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
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
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.
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.
Building greatness: Five fights that define Manny Pacquiao.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in April of last year. We’re posting it again after Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing.
Greatness is achieved step by painstaking step over a substantial period of time.
Few get there. And those who do can generally point to defining victories that served as those rare stepping stones that lead directly to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. All great fighters have that in common.
With that in mind, Boxing Junkie is initiating an occasional series called “Building Greatness,” in which we select a special fighter and provide five stepping-stone victories that demonstrated his greatness.
Our first subject: Manny Pacquiao, who over more than two decades proved over and over again that he is one of the best fighters of all time.
Here are five fights that helped define him:
LEHLO LEDWABA
Manny Paquiao (right) arrived as an important fight by knocking out Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001. Jed Jacobsohn / Allsport
Date / site: June 23, 2001 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Junior featherweight Records: Pacquiao 32-2; Ledwaba 33-1-1 At stake: Ledwaba’s IBF title Result: Pacquiao TKO 6 Background: Ledwaba, a talented South African, was one of the hottest fighters in the world when he agreed to defend his 122-pound title against Pacquiao on the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Javier Castillejo card. Some believed he was a future pound-for-pounder. Pacquiao? Trainer Freddie Roach had an inkling that his little Filipino was special but few others were aware of his potential. Until this fight. Pacquiao, throwing quick, hard punches from impossible angles and at a remarkable rate, stunned Ledwaba and everyone watching by dominating the champion in every conceivable way en route to a spectacular knockout. Pacquiao won every round on all three cards through five rounds. The future Hall of Famer was a secret no more. He had arrived.
***
MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA
Pacquiao returned to a homecoming parade after his first victory over Marco Antonio Barrera. Joel Nito / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: Nov. 15, 2003 / Alamodome, San Antonio Division: Featherweight Records: Pacquiao 37-2-1; Barrera 57-3 At stake: Nothing Result: Pacquiao TKO 11 Background: This was only the first of Pacquiao’s nine fights against one of the great Mexican trio of Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez. But he proved in this fight — the main event at the Alamodome — that he was capable of dominating a truly great opponent. Pacquiao, too fast, too powerful, too good for Barrera, had wide leads on all three cards and was pounding Barrera at will when the victim’s corner ended the slaughter with four seconds remaining in the penultimate round. “This is a fight that will shake up the boxing world,” HBO commentator Larry Merchant said toward the end of the fight. And indeed it did. A star was born that night. Pacquiao would end up with a record of 6-2-1 against the Mexican Hall of Famers.
***
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
Pacquiao (right) established himself as a superstar with his victory over Oscar De La Hoya. AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill
Date / site: Dec. 6, 2008 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 47-3-2; De La Hoya 39-5 At stake: Nothing Result: Pacquiao TKO 8 Background: In retrospect, Pacquiao’s knockout victory over De La Hoya makes sense. The Mexican-American superstar was 35, in decline and dropped considerable weight to make the fight happen. However, at the time, it was difficult to imagine the diminutive Pacquiao beating such a gifted, experienced and naturally bigger opponent. We learned quickly that the young, dynamic Filipino was too much for this version of De La Hoya, who had neither the reflexes nor wherewithal to cope with Pacquiao’s speed and accurate punching. He battered his one-time idol for eight rounds – losing only one round on one card – before De La Hoya’s handlers decided enough was enough and he didn’t come out for Round 9. The victory proved to be Pacquiao’s threshold to superstardom.
***
MIGUEL COTTO
Miguel Cottos face tells the story of his one-sided fight against Pacquiao. Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: Nov. 14, 2009 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 49-3-2; Cotto 34-1 At stake: Cotto’s WBO title Result: Pacquiao TKO 12 Background: Pacquiao followed his stunning victory over De La Hoya with perhaps his greatest knockout, a breathtaking, one-punch stoppage of the durable Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009. However, his victory over Cotto was more important. The Puerto Rican had built a reputation as one of the best fighters in the world over the previous half decade. And, frankly, Pacquiao had his way with him. Cotto felt Pacquiao’s power early – going down in Rounds 3 and 4 – and had no appetite to exchange punches from then on. Instead, he turned to his formidable skill set and dancing ability but even that failed him in the end. Cotto, his face a battered mess, was taking a pounding when referee Kenny Bayless finally stopped the fight.
***
KEITH THURMAN
Pacquiao (right) fooled those who though he was too old by outpointing Keith Thurman last year. John Gurzinski / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: July 20, 2019 Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 61-7-2; Thurman 29-0 At stake: Thurman’s WBA title Result: Pacquiao SD 12 Background: Pacquiao had many more-dominating performances than this one in his nearly quarter-century career. The elements that made this one special? Pacquiao’s age (40) and Thurman’s perceived ability. Pacquiao certainly wasn’t a has-been, having beaten Adrien Broner in his previous fight, but he was relatively old, couldn’t fight at the same pace he once did and was a small 147-pounder. All that figured to work in favor of Thurman, a big, strong welterweight who was in the second fight of a comeback from injuries. Turned out that even a diminished version of Pacquiao could still beat an elite 147-pounder. Pacquiao got off to a quick start by putting Thurman down in Round 1 and then fought in energy-conserving bursts to win rounds and ultimate the fight, albeit by a narrow margin. Surprise, surprise. The great one still had more to give.
Building greatness: Five fights that define Manny Pacquiao.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in April of last year. We’re posting it again after Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing.
Greatness is achieved step by painstaking step over a substantial period of time.
Few get there. And those who do can generally point to defining victories that served as those rare stepping stones that lead directly to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. All great fighters have that in common.
With that in mind, Boxing Junkie is initiating an occasional series called “Building Greatness,” in which we select a special fighter and provide five stepping-stone victories that demonstrated his greatness.
Our first subject: Manny Pacquiao, who over more than two decades proved over and over again that he is one of the best fighters of all time.
Here are five fights that helped define him:
LEHLO LEDWABA
Manny Paquiao (right) arrived as an important fight by knocking out Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001. Jed Jacobsohn / Allsport
Date / site: June 23, 2001 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Junior featherweight Records: Pacquiao 32-2; Ledwaba 33-1-1 At stake: Ledwaba’s IBF title Result: Pacquiao TKO 6 Background: Ledwaba, a talented South African, was one of the hottest fighters in the world when he agreed to defend his 122-pound title against Pacquiao on the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Javier Castillejo card. Some believed he was a future pound-for-pounder. Pacquiao? Trainer Freddie Roach had an inkling that his little Filipino was special but few others were aware of his potential. Until this fight. Pacquiao, throwing quick, hard punches from impossible angles and at a remarkable rate, stunned Ledwaba and everyone watching by dominating the champion in every conceivable way en route to a spectacular knockout. Pacquiao won every round on all three cards through five rounds. The future Hall of Famer was a secret no more. He had arrived.
***
MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA
Pacquiao returned to a homecoming parade after his first victory over Marco Antonio Barrera. Joel Nito / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: Nov. 15, 2003 / Alamodome, San Antonio Division: Featherweight Records: Pacquiao 37-2-1; Barrera 57-3 At stake: Nothing Result: Pacquiao TKO 11 Background: This was only the first of Pacquiao’s nine fights against one of the great Mexican trio of Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez. But he proved in this fight — the main event at the Alamodome — that he was capable of dominating a truly great opponent. Pacquiao, too fast, too powerful, too good for Barrera, had wide leads on all three cards and was pounding Barrera at will when the victim’s corner ended the slaughter with four seconds remaining in the penultimate round. “This is a fight that will shake up the boxing world,” HBO commentator Larry Merchant said toward the end of the fight. And indeed it did. A star was born that night. Pacquiao would end up with a record of 6-2-1 against the Mexican Hall of Famers.
***
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
Pacquiao (right) established himself as a superstar with his victory over Oscar De La Hoya. AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill
Date / site: Dec. 6, 2008 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 47-3-2; De La Hoya 39-5 At stake: Nothing Result: Pacquiao TKO 8 Background: In retrospect, Pacquiao’s knockout victory over De La Hoya makes sense. The Mexican-American superstar was 35, in decline and dropped considerable weight to make the fight happen. However, at the time, it was difficult to imagine the diminutive Pacquiao beating such a gifted, experienced and naturally bigger opponent. We learned quickly that the young, dynamic Filipino was too much for this version of De La Hoya, who had neither the reflexes nor wherewithal to cope with Pacquiao’s speed and accurate punching. He battered his one-time idol for eight rounds – losing only one round on one card – before De La Hoya’s handlers decided enough was enough and he didn’t come out for Round 9. The victory proved to be Pacquiao’s threshold to superstardom.
***
MIGUEL COTTO
Miguel Cottos face tells the story of his one-sided fight against Pacquiao. Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: Nov. 14, 2009 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 49-3-2; Cotto 34-1 At stake: Cotto’s WBO title Result: Pacquiao TKO 12 Background: Pacquiao followed his stunning victory over De La Hoya with perhaps his greatest knockout, a breathtaking, one-punch stoppage of the durable Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009. However, his victory over Cotto was more important. The Puerto Rican had built a reputation as one of the best fighters in the world over the previous half decade. And, frankly, Pacquiao had his way with him. Cotto felt Pacquiao’s power early – going down in Rounds 3 and 4 – and had no appetite to exchange punches from then on. Instead, he turned to his formidable skill set and dancing ability but even that failed him in the end. Cotto, his face a battered mess, was taking a pounding when referee Kenny Bayless finally stopped the fight.
***
KEITH THURMAN
Pacquiao (right) fooled those who though he was too old by outpointing Keith Thurman last year. John Gurzinski / AFP via Getty Images
Date / site: July 20, 2019 Division: Welterweight Records: Pacquiao 61-7-2; Thurman 29-0 At stake: Thurman’s WBA title Result: Pacquiao SD 12 Background: Pacquiao had many more-dominating performances than this one in his nearly quarter-century career. The elements that made this one special? Pacquiao’s age (40) and Thurman’s perceived ability. Pacquiao certainly wasn’t a has-been, having beaten Adrien Broner in his previous fight, but he was relatively old, couldn’t fight at the same pace he once did and was a small 147-pounder. All that figured to work in favor of Thurman, a big, strong welterweight who was in the second fight of a comeback from injuries. Turned out that even a diminished version of Pacquiao could still beat an elite 147-pounder. Pacquiao got off to a quick start by putting Thurman down in Round 1 and then fought in energy-conserving bursts to win rounds and ultimate the fight, albeit by a narrow margin. Surprise, surprise. The great one still had more to give.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez, which takes place Saturday, is one of the best-possible matchups in boxing.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Vasiliy Lomacheko (right) and Teofimo Lopez will meet again on Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I don’t usually look ahead in Good, Bad, Worse but I couldn’t resist this week.
Last month, the talented Charlo brothers gave us high-level performances to remember on a pay-per-view doubleheader. This coming Saturday, we have another mouth-watering main event to savor. And you don’t have to pay for it if you get ESPN.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez is about as good as it gets, a matchup of a seasoned boxing magician from Ukraine against a fiery young American with his own gifts who believes his time is now.
Lomachenko, No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, fought for a world title in his second pro fight (losing to Orlando Salido) and hasn’t slowed down. Every one of his 13 subsequent fights has been for one world title or another.
Yes, you read that correctly: 14 of Lomachenko’s 15 outings have been title fights. He said when he turned pro that he wanted to take part only in meaningful fights and he meant it.
Some believe that the 32-year-old has shown signs of vulnerability over the past few years, specifically in victories over Jorge Linares and Luke Campbell at lightweight that might’ve been more difficult than expected.
If he has slipped, age could be a factor. So could size. Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) progressed rapidly from 126 to 130 to 135. He’s arguably a small lightweight, which Lopez believes will work in his favor when they’re face to face inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) has the same number of pro fights as Lomachenko but hasn’t faced the same level of opposition, although he’s coming off a second-round knockout of Richard Commey to win one of the 135-pound titles. And while Lopez had a good amateur career, Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic champion, is considered one of the best amateurs ever.
Lopez, 23, has youth and a combination of other attributes – skill, speed, punching power, hunger – working in his favor. Many believe he has what it takes to beat this, perhaps slightly less formidable version of Lomachenko.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
***
BAD
Emanuel Navarrete (right) got the job against Ruben Villa done but didn’t look as good as some expected. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I wouldn’t say that Emanuel Navarrete’s performance against Ruben Villa on Friday was bad. It just wasn’t what we’ve come to expect from him. And he might never be the fighter at 126 pounds that he was at 122.
Navarrete (32-1, 27 KOs) got off to a strong start at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, putting Villa (18-1, 5 KOs) down twice in the first four rounds but then did just enough to hold onto his lead and win a vacant featherweight title. Two judges scored it 114-112, six rounds a piece. The third scored it 115-111.
Villa arguably outboxed in the majority of rounds in which he wasn’t knocked down, demonstrating that a good, experienced technician with some resilience can give Navarrete trouble.
The Mexican stalked his opponent from beginning to end but, aside from the knockdowns, didn’t do much damage. Had Villa countered more often when Navarrete missed the mark – and he missed a lot – he might’ve earned a draw or victory.
Can you imagine what fellow 126-pound titleholder Gary Russell Jr. would’ve done to the version of Navarrete we saw on Friday?
To be fair to Navarrete, he beat a good fighter to win a major title in a second division. That’s a laudable accomplishment.
And it was only his second fight as a full-fledged featherweight, at which Villa has fought his entire career. Navarrete could still grow into the division and become more dominating as he moves forward.
***
WORSE
Few have the Hall of Fame credentials of Floyd Mayweather (left). AP Photo / John Locher, File
I wasn’t a fan of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s decision to lower the induction threshold from five to three years, which I believe can create a glut of candidates. Hopefully, another change will save the day in voting for the Class of 2021.
Only the top three vote getters are guaranteed induction. The additional change, made the same time the threshold was altered, allows anyone else receiving votes on 80 percent of ballots to also get in.
This year, in my opinion, five first-time candidates are no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famers: Floyd Mayweather, James Toney, Wladimir Klitschko, Miguel Cotto and Andre Ward, all of whom happened to retire in 2017. There are other worthy names on the list – Rafael Marquez, Diego Corrales and Tim Bradley, for example – but they are a notch below the Top 5.
My hope is that 8 of 10 voters – who are limited to voting for five candidates — will agree with me and place check marks next the names of Mayweather, Toney, Klitschko, Cotto and Ward.
We don’t have to go into Floyd Mayweather’s credentials. He’ll be on the ballot of every responsible voter. Toney, a gifted boxer with a great chin, was a force between middleweight and heavyweight. Cotto, a four-division titleholder, was at the pinnacle of the sport for around 15 years. And Ward, my No. 1 fighter of the 2010s, faced a long list of elite opponents yet retired undefeated.
Of course, any of my five who fail to appear on 80 percent of the ballots this year could still be elected next year or beyond. However, that could create the glut mentioned earlier, where so many deserving candidates are on a single ballot that one or two are left out in the cold.
Vote Mayweather, Toney, Klitschko, Cotto and Ward!
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez, which takes place Saturday, is one of the best-possible matchups in boxing.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Vasiliy Lomacheko (right) and Teofimo Lopez will meet again on Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I don’t usually look ahead in Good, Bad, Worse but I couldn’t resist this week.
Last month, the talented Charlo brothers gave us high-level performances to remember on a pay-per-view doubleheader. This coming Saturday, we have another mouth-watering main event to savor. And you don’t have to pay for it if you get ESPN.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez is about as good as it gets, a matchup of a seasoned boxing magician from Ukraine against a fiery young American with his own gifts who believes his time is now.
Lomachenko, No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, fought for a world title in his second pro fight (losing to Orlando Salido) and hasn’t slowed down. Every one of his 13 subsequent fights has been for one world title or another.
Yes, you read that correctly: 14 of Lomachenko’s 15 outings have been title fights. He said when he turned pro that he wanted to take part only in meaningful fights and he meant it.
Some believe that the 32-year-old has shown signs of vulnerability over the past few years, specifically in victories over Jorge Linares and Luke Campbell at lightweight that might’ve been more difficult than expected.
If he has slipped, age could be a factor. So could size. Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) progressed rapidly from 126 to 130 to 135. He’s arguably a small lightweight, which Lopez believes will work in his favor when they’re face to face inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) has the same number of pro fights as Lomachenko but hasn’t faced the same level of opposition, although he’s coming off a second-round knockout of Richard Commey to win one of the 135-pound titles. And while Lopez had a good amateur career, Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic champion, is considered one of the best amateurs ever.
Lopez, 23, has youth and a combination of other attributes – skill, speed, punching power, hunger – working in his favor. Many believe he has what it takes to beat this, perhaps slightly less formidable version of Lomachenko.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
***
BAD
Emanuel Navarrete (right) got the job against Ruben Villa done but didn’t look as good as some expected. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I wouldn’t say that Emanuel Navarrete’s performance against Ruben Villa on Friday was bad. It just wasn’t what we’ve come to expect from him. And he might never be the fighter at 126 pounds that he was at 122.
Navarrete (32-1, 27 KOs) got off to a strong start at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, putting Villa (18-1, 5 KOs) down twice in the first four rounds but then did just enough to hold onto his lead and win a vacant featherweight title. Two judges scored it 114-112, six rounds a piece. The third scored it 115-111.
Villa arguably outboxed in the majority of rounds in which he wasn’t knocked down, demonstrating that a good, experienced technician with some resilience can give Navarrete trouble.
The Mexican stalked his opponent from beginning to end but, aside from the knockdowns, didn’t do much damage. Had Villa countered more often when Navarrete missed the mark – and he missed a lot – he might’ve earned a draw or victory.
Can you imagine what fellow 126-pound titleholder Gary Russell Jr. would’ve done to the version of Navarrete we saw on Friday?
To be fair to Navarrete, he beat a good fighter to win a major title in a second division. That’s a laudable accomplishment.
And it was only his second fight as a full-fledged featherweight, at which Villa has fought his entire career. Navarrete could still grow into the division and become more dominating as he moves forward.
***
WORSE
Few have the Hall of Fame credentials of Floyd Mayweather (left). AP Photo / John Locher, File
I wasn’t a fan of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s decision to lower the induction threshold from five to three years, which I believe can create a glut of candidates. Hopefully, another change will save the day in voting for the Class of 2021.
Only the top three vote getters are guaranteed induction. The additional change, made the same time the threshold was altered, allows anyone else receiving votes on 80 percent of ballots to also get in.
This year, in my opinion, five first-time candidates are no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famers: Floyd Mayweather, James Toney, Wladimir Klitschko, Miguel Cotto and Andre Ward, all of whom happened to retire in 2017. There are other worthy names on the list – Rafael Marquez, Diego Corrales and Tim Bradley, for example – but they are a notch below the Top 5.
My hope is that 8 of 10 voters – who are limited to voting for five candidates — will agree with me and place check marks next the names of Mayweather, Toney, Klitschko, Cotto and Ward.
We don’t have to go into Floyd Mayweather’s credentials. He’ll be on the ballot of every responsible voter. Toney, a gifted boxer with a great chin, was a force between middleweight and heavyweight. Cotto, a four-division titleholder, was at the pinnacle of the sport for around 15 years. And Ward, my No. 1 fighter of the 2010s, faced a long list of elite opponents yet retired undefeated.
Of course, any of my five who fail to appear on 80 percent of the ballots this year could still be elected next year or beyond. However, that could create the glut mentioned earlier, where so many deserving candidates are on a single ballot that one or two are left out in the cold.
Vote Mayweather, Toney, Klitschko, Cotto and Ward!
The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates. The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of …
The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates.
The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of eligibility are Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, James Toney and Andre Ward.
Voters can check off five candidates but only the three top vote getters are elected. Others can get in but they must receive votes on 80% of the ballots.
In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess reveal the five fighters for whom they plan to vote and explain why.
The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates. The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of …
The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates.
The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of eligibility are Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, James Toney and Andre Ward.
Voters can check off five candidates but only the three top vote getters are elected. Others can get in but they must receive votes on 80% of the ballots.
In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess reveal the five fighters for whom they plan to vote and explain why.
The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.
