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Countdown To Mayweather-Pacquiao: What A Win Means For Pacquiao
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He’s been electrifying boxing fans for over a decade.
He’s won a world title in eight different weight divisions between 112 and 154. And in nine bouts against his three most fierce career rivals, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, he’s compiled a 6-2-1 record. In addition to those three greats he stopped a faded Oscar De La Hoya, who was a multiple division title holder, destroyed the once beaten Miguel Cotto, who is the only Puerto Rican fighter in history to win a world title in four different weight classes. He also dominated a monster named Antonio Margarito, who was much physically bigger than he is. He defeated Shane Mosley when he was shot, but in his defense, Mosley was a three division title holder and he was able to put him down, not an easy feat. In his second to last fight he became the first to beat Timothy Bradley when he was probably the third-best welterweight in the division. That’s quite a run for a fighter who won his first professional title as a flyweight.
Those accomplishments alone pretty much guarantee Manny Pacquiao a place among the top pound for pound fighters in boxing history. On May 2nd he will fight another career rival, Floyd Mayweather 47-0 (26). Mayweather is considered by many to be the best pound for pound fighter in professional boxing. He’s won a world title in five different weight divisions and other than one fight (his first against Jose Luis Castillo who really did beat him in the ring) he hasn’t tasted defeat. Floyd loves to spew how he’s “the best ever,” something that rings hollow to many sophisticated boxing fans born before 1980. That said, Mayweather is an authentically great fighter and although I don’t consider him among the top 10-12 greatest welterweights in history, there’s really only about seven or eight on the list who he’d have absolutely no chance to beat and who would’ve beat him 10 times in 10 fights.
With Pacquiao’s overwhelming success moving up in weight over the last decade many have forgotten that Manny won his first title as a flyweight. This is 18 pounds south of where Mayweather captured his first world title as a junior lightweight. Today they both fight as welterweights with the difference being Manny has never fought at the 147 division limit; actually he’s never been over 145 fighting as a welterweight. Mayweather is the predominantly bigger framed man and he is greatly skilled. Floyd is taller, longer and physically stronger than Pacquiao. If Pacquiao were to beat Mayweather when they finally meet without much controversy attached, it would be a monumental feat. It would definitely be the most significant win scored by any fighter in over a decade, something I’m sure no one would argue. For a fighter who started as a flyweight to become unequivocally the top fighter in the welterweight division is literally off the chart.
Rating/ranking fighters in an historical context is so hard to do and it’s even more subjective than hard. Exactly where a Pacquiao win over Mayweather would place him among the all-time greats I guess mostly depends on where you see Mayweather fitting in. Manny being the first fighter to beat Mayweather would no doubt be the signature win of his stellar career and the one he’d be the most remembered for. The question is, just how high up the all-time pantheon does that elevate him? Among younger and casual fans Manny probably does better than cracking the top-15. However, I doubt that he would catapult that high in the eyes of boxing insiders and historians.
There have been three fights in the last 30 years in which an undefeated great or a champion who was perceived to be even more unbeatable than Mayweather is now lost as an overwhelming favorite. Two of the three winners are certifiable all-time greats and one has been almost forgotten.
On September 21, 1985, undefeated/undisputed light heavyweight champ Michael Spinks 27-0 won a 15-round unanimous decision over IBF heavyweight champ Larry Holmes 48-0. At the time Holmes 35, was on the decline and had some close calls in his last few fights just as Mayweather has. But Holmes weighed in at 223 pounds, that’s 48 pounds more than any fighter Spinks ever fought. The 29 year old Spinks was a 6-1 underdog and he out-boxed one of the greatest boxers in heavyweight history. After beating Holmes, Michael Spinks’ legacy exploded and deservedly so. Today he’s considered among the top five or six greatest light heavyweights in history – and beating Larry Holmes has a lot to do with that because no other light heavyweight ever scored or more significant win.
On April 6, 1987, former welterweight and junior middleweight champ Sugar Ray Leonard 33-1 won a 12-round split decision over undisputed middleweight champ Marvin Hagler 60-2-2. Leonard, 30, had one fight in five years going into the fight. Hagler, 32, had been champ for seven years and hadn’t lost a fight in 11 years before fighting Leonard – and they are thought to be hometown decisions to Philly stalwarts Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts and Willie “The Worm” Monroe. Hagler avenged both of those loses by knockout. His draw to Sugar Ray Seales is considered another hometown decision against him, and everyone who saw him fight Vito Antuofermo for the title thought he won, instead of the draw the fight was declared. A case can be made that in the ring Hagler was 66-0 going into the Leonard fight, and unlike Mayweather, he was avoided and ducked by other contenders instead of the opposite. Leonard was already considered an all-time great before he fought Hagler but beating him as a 4-1 underdog knocked his legendary status out of the park.
On May 15, 2004 WBA/WBC light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver 21-2 TKO’d former light heavyweight/WBA heavyweight title holder Roy Jones 49-1 (the loss was by DQ to Montell Griffin the first time they met) in the second round of their rematch. Jones, 35, beat Tarver, 35, the first time they fought via a controversial decision. For their first fight Jones had to drop nearly 30 pounds to get down to light heavyweight again after beating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title in his last fight. Roy was weakened by the weight loss and that seemed to hinder him against Tarver, yet he was still a 4-1 favorite for the rematch. Roy was in great shape for their grudge match. However, Tarver, after losing the first round, knocked Jones out beyond recuperation to win the titles he lost to him. Sadly, everyone forgets that if Jones retired at 34 after beating Ruiz he may have gone down among the top five pound for pound fighters in history. So it’s fair to say that Roy’s reputation of being unbeatable easily exceeds Mayweather’s today. But due to his sub-standard performances after losing to Tarver, his perception of the true great he was has been forgotten.
When Michael Spinks beat Larry Holmes, Larry was riding a 12-year undefeated streak and 21 of his 48 wins were posted in title bouts. Mayweather is unbeaten in 19 years and 24 of his 47 wins occurred in title bouts. If Pacquiao can beat Mayweather, his career should get the same injection historically that Spinks’ did.
Sugar Ray Leonard didn’t need to beat Hagler to justify his legacy, but boy did winning their fight help. Many were not only sure Marvin was going to win their fight, they thought he was going to seriously injure and hurt Ray…..yet he was never on the verge of being in trouble during the fight. Pacquiao beating Mayweather wouldn’t and shouldn’t rank near Leonard beating Hagler.
Antonio Tarver beating Roy Jones, when he did, should get more props than it does. The problem is, neither of them looked like all world fighters again after facing each other. Actually, Tarver beating Jones the way he did in their rematch is much more impressive than Pacquiao beating Mayweather, if he does, because Roy’s record at the time was more impressive than Floyd’s is. The only way that’s debatable is if Manny devastates Floyd the way Tarver did Jones. That said, Pacquiao, if he beats Mayweather, will get much more credit than Tarver did for beating Jones.
So if Manny Pacquiao beats Floyd Mayweather as an almost 3-1 underdog, I say he earns a place among the top 20/25 greatest pound for pound fighters in boxing history. Some will think that’s not high enough and they’ll have him closer to the top-10. However, I believe what Spinks, Leonard and maybe even Tarver accomplished has to be considered a more Herculean feat.
Then again as I said, it depends on two things 1) how highly you think of Mayweather and 2) it depends on who you ask.
One thing is for sure, when you look back at Pacquiao’s career, you see some highs and lows, but after every low, he has risen to even greater heights.
A win over Mayweather would once again put him at the pinnacle of his career and cement his legacy forever. On that, everyone can agree.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
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Bivol Evens the Score with Beterbiev; Parker and Stevenson Win Handily
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It was labeled the best boxing card in history.
That’s up for debate.
And there was some debate as Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev to become the new undisputed light heavyweight world champion on Saturday by majority decision in a tactical battle.
“He gave me this chance and I appreciate it,” said Bivol of Beterbiev.
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) rallied from behind to give Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) his first pro loss in their rematch at a sold out crowd in the Venue Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Like their first encounter the rematch was also very close.
Four months ago, these two faced each other as undefeated light heavyweights. Now, after two furious engagements, both have losses.
Beterbiev was making his first defense as undisputed light heavyweight champion and made adjustments from their first match. This time the Russian fighter who trains in Canada concentrated on a body attack and immediately saw dividends.
For most of the first six rounds it seemed Beterbiev would slowly grind down Bivol until he reached an unsurmountable lead. But despite the momentum he never could truly hurt Bivol or gain separation.
Things turned around in the seventh round as Bivol opened up with combinations to the head and body while slipping Beterbiev’s blows. It was a sudden swing of momentum. But how long could it last?
“It was hard to keep him at the distance. I had to be smarter and punch more clean punches,” said Bivol.
Beterbiev attempted to regain the momentum but Bivol was not allowing it to happen. In the final 10 seconds he opened up with a machine gun combination. Though few of the punches connected it became clear he was not going to allow unclarity.
Using strategic movement Bivol laced quick combinations and immediately departed. Betebiev seemed determined to counter the fleet fighter but was unsuccessful for much of the second half of the fight.
Around the 10th round Beterbiev stepped on the gas with the same formula of working the body and head. It gave Bivol pause but he still unleashed quick combos to keep from being overrun.
Bivol connected with combinations and Beterbiev connected with single body and head shots. It was going to be tough for the referees to decide which attack they preferred. After 12 rounds with no knockdowns one judge saw it a draw at 114-114. But two others saw Bivol the winner 116-112, 115-113.
“I was better. I was pushing myself more, I was lighter. I just wanted to win so much today,” said Bivol.
Beterbiev was gracious in defeat.
“Congratulations to Bivol’s team” said Beterbiev. “I think this fight was better than the first fight.”
After the match it was discussed that an effort to make a third fight is a strong possibility.
Heavyweight KO by Parker
Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) once again proved he could be the best heavyweight without a world title in knocking out the feared Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) to retain his WBO interim title. It was quick and decisive.
“Catch him when he is coming in,” said Parker, 33, about his plan.
After original foe IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness, Bakole willingly accepted the match with only two days’ notice. Many experts and fans around the world were surprised and excited Parker accepted the match.
Ever since Parker lost to Joe Joyce in 2022, the New Zealander has proven to be vastly improved with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Now you can add Bakole to the list of conquests.
Bakole, 33, was coming off an impressive knockout win last July and posed a serious threat if he connected with a punch. The quick-handed Bakole at 310 pounds and a two-inch height advantage is always dangerous.
In the first round Parker was wary of the fighter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He kept his range and moved around the ring looking to poke a jab and move. Bakole caught him twice with blows and Parker retaliated.
It proved to be a very important test.
Parker refrained from moving and instead moved inside range of the big African fighter. Both exchanged liberally with Bakole connecting with an uppercut and Parker an overhand right.
Bakole shook his head at the blow he absorbed.
Both re-engaged and fired simultaneously. Parker’s right connected to the top of the head of Bakole who shuddered and stumbled and down he went and could not beat the count. The referee stopped the heavyweight fight at 2:17 of the second round. Parker retains his interim title by knockout.
“I’m strong, I’m healthy, I’m sharp,” said Parker. “I had to be patient.”
Shakur Wins
Despite an injured left hand southpaw WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) won by stoppage over late replacement Josh Padley (15-1, 6 KOs). It was an impressive accomplishment.
Often criticized for his lack of action and safety-first style, Stevenson was supposed to fight undefeated Floyd Schofield who pulled out due to illness. In stepped British lightweight Padley who had nothing to lose.
Padley was never hesitant to engage with the super-quick Stevenson and despite the lightning-quick combos by the champion, the British challenger exchanged liberally. It just wasn’t enough.
Even when Stevenson injured his left hand during an exchange in the sixth round, Padley just couldn’t take advantage. The speedy southpaw kept shooting the right jabs and ripping off right hooks. At the end of the sixth Stevenson briefly switched to a right-handed fighting style.
Stevenson used his right jabs and hooks to perfection. Double right hooks to the head and body seemed to affect the British challenger. A clean left to the body of Padley sent him to the floor for the count in the ninth round. It was a surprising knockdown due to his injured left. Padley got up and the fight resumed. Stevenson unloaded with right hooks to the body and down went the British fighter once again. He got up and tried to fight his way out but was met with another left to the body and down he went a third time. Padley’s corner tossed in a white towel to signify surrender. The referee stopped the fight at the end of the round. Stevenson scored his 11th knockout win.
Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom
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Early Results from Riyadh where Hamzah Sheeraz was Awarded a Gift Draw
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After two 6-round appetizers, British light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith got the show rolling with a lusty 12-round skirmish. Things went south in the middle of the seven-fight main card when WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames locked horns with challenger Hamzah Sheeraz. This was a drab fight owing to a milquetoast performance by the favored Sheeraz.
Heading in, the lanky six-foot-three Sheeraz, whose physique is mindful of a young Thomas Hearns, was undefeated in 21 fights. Having stopped five of his last six opponents in two rounds or less, the 25-year-old Englishman was touted as the next big thing in the middleweight division. However, he fought off his back foot the entire contest, reluctant to let his hands go, and Adames kept his title when the bout was scored a draw.
Sheeraz had the crowd in his corner and two of the judges scored the match with their ears. Their tallies were 115-114 for Sheeraz and 114-114. The third judge had it 118-110 for Adames, the 30-year old Dominican, now 24-1-1, who had Ismael Salas in his corner.
Ortiz-Madrimov
Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr, knocked out his first 21 opponents, begging the question of how he would react when he finally faced adversity. He showed his mettle in August of last year when he went a sizzling 12 rounds with fellow knockout artist Serhii Bohachuk, winning a hard-fought decision. Tonight he added another feather in his cap with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ismail Madrimov, prevailing on scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice.
Ortiz won by adhering tight to Robert Garcia’s game plan. The elusive Madrimov, who bounces around the ring like the energizer bunny, won the early rounds. But eventually Ortiz was able to cut the ring off and turned the tide in his favor by landing the harder punches. It was the second straight loss for Madrimov (10-2-1), a decorated amateur who had lost a close but unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in his previous bout.
Kabayel-Zhang
No heavyweight has made greater gains in the last 15 months than Agit Kabayel. The German of Kurdish descent, whose specialty is body punching, made his third straight appearance in Riyadh tonight and, like in the previous two, fashioned a knockout. Today, although out-weighed by more than 40 pounds, he did away with Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang in the sixth round.
It didn’t start out well for Kabayel. The New Jersey-based, six-foot-six Zhang, a two-time Olympian for China, started fast and plainly won the opening round. Kabayel beat him to the punch from that point on, save for one moment when Zhang put him on the canvas with a straight left hand.
That happened in the fifth round, but by the end of the frame, the 41-year-old Zhang was conspicuously gassed. The end for the big fellow came at the 2:29 mark of round six when he couldn’t beat the count after crumbling to the canvas in a delayed reaction after taking a hard punch to his flabby midsection.
Kabayel remains undefeated at 26-0 (18 KOs). Zhang (27-3-1) hadn’t previously been stopped.
Smith-Buatsi
The all-British showdown between light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith was a grueling, fan-friendly affair. A former 168-pound world title-holder, Smith, 34, won hard-earned unanimous decision, prevailing on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and a ludicrous 119-110.
There were no knockdowns, but Liverpool’s Smith, who advanced to 31-2 (22) finished the contest with a bad gash in the corner of his right eye. It was the first pro loss for Buatsi (19-1), an Olympic bronze medalist who entered the contest a small favorite and was the defending “interim” title-holder.
This contest was also a battle of wits between two of America’s most prominent trainers, Buddy McGirt (Smith) and Virgil Hunter (Buatsi).
Check back shortly for David Avila’s wrap-up of the last three fights.
Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom
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Cain Sandoval KOs Mark Bernaldez in the Featured Bout at Santa Ynez
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Northern California’s Cain Sandoval remained undefeated with a knockout win over Mark Bernaldez in a super lightweight battle on Friday on a 360 Promotions card.
Sandoval (15-0, 13 KOs) of Sacramento needed four rounds to figure out tough Filipino fighter Bernaldez (25-7, 14 KOs) in front of a packed crowd at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez.
Bernaldez had gone eight rounds against Mexico’s very tough Oscar Duarte. He showed no fear for Sandoval’s reputed power and both fired bombs at each other from the second round on.
Things turned in favor of Sandoval when he targeted the body and soon had Bernaldez in retreat. It was apparent Sandoval had discovered a weakness.
In the beginning of the fourth Sandoval fired a stiff jab to the body that buckled Bernaldez but he did not go down. And when both resumed in firing position Sandoval connected with an overhand right and down went the Filipino fighter. He was counted out by referee Rudy Barragan at 34 seconds of the round.
“I’m surprised he took my jab to the body. I respect that. I have a knockout and I’m happy about that,” Sandoval said.
Other Bouts
Popular female fighter Lupe Medina (9-0) remained undefeated with a solid victory over the determined Agustina Vazquez (4-3-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds in a minimumweight fight between Southern Californians.
Early on Vazquez gave Medina trouble disrupting her patter with solid jabs. And when Medina overloaded with combination punches, she was laced with counters from Vazquez during the first four rounds.
Things turned around in the fifth round as Medina used a jab to keep Vazquez at a preferred distance. And when she attacked it was no more than two-punch combination and maintaining a distance.
Vazquez proved determined but discovered clinching was not a good idea as Medina took advantage and overran her with blows. Still, Vazquez looked solid. All three judges saw it 79-73 for Medina.
A battle between Southern Californian’s saw Compton’s Christopher Rios (11-2) put on the pressure all eight rounds against Eastvale’s Daniel Barrera (8-1-1) and emerged the winner by majority decision in a flyweight battle.
It was Barrera’s first loss as a pro. He never could discover how to stay off the ropes and that proved his downfall. Neither fighter was knocked down but one judge saw it 76-76, and two others 79-73 for Rios.
In a welterweight fight Gor Yeritsyan (20-1,16 KOs) scorched Luis Ramos (23-7) with a 12-punch combination the sent him to the mat in the second round. After Ramos beat the count he was met with an eight punch volley and the fight was stopped at 2:11 of the second round by knockout.
Super feather prospect Abel Mejia (7-0, 5 KOs) floored Alfredo Diaz (9-12) in the fifth round but found the Mexican fighter to be very durable in their six-round fight. Mejia caught Diaz with a left hook in the fifth round for a knockdown. But the fight resumed with all three judges scoring it 60-53 for Mejia who fights out of El Modena, Calif.
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