'm old school and hate watching fights where judges give it to guys just because they threw more punches while the other guy made him miss and landed clean hard power shots. That type of scoring lends itself to favor punchers like Paul Williams, Calzaghe, Manny, etc. and penalizes guys like Mayweather and Hopkins. If Floyd doesn't hurt or KO Manny, he'll lose on the cards b/c of this. I think he'll do one of the two though.

5-14-2009 @ 7:47AM

DM said...

Floyd is the most overrated fighter in boxing history. Period.

5-15-2009 @ 8:34PM

DonMandirigma said...

Where did you here that from? Let me guess, you must the father... the Fraud Gayweather Sr.

5-14-2009 @ 2:35PM

Philly2010 said...

Mayweather got out of boxing because he didnt want Mosley to lay him out...period. NOW he want to come back to fight Manny give me a break. Pacman will lay Mayweather out. He will be weighed, measured, and found wanting! Mayweather you should have not come back. After Mayweather gets beat I would like to see him get his head handed to him by Mosley. This will bring an end to his pathetic, weak style of boxing. 2 losses to finally end his career will be totally fitting for such a arrogant pansy.

5-15-2009 @ 12:05PM

sidneyblumenfeld said...

all such statements are trash being a monday talker is easy only time will tell but wait till m meets marques first things first marquez is know pushover

5-15-2009 @ 1:09PM

xoghettogrl22 said...

i think pac-man would beat pretty boy any day. Now, the real question is when are they going to move up in weight to fight Miguel Cotto or Sugar Shane? I keep hearing how Floyd and Manny are the pound for pound best, but we have to remember, yea Cotto got beat by Margarito, but didn't Margarito get busted for cheating? That to me shows Miguel Cotto is still the fighter to beat. If they don't want to fight Cotto, they can get in the ring against a body destroyer like Mosley, who by the way defeated Margarito in devastating fassion and is now the welterweight champion.

5-15-2009 @ 5:16PM

SALBAHE said...

Did MP/Roach made any excuse on his loss to JM? Let's see did any of this fighters ODLH , JMM , AB , JM , JD , RH and their trainer made any excuse? When they loss to MP; TKO , Draw (mistake by the Judge) Decision , Decision/TKO , LOST/TKO/TKO , KO. One other thing, the last two fighter's stated that they are bigger,faster and more powerful!!!!!! It's FREE THINK......... You know who you are.

5-24-2009 @ 4:20PM

MP or Mayweather ? May the best man win.

5-15-2009 @ 10:28PM

Mr. Reynolds said...

Manny would have to knock Floyd out to win because Floyd is too elusive, versatile, quick and equally dangerous. It would be the typical "boxer versus puncher" bout and Floyd would try to give Manny a boxing lesson. I'm certain if Manny couldn't land solid blows on Floyd, one..it would tire him out, two..it would frustrate him and take him out of his game plan and three..he'd get further and further behind on points and lose by decision. A lot will depend on how Floyd fights Marquez. Oh, there is no way in the world Mosley could beat Mayweather especially before Mayweather retired. Look at what Cotto did to Mosley. I like Mosley but he's just looking for another big pay day before leaving the ring. I wish Mayweather would have fought Margarito, Cotto, and Williams. I respect Manny because he'll fight anyone like Ray Leonard, Caesar Chavez, Ali, etc. did. Too many fighters would prefer to retire than fight stiff competition. If Mayweather is his old pre-retirement self, a fight with Manny would be very much worth viewing.

5-16-2009 @ 4:05PM

cpjohnson16 said...

Pacman would destroy and overwhelm mayweather. Floyd has spent his career ducking fighters. He chose to fight Baldomir, washed up and slow Gatti, washed up Hatton and old and overrated Oscar. He ducked Margarito, he ducked mosley, he ducked cotto. His most stressful fight was with Judah. Pacquiao would be way too much for Floyd at 140. Floyd is a highly skilled fighter but he might want to continue his tradition of ducking dangerous fighters or he will go out on his back.

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