Tag: keith thurman

Mario Barrios faces stiff test against Keith Thurman in 147-pound debut

Mario Barrios will face stiff test against Keith Thurman in his 147-pound debut on Feb. 5.

Mario Barrios is taking a big swing in his debut as a 147-pounder.

The former 140-pound contender is scheduled to face longtime welterweight kingpin Keith Thurman on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas, which follows his 11th-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in June.

Why jump directly into such a difficult matchup? Barrios wouldn’t be able to prove anything against a pushover.

“I’ve always said that I want the big fights,” said Barrios, who will be in his second consecutive pay-per-view main event. “I’m not scared to test myself. I don’t want to be one of those fighters who they call the best not fighting the best.

“My reason for taking on Keith Thurman is that I want to prove what I can do in the welterweight division.”

Mario Barrios trains for his welterweight debut against Keith Thurman on Feb. 5. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) has had seven months to digest what happened against Davis, a rising star and big puncher who moved up in weight to fight him.

He was competitive until Davis put him down with a left to the gut and stopped him with a follow-up flurry in the penultimate round. Of course, he was disappointed to suffer his first loss but he said he grew as a result of the experience.

And he was back in the gym a few weeks after the setback.

“I look at what I did right and I look at what I did wrong,” said Barrios, who has watched the fight multiple times. “Overall it was a great learning experience. Me and my team are happy with my performance even though I came away with my first defeat.

“It’s just part of boxing. I look back on small defensive mistakes I shouldn’t have been making. We worked on those things in this camp so it doesn’t happen again.”

Barrios won’t blame the loss on the difficulty making 140 pounds but it became clear to him that it was time to move up.

He started as a junior bantamweight in 2013, when he was 18 years old. However, he’s a relatively tall 5-foot-10 and had been fighting at 140 since 2017. Moving up to 147 has allowed him to focus more on boxing and less on weight.

“Yeah, I’ve been at 140 for like five years,” he said. “I was noticing fight by fight that it was getting harder and harder to cut the weight. … We had always said that with my frame I would be moving through the divisions. I’m just thankful that my team never tried to keep me at a weight that was draining my body.

“I’m excited to see what I can accomplish at welterweight.”

We should learn a great deal about how Barrios fits in at 147 a week from Saturday.

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) is coming off a split-decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019, which cost him his world title. And the 33-year-old has battled a variety of injuries in recent years.

However, at his best, “One Time” is a dynamic boxer-puncher with a number of big-name opponents on his resume. And the time off, 2½ years, has allowed him to recover fully from his injuries.

Barrios recognizes all that but is confident going into the fight because of what he brings to the table.

“I have youth on my side,” he said. “I’m 26. I feel I’m just getting to my prime. And out of the two of us I feel I’m the bigger fighter. I’ll have a reach advantage, as I’ve had in a lot of my fights. My confidence is just as high as his even though he’s more of a talker. I like to let my work talk for me.

“A win against Keith Thurman does a lot. It automatically solidifies my presence in the welterweight division, it puts everyone on notice of what I can do.”

Mario Barrios faces stiff test against Keith Thurman in 147-pound debut

Mario Barrios will face stiff test against Keith Thurman in his 147-pound debut on Feb. 5.

Mario Barrios is taking a big swing in his debut as a 147-pounder.

The former 140-pound contender is scheduled to face longtime welterweight kingpin Keith Thurman on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas, which follows his 11th-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in June.

Why jump directly into such a difficult matchup? Barrios wouldn’t be able to prove anything against a pushover.

“I’ve always said that I want the big fights,” said Barrios, who will be in his second consecutive pay-per-view main event. “I’m not scared to test myself. I don’t want to be one of those fighters who they call the best not fighting the best.

“My reason for taking on Keith Thurman is that I want to prove what I can do in the welterweight division.”

Mario Barrios trains for his welterweight debut against Keith Thurman on Feb. 5. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) has had seven months to digest what happened against Davis, a rising star and big puncher who moved up in weight to fight him.

He was competitive until Davis put him down with a left to the gut and stopped him with a follow-up flurry in the penultimate round. Of course, he was disappointed to suffer his first loss but he said he grew as a result of the experience.

And he was back in the gym a few weeks after the setback.

“I look at what I did right and I look at what I did wrong,” said Barrios, who has watched the fight multiple times. “Overall it was a great learning experience. Me and my team are happy with my performance even though I came away with my first defeat.

“It’s just part of boxing. I look back on small defensive mistakes I shouldn’t have been making. We worked on those things in this camp so it doesn’t happen again.”

Barrios won’t blame the loss on the difficulty making 140 pounds but it became clear to him that it was time to move up.

He started as a junior bantamweight in 2013, when he was 18 years old. However, he’s a relatively tall 5-foot-10 and had been fighting at 140 since 2017. Moving up to 147 has allowed him to focus more on boxing and less on weight.

“Yeah, I’ve been at 140 for like five years,” he said. “I was noticing fight by fight that it was getting harder and harder to cut the weight. … We had always said that with my frame I would be moving through the divisions. I’m just thankful that my team never tried to keep me at a weight that was draining my body.

“I’m excited to see what I can accomplish at welterweight.”

We should learn a great deal about how Barrios fits in at 147 a week from Saturday.

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) is coming off a split-decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019, which cost him his world title. And the 33-year-old has battled a variety of injuries in recent years.

However, at his best, “One Time” is a dynamic boxer-puncher with a number of big-name opponents on his resume. And the time off, 2½ years, has allowed him to recover fully from his injuries.

Barrios recognizes all that but is confident going into the fight because of what he brings to the table.

“I have youth on my side,” he said. “I’m 26. I feel I’m just getting to my prime. And out of the two of us I feel I’m the bigger fighter. I’ll have a reach advantage, as I’ve had in a lot of my fights. My confidence is just as high as his even though he’s more of a talker. I like to let my work talk for me.

“A win against Keith Thurman does a lot. It automatically solidifies my presence in the welterweight division, it puts everyone on notice of what I can do.”

Keith Thurman to begin comeback against Mario Barrios on Feb. 5

Keith Thurman will begin his comeback against Mario Barrios on Feb. 5 on pay-per-view.

The last time we saw Keith Thurman was in July of 2019, when Manny Pacquiao turned in one last special performance to win a split decision and take Thurman’s world welterweight title.

More than a year and a half later, on Feb. 5, the 33-year-old former champ will step back into the ring in what he hopes will be the first step toward reclaiming his place atop the celebrated 147-pound division.

Thurman will face Mario Barrios on that date on pay-per-view from Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, it has been officially announced.

“It’s been a long time coming for my return to the ring, and I can’t wait to compete again,” Thurman said. “In 2022, I will remind the world of boxing that Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is a fighter not to forget.

“I look not to the past nor to the future, I’m back now, and I’m ready to fight. I dream big, and now is the time to make that dream a reality.”

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has battled injuries more than opponents in recent years, including elbow and then hand surgery. That’s the main reason he has fought only four times since July 2015, a span of more than six years.

He has said recently that he feels as good as he has in years, which might not bode well for Barrios.

There has been talk of a possible fight with WBO champion and free agent Terence Crawford if Thurman wins on Feb. 5. That would be the kind of high-profile opportunity that is attractive to both men.

Could Barrios spoil Thurman’s plans?

The Texan is coming off the first loss of his career, a spirited effort against Gervonta Davis in June that ended in an 11th round knockout. That fight took place at 140 pounds.

Facing a fighter of Thurman’s track record in his first fight as a full-fledged 147-pounder is a bold move on Barrios’ part. Barrios certainly will be a significant underdog come fight night.

“I’m excited to be making my welterweight debut against a great fighter and former world champion like Keith Thurman,” Barrios said. “A lot of fighters wouldn’t take this fight, but that’s why I wanted it. Both of us like to throw a lot of bombs and I believe this will be an all-out war.

“The fans know I’m a warrior and that I don’t back down from any challenge. That’s why everyone should order this fight. ‘El Azteca’ is going to make a statement on February 5.”

The undercard is deep.

  • Four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) will face Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round featherweight bout.
  • Welterweight contender Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) will take on veteran Josesito Lopez (38-8, 21 KOs).
  • And former junior featherweight titleholder Luis Nery (31-1, 24 KOs) will fight Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KOs).

Keith Thurman to begin comeback against Mario Barrios on Feb. 5

Keith Thurman will begin his comeback against Mario Barrios on Feb. 5 on pay-per-view.

The last time we saw Keith Thurman was in July of 2019, when Manny Pacquiao turned in one last special performance to win a split decision and take Thurman’s world welterweight title.

More than a year and a half later, on Feb. 5, the 33-year-old former champ will step back into the ring in what he hopes will be the first step toward reclaiming his place atop the celebrated 147-pound division.

Thurman will face Mario Barrios on that date on pay-per-view from Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, it has been officially announced.

“It’s been a long time coming for my return to the ring, and I can’t wait to compete again,” Thurman said. “In 2022, I will remind the world of boxing that Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is a fighter not to forget.

“I look not to the past nor to the future, I’m back now, and I’m ready to fight. I dream big, and now is the time to make that dream a reality.”

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has battled injuries more than opponents in recent years, including elbow and then hand surgery. That’s the main reason he has fought only four times since July 2015, a span of more than six years.

He has said recently that he feels as good as he has in years, which might not bode well for Barrios.

There has been talk of a possible fight with WBO champion and free agent Terence Crawford if Thurman wins on Feb. 5. That would be the kind of high-profile opportunity that is attractive to both men.

Could Barrios spoil Thurman’s plans?

The Texan is coming off the first loss of his career, a spirited effort against Gervonta Davis in June that ended in an 11th round knockout. That fight took place at 140 pounds.

Facing a fighter of Thurman’s track record in his first fight as a full-fledged 147-pounder is a bold move on Barrios’ part. Barrios certainly will be a significant underdog come fight night.

“I’m excited to be making my welterweight debut against a great fighter and former world champion like Keith Thurman,” Barrios said. “A lot of fighters wouldn’t take this fight, but that’s why I wanted it. Both of us like to throw a lot of bombs and I believe this will be an all-out war.

“The fans know I’m a warrior and that I don’t back down from any challenge. That’s why everyone should order this fight. ‘El Azteca’ is going to make a statement on February 5.”

The undercard is deep.

  • Four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) will face Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round featherweight bout.
  • Welterweight contender Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) will take on veteran Josesito Lopez (38-8, 21 KOs).
  • And former junior featherweight titleholder Luis Nery (31-1, 24 KOs) will fight Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KOs).

Good, bad, worse: Manny Pacquiao made right decision, Olympic scandal

Good, bad, worse: Manny Pacquiao made right decision, Olympic scandal.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Manny Pacquiao’s decision to retire early last week is both good and bad.

The announcement was good because it’s time for the 42-year-old to step away. He looked solid in his unanimous-decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in August but he can no longer fight to the standards he established for himself. And he will not have taken a beating on his way out the door, which has been the fate of so many other great fighters.

The Filipino icon’s retirement is bad because we’ll never seen him fight again. I don’t know whether another fighter in my lifetime has provided fans with more thrills, including legends like Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and others of that ilk.

That’s how it works, though. Fighters are human. They get old and move on to the next chapter in their lives, which is politics in Pacquiao’s case.

I’m grateful that Pacquiao wasn’t forced to retire as the result of a horrible beating, the kind he delivered against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. It doesn’t matter how good you were at your best. If you stick around too long, you get burned. I always think of Muhammad Ali and Leonard as the best examples but there are many others.

I wish all fighters could go out like Carl Froch, who knocked out rival George Groves in front of 80,000 wild fans at Wembley Stadium and never fought again. It was the ultimate mic-drop retirement.

However, Pacquiao did well. He earned a decision over then-unbeaten Keith Thurman to add one final world title to his massive collection in July 2019 and then gave a credible performance against Ugas, who won clearly but had to work hard to do so.

Thank goodness Pacquiao recognized that it made no sense to tempt fate any further. He made the right decision at the right time. Now let’s hope he doesn’t make the mistake of coming back one day.

***

BAD

Pacquiao arguably accomplished more than any other fighter of his generation. Victories over a long list of current or future Hall of Famers. Titles in eight divisions. Elite status for more than two decades. The list is long.

I have only one regret for him: He didn’t fight Floyd Mayweather when they were closer to their peaks.

I would never have picked Pacquiao to beat Mayweather, who was simply the better fighter. Anyone who has Pacquiao higher than Mayweather on all-time pound-for-pound lists is placing too much emphasis on volume of victories and not enough on what we know were their abilities.

Mayweather defeated Pacquiao handily in 2015, after about five years of frustrating dickering. However, the result doesn’t mean much to me. Mayweather was 38, Pacquiao 36. The event had the feel of a baseball old timer’s game even though the principals were still excellent fighters.

The fight should’ve happened around 2010, when Pacquiao was a tick quicker than he was in 2015 and threw more punches. I would’ve picked Mayweather to win because of his superior boxing skills but the younger version of Pacquiao might’ve had a chance.

Of course, the legacies of both fighters are strong as it is. They’re considered all-time greats.

However, a victory by Mayweather in 2010 would’ve carried more weight than his unanimous decision in 2015 does. And Pacquiao, with a win over Mayweather, could’ve legitimately claimed to be the best of the past generation.

The fact the fight didn’t happen earlier than it did is one of those what-ifs in boxing that I will bemoan as long as I live.

***

WORSE

News item: An investigation has determined that boxing bouts in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were fixed by “complicit and compliant” referees and judges.

That’s per The Associated Press, which reported that as many as 11 bouts might’ve been affected by the scandal. McLaren cited a specific case in which a Kazakhstani referee allegedly asked for around $250,000 to ensure a Mongolian boxer defeated his French counterpart. No bribe was paid.

McLaren couldn’t determine who orchestrated the match-fixing scheme but cited a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience in the ranks of the referees and judges,” The AP reported. It wasn’t clear which bouts were affected. And there was no indication that results would be changed in light of the findings.

“Key personnel decided that the rules did not apply to them,” McLaren said.

McLaren was hired by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which was in charge of boxing in 2016 Games but suspended before the Tokyo Olympics this past summer. The competition was conducted by a committee put together by gymnastics officials.

AIBA is now run by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, who told The AP that the system of officiating and scoring amateur fights has been overhauled.

I hope Kremlev proves to be a competent, clean caretaker and that the investigation puts some distance between the current version of amateur boxing and its unsavory past.

It might be too late as it applies to the Olympics, though: The IOC reportedly hasn’t decided or won’t say whether boxing will be a part of the 2024 Games in Paris.

Good, bad, worse: Manny Pacquiao made right decision, Olympic scandal

Good, bad, worse: Manny Pacquiao made right decision, Olympic scandal.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Manny Pacquiao’s decision to retire early last week is both good and bad.

The announcement was good because it’s time for the 42-year-old to step away. He looked solid in his unanimous-decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in August but he can no longer fight to the standards he established for himself. And he will not have taken a beating on his way out the door, which has been the fate of so many other great fighters.

The Filipino icon’s retirement is bad because we’ll never seen him fight again. I don’t know whether another fighter in my lifetime has provided fans with more thrills, including legends like Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and others of that ilk.

That’s how it works, though. Fighters are human. They get old and move on to the next chapter in their lives, which is politics in Pacquiao’s case.

I’m grateful that Pacquiao wasn’t forced to retire as the result of a horrible beating, the kind he delivered against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. It doesn’t matter how good you were at your best. If you stick around too long, you get burned. I always think of Muhammad Ali and Leonard as the best examples but there are many others.

I wish all fighters could go out like Carl Froch, who knocked out rival George Groves in front of 80,000 wild fans at Wembley Stadium and never fought again. It was the ultimate mic-drop retirement.

However, Pacquiao did well. He earned a decision over then-unbeaten Keith Thurman to add one final world title to his massive collection in July 2019 and then gave a credible performance against Ugas, who won clearly but had to work hard to do so.

Thank goodness Pacquiao recognized that it made no sense to tempt fate any further. He made the right decision at the right time. Now let’s hope he doesn’t make the mistake of coming back one day.

***

BAD

Pacquiao arguably accomplished more than any other fighter of his generation. Victories over a long list of current or future Hall of Famers. Titles in eight divisions. Elite status for more than two decades. The list is long.

I have only one regret for him: He didn’t fight Floyd Mayweather when they were closer to their peaks.

I would never have picked Pacquiao to beat Mayweather, who was simply the better fighter. Anyone who has Pacquiao higher than Mayweather on all-time pound-for-pound lists is placing too much emphasis on volume of victories and not enough on what we know were their abilities.

Mayweather defeated Pacquiao handily in 2015, after about five years of frustrating dickering. However, the result doesn’t mean much to me. Mayweather was 38, Pacquiao 36. The event had the feel of a baseball old timer’s game even though the principals were still excellent fighters.

The fight should’ve happened around 2010, when Pacquiao was a tick quicker than he was in 2015 and threw more punches. I would’ve picked Mayweather to win because of his superior boxing skills but the younger version of Pacquiao might’ve had a chance.

Of course, the legacies of both fighters are strong as it is. They’re considered all-time greats.

However, a victory by Mayweather in 2010 would’ve carried more weight than his unanimous decision in 2015 does. And Pacquiao, with a win over Mayweather, could’ve legitimately claimed to be the best of the past generation.

The fact the fight didn’t happen earlier than it did is one of those what-ifs in boxing that I will bemoan as long as I live.

***

WORSE

News item: An investigation has determined that boxing bouts in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were fixed by “complicit and compliant” referees and judges.

That’s per The Associated Press, which reported that as many as 11 bouts might’ve been affected by the scandal. McLaren cited a specific case in which a Kazakhstani referee allegedly asked for around $250,000 to ensure a Mongolian boxer defeated his French counterpart. No bribe was paid.

McLaren couldn’t determine who orchestrated the match-fixing scheme but cited a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience in the ranks of the referees and judges,” The AP reported. It wasn’t clear which bouts were affected. And there was no indication that results would be changed in light of the findings.

“Key personnel decided that the rules did not apply to them,” McLaren said.

McLaren was hired by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which was in charge of boxing in 2016 Games but suspended before the Tokyo Olympics this past summer. The competition was conducted by a committee put together by gymnastics officials.

AIBA is now run by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, who told The AP that the system of officiating and scoring amateur fights has been overhauled.

I hope Kremlev proves to be a competent, clean caretaker and that the investigation puts some distance between the current version of amateur boxing and its unsavory past.

It might be too late as it applies to the Olympics, though: The IOC reportedly hasn’t decided or won’t say whether boxing will be a part of the 2024 Games in Paris.

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing’s one and only four-decade champion

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing’s one and only four-decade champion.

The fact Manny Pacquiao won titles in a record eight divisions – of 17 total – is generally cited as his greatest accomplishment. Another of them might never be topped.

Pacquiao, who announced his retirement on Tuesday, is believed to be the first fighter to hold major titles in four decades. The Filipino icon, who turned pro at 16 in 1995 and is now 42, won his first world title (flyweight) when he stopped Chatchai Sasakul in eight rounds in 1998 and his most-recent belt (welterweight) when he defeated Keith Thurman by a split decision this in July 2019.

Here are Pacquiao’s major titles by decade:

1990s

WBC flyweight (1998) – KO 8 Chatchai Sasakul

2000s

IBF junior featherweight (2001) – TKO 6 Lehlo Ledwaba

*-Featherweight (2003) – TKO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera

WBC junior lightweight (2008) – SD 12 Juan Manuel Marquez

WBC lightweight (2008) – TKO 9 David Diaz

*-Junior welterweight (2009) – KO 2 Ricky Hatton

WBO welterweight (2009) – TKO 12 Miguel Cotto

2010s

WBC junior middleweight – UD 12 Antonio Margarito

WBO welterweight – UD Tim Bradley

WBO welterweight – UD Jessie Vargas

WBA welterweight – SD Keith Thurman

2020s

Holds WBA welterweight title

 

*-The Ring Magazine titles

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing’s one and only four-decade champion

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing’s one and only four-decade champion.

The fact Manny Pacquiao won titles in a record eight divisions – of 17 total – is generally cited as his greatest accomplishment. Another of them might never be topped.

Pacquiao, who announced his retirement on Tuesday, is believed to be the first fighter to hold major titles in four decades. The Filipino icon, who turned pro at 16 in 1995 and is now 42, won his first world title (flyweight) when he stopped Chatchai Sasakul in eight rounds in 1998 and his most-recent belt (welterweight) when he defeated Keith Thurman by a split decision this in July 2019.

Here are Pacquiao’s major titles by decade:

1990s

WBC flyweight (1998) – KO 8 Chatchai Sasakul

2000s

IBF junior featherweight (2001) – TKO 6 Lehlo Ledwaba

*-Featherweight (2003) – TKO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera

WBC junior lightweight (2008) – SD 12 Juan Manuel Marquez

WBC lightweight (2008) – TKO 9 David Diaz

*-Junior welterweight (2009) – KO 2 Ricky Hatton

WBO welterweight (2009) – TKO 12 Miguel Cotto

2010s

WBC junior middleweight – UD 12 Antonio Margarito

WBO welterweight – UD Tim Bradley

WBO welterweight – UD Jessie Vargas

WBA welterweight – SD Keith Thurman

2020s

Holds WBA welterweight title

 

*-The Ring Magazine titles

Manny Pacquiao retirement: Thanks for the memories, Pacman

Manny Pacquiao retirement: Thanks for the memories, Pacman.

Manny Pacquiao was unknown when he made his U.S. debut against 122-pound titleholder Lehlo Ledwaba on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Javier Castillejo card in June 2001. Heck, his new trainer, Freddie Roach, barely knew who the 22-year-old Filipino was.

Everyone knew afterward.

The speed, both in hand and foot. The high volume of punches from all sorts of impossible angles. The power in his shots, which produced so many knockouts in the first half of his career. And the mesmirizing dynamism, which few fighters could match.

All of it was evident in his knockout victory over Ledwaba, which opened the world’s eyes to his unusual talents. And he never slowed down over the next two decades, producing one of the most accomplished careers in the history of the sport.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) was fortunate in that he had many worthy foils, starting with a decade-long rivalry with the great Mexican trio of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, against whom he finished with a record of 6-2-1.

He left no doubt about his greatness in his wars against the Mexicans, each of whom is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

But that was only a start. He was arguably at his greatest during an unforgettable four-fight stretch in 2008 and 2009, when he knocked out in succession David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

The eight-round demolition of De La Hoya was a passing-of-the torch fight, from the outgoing face of the sport to his successor. And the Hatton fight provided arguably the most dramatic moment of Pacquiao’s career, a chilling left hand that knocked the normally durable Englishman unconscious and left onlookers in awe.

It was at that time that knowledgeable people began to compare Pacquiao to the greatest fighters of all time, including Henry Armstrong, who held three of the eight championships simultaneously at his peak. Pacquiao ended up with major titles in a record eight divisions, if you count Ring Magazine belts.

It was also around this time that the American public got to know Pacquiao personally, as he made multiple appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Pacquiao had little to say – he’s quiet by nature – yet he managed to charm millions with his smile, humility and sense of humor. No one is more likeable than Manny Pacquiao.

And still he was far from finished.

He continued to win after the Cotto fight, including a near-shutout decision over the naturally bigger  brute Antonio Margarito in front of about 40,000 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium in 2010, which gave the one time 112-pound champ a title at 154.

Pacquiao seemed almost untouchable at that point. And then, in 2012, he proved to be human.

Timothy Bradley defeated him by a controversial split decision, his first setback in more than seven years. And it got worse. In his next fight, Marquez, who became his arch rival, capped their four-fight series by doing to Pacquiao what Pacquiao had done to Hatton: He knocked him out cold with a single right hand in the sixth round.

Even at his worst moment, however, Pacquiao won respect by offering no excuses and acknowledging, in so many words, that such disappointments are simply a part of boxing. Always classy.

And he didn’t allow the back-to-back disappointments to discourage him. He bounced back by beating Brandon Rios, avenging his loss to Bradley and outpointing Chris Algieri to set up a long-awaited showdown in 2015 with Floyd Mayweather, arguably the only fighter from the era who was better than he was.

Some complained that the fight happened beyond the peaks of both fighters – Mayweather was 38, Pacquiao 36 – but the fans certainly bought into the event. It generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S., which translated to nine-figure paydays for the fighters.

The fight didn’t live up to the hype – Mayweather won a wide decision – but its success was a testament to the star power of the fighters.

Pacquiao continued to fight after the super fight with Mayweather but, as he approached his 40th birthday, he seemed to have lost a step. He still had quick hands and could move well but he couldn’t fight at the pace he once did.

Still, he earned a shot at undefeated welterweight titleholder Keith Thurman in July 2019. The champion had to deal with nagging injuries and a long layoff but most experts picked the younger fighter to retain his belt against the grand, but overmatched old man even though oddsmakers saw the fight as roughly even.

Well, Pacquiao, 40, made the oddsmakers look like geniuses by giving the world one last special performance. He put Thurman down in the first round, controlled most of the fight and then withstood a late rally by the champion to add one more championship belt to his gaudy collection.

He also added one last bit of evidence to demonstrate his greatness, although it certainly wasn’t necessary.

Pacquiao fought once more, losing a decision to Yordenis Ugas in a bid to regain the belt that was stripped from him because of inactivity. The fight came after a two-year layoff, largely because of the pandemic, and amid Pacquiao’s growing political ambitions. The long-serving senator recently accepted his party’s nomination to run for president of the Philippines.

Still, he was competitive against a capable opponent, demonstrating that he could’ve continued to fight at a reasonably high level. And he considered it. A chance to avenge the setback was tempting. Instead, he chose this time to close the book on his beloved boxing and shift his focus 100% to serving his beloved people.

Pacquiao gave boxing fans more of himself than they could have expected from a single man. We should be grateful, not greedy. Thanks for everything, Manny.

[lawrence-related id=24137,24135]

Manny Pacquiao retirement: Thanks for the memories, Pacman

Manny Pacquiao retirement: Thanks for the memories, Pacman.

Manny Pacquiao was unknown when he made his U.S. debut against 122-pound titleholder Lehlo Ledwaba on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Javier Castillejo card in June 2001. Heck, his new trainer, Freddie Roach, barely knew who the 22-year-old Filipino was.

Everyone knew afterward.

The speed, both in hand and foot. The high volume of punches from all sorts of impossible angles. The power in his shots, which produced so many knockouts in the first half of his career. And the mesmirizing dynamism, which few fighters could match.

All of it was evident in his knockout victory over Ledwaba, which opened the world’s eyes to his unusual talents. And he never slowed down over the next two decades, producing one of the most accomplished careers in the history of the sport.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) was fortunate in that he had many worthy foils, starting with a decade-long rivalry with the great Mexican trio of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, against whom he finished with a record of 6-2-1.

He left no doubt about his greatness in his wars against the Mexicans, each of whom is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

But that was only a start. He was arguably at his greatest during an unforgettable four-fight stretch in 2008 and 2009, when he knocked out in succession David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

The eight-round demolition of De La Hoya was a passing-of-the torch fight, from the outgoing face of the sport to his successor. And the Hatton fight provided arguably the most dramatic moment of Pacquiao’s career, a chilling left hand that knocked the normally durable Englishman unconscious and left onlookers in awe.

It was at that time that knowledgeable people began to compare Pacquiao to the greatest fighters of all time, including Henry Armstrong, who held three of the eight championships simultaneously at his peak. Pacquiao ended up with major titles in a record eight divisions, if you count Ring Magazine belts.

It was also around this time that the American public got to know Pacquiao personally, as he made multiple appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Pacquiao had little to say – he’s quiet by nature – yet he managed to charm millions with his smile, humility and sense of humor. No one is more likeable than Manny Pacquiao.

And still he was far from finished.

He continued to win after the Cotto fight, including a near-shutout decision over the naturally bigger  brute Antonio Margarito in front of about 40,000 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium in 2010, which gave the one time 112-pound champ a title at 154.

Pacquiao seemed almost untouchable at that point. And then, in 2012, he proved to be human.

Timothy Bradley defeated him by a controversial split decision, his first setback in more than seven years. And it got worse. In his next fight, Marquez, who became his arch rival, capped their four-fight series by doing to Pacquiao what Pacquiao had done to Hatton: He knocked him out cold with a single right hand in the sixth round.

Even at his worst moment, however, Pacquiao won respect by offering no excuses and acknowledging, in so many words, that such disappointments are simply a part of boxing. Always classy.

And he didn’t allow the back-to-back disappointments to discourage him. He bounced back by beating Brandon Rios, avenging his loss to Bradley and outpointing Chris Algieri to set up a long-awaited showdown in 2015 with Floyd Mayweather, arguably the only fighter from the era who was better than he was.

Some complained that the fight happened beyond the peaks of both fighters – Mayweather was 38, Pacquiao 36 – but the fans certainly bought into the event. It generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S., which translated to nine-figure paydays for the fighters.

The fight didn’t live up to the hype – Mayweather won a wide decision – but its success was a testament to the star power of the fighters.

Pacquiao continued to fight after the super fight with Mayweather but, as he approached his 40th birthday, he seemed to have lost a step. He still had quick hands and could move well but he couldn’t fight at the pace he once did.

Still, he earned a shot at undefeated welterweight titleholder Keith Thurman in July 2019. The champion had to deal with nagging injuries and a long layoff but most experts picked the younger fighter to retain his belt against the grand, but overmatched old man even though oddsmakers saw the fight as roughly even.

Well, Pacquiao, 40, made the oddsmakers look like geniuses by giving the world one last special performance. He put Thurman down in the first round, controlled most of the fight and then withstood a late rally by the champion to add one more championship belt to his gaudy collection.

He also added one last bit of evidence to demonstrate his greatness, although it certainly wasn’t necessary.

Pacquiao fought once more, losing a decision to Yordenis Ugas in a bid to regain the belt that was stripped from him because of inactivity. The fight came after a two-year layoff, largely because of the pandemic, and amid Pacquiao’s growing political ambitions. The long-serving senator recently accepted his party’s nomination to run for president of the Philippines.

Still, he was competitive against a capable opponent, demonstrating that he could’ve continued to fight at a reasonably high level. And he considered it. A chance to avenge the setback was tempting. Instead, he chose this time to close the book on his beloved boxing and shift his focus 100% to serving his beloved people.

Pacquiao gave boxing fans more of himself than they could have expected from a single man. We should be grateful, not greedy. Thanks for everything, Manny.

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