Manny Fought More World Champions Than Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s 23
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 May 2020
Counting the fighters who beat him in world title fights, Manny Pacquiao actually fought more world champions than Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Floyd fought and defeated 23 mostly reigning world champions in 25 total title bouts in compiling a record 50-0-0 pro boxing ledger at his last retirement in late 2015.
Manny on the other hand has faced 25 former, reigning and soon to become champions in 25 title bouts out of a total 34 overall fights in his ongoing career. Out of these 34, he won 26 times, lost six and drawn twice.
The former and mostly reigning world champions Floyd faced and defeated in his career are as follows: Genaro Hernandez, Angel Manfredy, Gregorio Vargas, Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez at 130 lbs.; Jose Luis Castillo at 135; DeMarcus Corley, Arturo Gatti and Sharmba Mitchell at 140; Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez (catchweight), Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero, Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao and Andre Berto at 147; and Oscar de la Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Saul Canelo Alvarez at 154, the last two at catchweight.
The only champion fighters Floyd fought twice were Castillo at lightweight and Maidana at welterweight after the results of their first fights were roundly questioned and criticized by both experts and fans.
On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao faced the following reigning, former and future world champions, a few more than twice: Chatchai Sasakul and 3 K Battery at 112 lbs., Lehlo Lebwaba, Julio Elicier and Agapito Sanchez at 122; Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez both once at 126; Erik Morales thrice, Oscar Larios and Marquez and Barrera once more at 130; David Diaz at 135; Ricky Hatton at 140; Oscar de la Hoya (catchweight), Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley, Marquez twice more, Chris Algieri, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley thrice, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Jessie Vargas, Jeff Horn, Lucas Matyhysse, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman at 147; and Antonio Margarito (catchweight) at 154 lbs.
Manny was 2-1-1 against Marquez, winning twice and drawing once in world title fights; 2-1 versus Morales in non world title bouts; 2-0 versus Barrera, once in world title bouts and 2-1 against Bradley in two world title and one downgraded to non title fights
The only title bouts that Manny dropped were against 3 K Battery at 112 and Bradley, Horn and Floyd all at 147 lbs.
You be the judge who fought the more formidable champions at the time they faced them in the square ring. And who has comparatively the better showing against some common opponents as De la Hoya, Marquez, Hatton and Mosley.
Should Manny face and win his next fight against any of reigning and former world champions as Mikey and Danny Garcia (no relation), Terrence Crawford, Shawn Porter or Errol Spence, he would equal Floyd's total of 23 but pull away at total number of reigning and former titlists fought at 26.
There is really more than meets the eye in their in their comparative statistics if one looks harder at their respective career ledgers.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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