The Unnecessity of Being Undisputed (Part 1)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 May 2024
Somebody asked me why I thought prime Manny Pacquiao never aspired for undisputed championship in any of the eight divisions where he became world champion.
I said, and I believe Manny and Bob Arum will agree with me: it was not necessary to prove dominance.
Note that from featherweight up, Manny, and Bob later, only targeted the best, most credible champions.
Even when he was going for his first world title at flyweight, Manny fought the best and most credible, WBC titlist Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand who was acknowledged by the Ring as lineal world champion.
When he moved up to junior featherweight, being no longer world titlist, Manny cannot be chooser and yet he grabbed the opportunity despite short notice to fight the then best champion at 122, IBF titlist Lehlo Lebwaba of South Africa. Having disposed of Lebwaba and chalked up successful defenses all by KO or TKO, Manny was obviously unmotivated when he was forced to meet WBO champion Agapito Sanchez in a unification bout that ended in a technical draw.
But when he was called to sub for a title challenge against then WBC and lineal world featherweight champion Antonio Antonio Barrera, we saw a motivated Pacquiao forcing an 11th round brutal stoppage. Somehow the organizer had the fight reduced to a non-title bout though the Ring still recognized Manny as the lineal world champion.
Denied of what was due him, Manny next fought another credible world champion, Juan Manuel Marquez for his WBA crown. But once again, he was robbed of victory when one judge erred in scoring causing the fight to be declared as draw despite Manny scoring three knockdowns in the very first round.
Marquez would lose his WBA crown in Indonesia to Chris John.
But Manny and Arum did not care to fight for any of the title, deeming the then champions as not credible and therefore not worth the trouble.
Manny decided to move up to junior lightweight where he had a trilogy with Erik Morales, another worthy and credible foe though in non title bouts. Manny lost the first but won the next two by knockout.
When Marquez became WBC and lineal world junior lightweight champion, Manny and Bob lost no time and arranged a title challenge.
Manny scored another knockdown on the way to pounding a split decision victory over Marquez to win essentially his fourth weight division world championship.
(To be continued)
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
May 4: Rohan Polanco-Fabian Maidana Welterweight Showdown & The Return of Emiliano Fernando Vargas Added to Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas ESPN+-Streamed Undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello Ready to Trade Leather in Las Vegas Heavyweight Headliner
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Avoided Kingsley Ibeh Demands his Seat at The Heavyweight Table
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Alex Bray Signs Promotional Agreement with Boxlab Promotions
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR THE 2025 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP AVAILABLE FROM 14 APRIL
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PSME Abu Dhabi overall champion in the PTC-WED in UAE
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Apr 2025The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Marco “El Tiburón” Romero moving up to scheduled 6-round bout next
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Filipino chess phenom wins at Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Thu, 03 Apr 2025IM Bagamasbad eyes GM title in Australian Chess Circuit
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025SAMPSON BOXING SIGNS TOP UNDEFEATED LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CONTENDER ERICK BADILLO TO CO-PROMOTIONAL CONTRACT
Thu, 03 Apr 2025