DELGADO: PACQUIAO IS THE GREATEST POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTER OF OUR ERA SURPASSING MAYWEATHER
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Oct 2017
One of the best articles written about Manny Pacquiao was posted by Bradley Delgado in "Manny Pacquiao - The Greatest P4P Fighter of Our Era" at Combat Legend. He explains why he considers the legendary Pacquiao as the greatest fighter of our era, pound for pound, surpassing Floyd Mayweather, even if he hasn?t lost. "Manny Pacquiao is an offensive fighter, so losing some fights along the way is more apt to happen than if your a defensive fighter, like Floyd Mayweather," wrote Delgado.
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He doesn?t believe Manny?s losses reflect his ability. "He?s an aggressive, offensive, and exciting fighter and that?s how he made his name," continued Delgado. "Pacman put it all on the line and that?s why we loved to watch him. He went 57-3 in his first 60 fights, and all 3 losses a result of his over aggressiveness, not due to his lack of skill. He was in absolute wars in the early years with Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and plenty more."
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Delgado described what?s most impressive about Manny is "he fought well above his true weight class at the latter part of his career." The Combat Legend article continued: "He was way above his weight class fighting at 147 pounds with guys like Floyd Mayweather . Pacman never should have been in the ring with all those welterweights or junior middleweights, but he was. Manny Pacquiao fought way above his natural weight class. Really, every fight of his was a war."
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Delgado said Manny didn?t get past super bantamweight until his 41st fight, that?s 122 pounds. "He moved up weight from there but at his 50th fight he still hasn?t moved past 130 pounds. Contrary to Mayweather, his 50th fight is just what he had against Conor McGregor. Floyd had 15 fights at 147 or higher by the time he reached 50 fights, Manny hasn?t fought past 130 pounds by the time he reached 50 fights. Of course, that?s because Floyd is a natural welterweight whereas Manny Pacquiao is not."
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"He moved up in weight because there was more opportunity in the higher weight classes. There was bigger fights by moving up in weight, bigger paychecks, and harder challenges. He naturally should have stayed at lightweight (135), at the very highest. Pacquiao had never been past 130 pounds until his 52nd fight against David Diaz which took place at 135 pounds. His next fight after that took place at 147 pounds against Oscar De la Hoya," Delgado continued.
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"Jumping up from 135 to 147 to take on Oscar de la hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Tim Bradley, Floyd Mayweather, or Antonio Margarito at 154 is unreal. That?s like Floyd jumping up to fight Andre Ward, GGG, Sergio Martinez, or Bernard Hopkins," Delgado added. He explained further that the lack of opportunity to make big money fights at the lower weight classes pushed Manny to fight guys 2-3 weight classes above his. "He did so with fearlessness, and the same offensive and aggressive style, he used in the lower weight classes."
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Mayweather did not jump weights like Pacquiao, the article continued. "Everybody wanted Manny vs. Floyd to see who?s the best. That is not seeing who?s the best. For example, Andre Ward is an absolute beast and undefeated. If Floyd jumps up 2-3 weight classes to meet Ward and loses, that doesn?t make Andre the best. If Floyd loses that fight, it doesn?t take anything away from him. For Floyd to jump multiple weight classes to take on another divisions best fighter, he would gain nothing but respect, win or lose. Manny did exactly that, 17 different times."
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Delgado says "Let?s give Manny Pacquiao the credit he deserves for being the most entertaining boxer of our generation...the credit he deserves for taking on the best in the world 3 weight classes above his." Pacquiao is the only fighter in our era that took a risk like that, having dominated his weight classes at 122 and 130 pounds. "He then jumped up to 147 and 154 pounds to take on the best those divisions had to offer. He did so with dominating nearly every single one of them."
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"That describes the best pound for pound boxer of our era. Manny Pacquiao is the most exciting fighter of our era, and more importantly, the best Pound for Pound fighter of our era, period," concluded Delgado. Pacquiao's critics and Mayweather's fans may not totally agree with this article. But for us Pacquiao fans, we certainly agree that being the only boxer to have won world titles in eight weight divisions, the Filipino boxing icon is the best pound-for-pound fighter of this era.
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In an exclusive interview with Joe Hewlett of World Boxing News, Billy Joe Saunders reveals that the huge David Lemieux purse, explains why he changed his plan as he originally have wanted to fight Amir Khan. He will travel to Canada to defend his WBO middleweight crown for a third time. The fight will happen at Laval, Quebec on December 16. It will be the first time Saunders will fight outside of Britain, and he insisted he has no fear facing Lemieux in his territory.
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Before the encounter with the Canadian was scheduled for December, there were rumors that Saunders will fight a household name in Amir Khan. However, Saunders confirmed it was just a mere speculation. ?Amir Khan is a very fighter and the reason I said I?d like to fight him is because he?s already fought Canelo. And there was a chance for him to fight and win another world title but it didn?t happen," Saunders said. Khan has not fought since May 2016 after the Canelo loss.
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"I?m now fighting a bigger name, and a former world champion in Canada, it?s for seven-figures.? When asked if he?s waiting for the winner between GGG and Canelo next year, Saunders would not entertain the story of a big fight and would just concentrate on the coming fight with Lemieux. The 28-year-old WBO titlist safely replied: ?I?m just concentrating on my job, I?m not waiting around for anyone, I?ve got Lemieux next and that?s all I?m focusing on.?
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LA Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball had a terrible opening game of his NBA career against the LA Clippers. In his second game, when the Lakers edged the Phoenix Suns 132-130, Ball recorded 29 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists. Ball is the first teen since LeBron James to record such stats. His 29 points are the most by a Laker in their first or second career game since 1963. He also is now the youngest player to record a 25 point, 10 rebound, 5 assist game since Kevin Durant in 2008.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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