Pacquiao: The fighter to bring attention to the lower weight classes

Blog by Javier Reyes

(bodysnatcher) - It was 1997, I was a teenager, and I can remember just how exciting it was to hear about a young left handed featherweight that was going to bring attention to small weight divisions. Even as a teenager, I could tell it was the lower divisions where the actions was at. This fighter, had a star like personality, great speed and one of the most powerful left hands I’ve ever seen; his name, Prince Naseem Hamed. Read on for more…

I remember HBO airing commercials about this guy, his name seemed to be everywhere. In December of that year, after his war with Kevin Kelley, it seemed that the Prince had arrived. On December of 1997, Manny Pacquiao fought and beat a guy named Panomdej Ohyuthanakorn and if it wasn’t for Boxrec.com I doubt anybody would know what Pacquiao was doing during that time. Hamed had his moment and HBO believed they had found the featherweight superstar they were looking for. A few years later, in June 2001, the Hamed hoax came to an end at the hands of Marco Antonio Barrera, and one could almost sense that HBO felt their great featherweight hope was dead.

Little did they realize that on that same month in that very same year the true left handed power punching featherweight they were looking for would arrive and there wouldn’t be a need for commercials.

He wouldn’t come in on a flying carpet, he would show up on the undercard of Delahoya/Castillejo, to the cheesy entrance of eye of the tiger, and he would come in as an opponent.

Yes folks, as THE OPPONENT, he made it to that undercard as a last second opponent for Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, a respected champion and the fighter that was meant to shine; several knock downs later Manny Pacquiao had arrived.

Since the Ledwaba fight Manny has gone on to fight some of the best competition of his generation, fighting champions like Barrera (twice), Morales (three times), Marquez (twice), Hatton, De la Hoya, and Miguel Cotto. With each victory, and with each Manny chant, I can’t help but to think that Manny has accomplished the glory that HBO felt Hamed would accomplish plus much more.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FIGHTER I’VE EVER SEEN!
Regardless of what the media may say, Boxing did not stop producing great fighters in the 80's.

During my years of watching boxing I’ve gotten to see some of the greatest fighters of all time fight, whether it was guys like Julio Cesar Chavez , or Mayweather and Hopkins out smarting their opponent, but I have to admit that after watching Manny defeat Cotto this past Saturday I was left with a feeling that he’s the most impressive fighter I’ve seen.

I’ve told people in the past that the best fighter I’ve seen during my time is Roy Jones Jr, and I’ll still stick with that, I feel that in his prime Roy Jones is almost unbeatable; but I’ve never been as impressed with a fighter as he moves up in weight like I have been with Manny Paquiao.

No, Manny doesn’t look as invincible as Jones did, but the level of opposition and the way that he is beating them is by far the most impressive I’ve seen.

Dan Rafael took the words out of my mouth at the press conference when he mentioned that he was impressed with Manny’s performance, but he was more impressed with his chin.

After the Manny bout, I told a friend of mine my thoughts on Manny, who replied with the sarcastic comment "Did started watching boxing last week?"

It’s funny how people don’t appreciate what they see.

Make no mistake about it folks, you are watching something special, fighters just don’t move up in weight classes like Manny is doing and destroy the opposition in the manner Manny does, it just does not happen.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MANNY?
After the fight, I tuned in to ESPN to hear John "The Iceman" Scully say that if you asked 100 writers 100 out of 100 would tell you that they want to see Pacman/Floyd.

Well, I’m not an official writer, unless you count this, but I would much rather see Manny/Mosley. This might sound crazy to most, since Manny and Floyd are number 1 and 2 p4p, however did you see Manny’s frustration after having to chase Cotto for the second half of the fight? Ok now imagine that, but without the first 5 rounds, Manny chasing with Floyd on the run for 12 full rounds!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the best fighting the best, but if I’m going to fork up $55 in this type of economy I want to get my money’s worth, Mosley/Manny would definitely give you your money’s worth, I don’t think Floyd/Manny would.

Having said all of those great things about Manny, I would still bet the house on Floyd. I love Manny to death, but if JMM can out box you, and if Cotto can outbox him like he did in that first round, Floyd Mayweather can do it for 12 full rounds, that’s what Floyd does! It wouldn’t be a pretty fight, but the Pretty Boy would win.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR COTTO?
I’ve always been a fan of Miguel Cotto, but it’s pretty clear that he has peaked. You can blame his last few performances on the after effects of the Margarito fight, however it’s become more and more evident that against aggressive fighters Cotto is a frontrunner.

He showed signs of that against Mosley, Margarito took advantage of it, Clottey could not and Manny finished the job.

Cotto says he wants to continue fighting, so if I was him I would take a tune up fight then shoot for Mosley or Floyd, one of these two superstars is going to be left without a dance partner for this first half fo 2010; Manny can only fight one of them at the time, right?

Cotto probably only has one last big fight to cash in and he should go on and do it next year.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
I know Roach is the main man in Manny’s corner, but doesn’t it seem like Buboy Fernandez is the one that does all of the talking?

With each Manny win, what Erik Morales did in their first fight and what Juan Manuel Marquez did in their two fights seems more and more impressive.

Alfonso Gomez looked as good as I’ve seen him look, too bad the cut ended things early.

If Yuri Foreman punched as well as he head butts he would be a hell of a fighter.

I hope this starts a trend and they start showing free undercard bouts.

After hearing that Arum gave the middle finger to Dan Rafael after the Foreman/Santos fight and hung up on Steve Kim when asked about the horrible undercard, I can say that Arum has not lost a step, he’s still a class act.

My Wife, who knows very little about boxing, said to me, how is that Chavez jr. kid in the fight before the main event? Bob Arum you should be ashamed!

I’m glad guys like Cotto and Manny took the time and effort to learn English, it’s not an easy thing to do, only wish guys like Chavez and Trinidad would have done the same.

Worst news of the weekend: There could only be one loser in the Foreman/Santos fight.

Editors Note: this blog was written by a user of this site and does not reflect the opinions of liverpuncher.com

Comments (26) >>

doctorSpoc said:

"Make no mistake about it folks, you are watching something special, fighters just don’t move up in weight classes like Manny is doing and destroy the opposition in the manner Manny does, it just does not happen."

I may be cynical, because I come from the sport of cycling where when you see a performances that just don't make sense.. they are usually performance that were hatched out of a bottle. As crazy as the things that Mayweather Sr. says sometimes.. the more I think about it the more I smell a rat. You know what they say? when something seems too good to be true, it's because it IS too good to be true.

You move up 4 weight classes (real weight classes.. not that the claimed 7 with.. jr, sr BS we have these days.. REAL weight classes), you're over 30 now.. and you have better power, great chin and pay no penalty at all in speed?? WTF!?!

And i know there are going to be incredibly naive people who say.. well they are all drug tested, so how could he be on drugs? well, duh.. as we see from cycling they just use stuff that they are not testing for or can't test for or use it when they are not testing..

a) google balco.. marion jones, kelly white, mosely, barry bonds etc never tested positive the 'the clear' a "designer steroid" that at the time was undetectable. it was designed in a lab to not be detectable. telephone record, bank records, phone taps messed up the "perfect plan". that and a disgruntled former member of jones' team that handed the authorities a sample of this undetectable steroid.. frig, they even had a masking agent for it, if at some point it ever did become detectable. it was a drug used for narcolepsy (that's people that spontaneously fall sleep). suddenly at the world track championships kelly white and other started testing positive for the masking agent.. even got a doctor to write up a fake prescription for it even though she had no previous history of it (lost his license over it.. doh!). and it would be easy to design a new one as well... i have a BSc in Chemistry.. move a few carbons here, a few hydrogens there and boom, you have an new undetectable steroid..

b) they don't test for hGH (human growth hormone).. effectively making it undetectable..

c) micro dosing testosterone is also an option..

c) they don't in boxing, but in cycling they have unannounced, targeted, out of competition testing.. you need to test WELL before the fight when fighters are preparing for the fight, building bulk in the gym and when it will actually be in there systems.. if fighter stops taking it weeks prior to the event, when you test it will be out of his systems by then.. they test on fight night so of course they would find nothing... why would anyone in their right mind take it at that point anyway, it would be totally useless at that point, and you know their testing for it so you'd be pretty stupid to be taking then.

anyway, it's likely only pacquiao and his "strength coach" that know for sure, but i gotta say, something really does smell fishy to me..

maybe i'm jaded from cycing and i don't mean to sh!t on pacquiao's parade, but something just doesn't seem right here.. as you say this kind of thing "just does not happen" in real life anyway.. in disney movies, it happens all the time..

18 November, 2009

Jandro83 said:

I really doubt Manny used any growth hormones, he did alot of work on his back and u could see it at the weigh in, he was wider than a swimming champ, if u work on those muscles and rip ur back out ur going to incrase ur wingspan like he did, so i dont think there was any hormones theres, after all these changes have come in little by little not all at once, anyways, i think Mosley/Pacquiao would be a very explosive fight, and not only that both have iron solid chins, now if the fight happens, we're gonna see who has the better punching power, Mosley has gone up to middleweight, and even witshtood Mayorga's punching power and Mayorga came in at a lean 175 with no cigs or booz in him, then he KOd the fuck out of Margacheato, now we got Manny who blew Hatton and Cotto with ONE shot, and Cotto never actually wobbled from a shot to the chin on the Margacheato fight even with loaded gloves, so now we know both got anazimg chin, but now its time to see who has the harder punch.

18 November, 2009

lukeblaze said:

Good article Body. And I can agree with you in part mostly. I might of chose my words differently. You said he is the most impressive. I would say he is the most explosive I ve ever seen. He can really be dynamite at any minute. But I too grew up with Roy Jones Jr and in his prime he was truly a marvel.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Seven weight classes as a champ (title holder) what ever you want to call it. Is unmatched.

You also mentioned Juan Manuel Marquez. A guy Manny fought in March of last year I believe. I was watching that fight last night. One of the great fights you can witness. But the way Marquez out thought Manny out boxed him. If it wasnt for Pac's explosiveness in droppin Marquez in the 3rd, and bad scoring in the 6th round Marquez probably would of won the fight. Not that the most impressive fighter has to win EVERY fight but I ve seen Roy Jones Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Mayweather Jr, Roberto Duran. I may not necessarily agree but Pacquiao most definately qualifies for the list.

18 November, 2009

doctorSpoc said:

Jandro83 - you can't just take steroids and then sit on a sofa eating chips and chocolate bars and expect result.. you still have to go to the gym and work your frig'n aZZ off... it's just that after working like a dog you get results with steroids that you could not have gotten otherwise. also it's not like you or i could walk off the street, take steroids and be taking on Cotto a few days later.. he is obviously a very gifted athlete, steroids or no steroids steroid just give that extra edge over equally gifted athletes who work there asses off too.

people always seem to make that mistake.. that steroids somehow magically make someone into a super star.. NO.. you still have to work your ass off just as hard as the next guy with equal talent so at the end of the day you end up just that little bit ahead.. and then there is the skill component that you just cannot get out of bottle at all..

i'm strictly talking about Pacquiao's power and ability to take a punch.. seems a bit beyond the realm of belief to be built up in that amount of time..

18 November, 2009

socalboxer said:

dr spock, i think u are jaded from cycling. that sport is full of cheats (not that boxing doesn't have its share, but boxing also gets a worse rap than the others)

pacquiao's strength seems unbelievable, but many times its not just how hard you hit a guy, but also timing and the angle.

cotto didn't even see the right hook which floored him and the second time he was dropped was from a strange angle right on the chin. pacquiao may not hit as hard on a punch for punch basis as the other guys, but when u dont see it coming, its much worse.

18 November, 2009

355X6 Bench said:

There is a good point there Body, what gets me is how he gets into the ring looking like a bodybuilder with cuts and ripples when the other guy Cotto looked softer in his own divition (see weigh in), with Pac coming up. The guys I spar are goood ametures and they look smoother and I look ripped cuz I lift and they dont. He shows sighns of some one on stanozol, that is what Vargas used against Oscar in their fight and had the same look, but with stanozol you can gett off and it wont be detectable if you give yourself 3wk time frame. My cousin just won a bodybuilding contest on that stuff. Its the shizzy but I wont use. When we lifted the same time and same workout for four months he looked hella better than me, he got stronger faster ripped better and I look ok just regular. I hope thats not the case cuz I like Pac alot.

18 November, 2009

Swodogg said:

Great Piece man! I have to say Pacquiao trains at another level man. Bamboo stick to hit your stomach? Seems like he trains for fun. Arum also said Pacmans training camp is non-stop action whereas Cotto's camp took lots of breaks, cut out earlier

Also Look at pacmans bi's, they are tiny compared to Cotto but pacmans calves/legs are HUGE. Thats where all that power is coming from too, lower body strength.

18 November, 2009

Swodogg said:

Also I agree on that Santos Fight: GARBAGE...I was the only one watching it on the couch! Everyone else was walking around eating dinner

18 November, 2009

Ed said:

I agree, Manny vs. Mosley is better. Floyd is a runner, he knows he doesn't have the power to KO the Pacman so he'll "BOX" not fight and win on points.. Boring, runner, and a cherry picker Floyd Mayweather.. All talk, all hype. Pacman fought better and quality opposition than Floyd and KO's them ALL... Who did floyd KO by attacking????

18 November, 2009

asya said:

steroids is a western invention, manny wouldn't recognize it even if it was sitting in his lap and calling him "PAPA." don't talk sh!t if you don't have proof. don't be just another fool with foolish opinions.

18 November, 2009

Melvin said:

I wonder if we could sue these people who accused someone of using steroids. Strong accusation without proof is the most ignorant thing to do, and it's the peak of hatred because their man got beat up.

18 November, 2009

Melvin said:

Why don't you guys accuse Ali, Hagler, Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard, or Maybe Micahel Jordan, Lebron James, and Kobe Bryant. How about Floyd Jr.? Why can't you guys accept that Pac is the Beethoven of Boxing, and Michael Jordan of Boxing, and Tiger Woods of Boxing. Why? and Why? its because the person you Idolized before is not close to Manny in achievements. Be appreciative people. Without Manny boxing will be overtaken by MMA. So, If your man is not as great as Manny take it like a man. Don't give me that excuses that Manny uses steroid to ruin his reputation. Prove it and if not, we should put you to jail because your accusation sounds like you are 110% sure. You are not God and that's not opinion, that is a serious and very serious accusation. You are not only degrading Manny's reputation but to the 100 million people in the Phillipines. We will get you guys. You guys accusation is demeaning to our champion. it affects to Manny and to all his fans. I will save this blog and get get people's addresses and real names.

18 November, 2009

Mexican Guy said:

All these insinuations the Pacman is using banned substance are plain B.S. Pac is the greatest of all time period. If you are in the stature of Pac will you risk your reputation by using banned substance? Only moron and idiots do in the same manner only moron and idiots accused Pac of this B.S. thing.

18 November, 2009

Khadafi Janjalani said:

Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, says there is no evidence Pacquiao is using steroids. Nevada rules, which have been in place since 2002, require fighters to submit urine samples before every fight. Those samples are tested for 40 kinds of steroids, diuretics and masking agents. Pacquiao, who has fought in Las Vegas 10 times since '02, has never tested positive. Pacquiao's conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, says the only substances Pacquiao took leading up to the fight were whey protein and liver-support supplements, while consuming a 6,500-calories-per-day diet.

18 November, 2009

ya mama said:

yo doc, odlh went up 6 divisions, floyd 5, so y arent you accusing them of juicing up?hehe cycling n boxing r entirely different, in cycling your going against yourself, in boxing making ur opponent look bad makes u look really good, and bench... manny's been cut since he was a kid, its genetics, pacmans got farmer strength, you can see it in someones bone structure, he's just sturdy, and mentally fit, when youre determined you can do whatever...he said the shots he took hurt like hell! but he ignored to discourage cotto, dude is a beast.. he was malnourished as a kid, thats y he started at 106, he grew and developed....
hes weighed the same on fight night now for the last 5 fights so he fought marquez n diaz dehydrated....

18 November, 2009

entradero said:

IT IS THE "BALUT" , THAT IS THE ENHANCED SUBSTANCE.FLOYD JR AND SR KNOWS THE ENHANCED SUBSTANCE VERY WELL, THEY ARE THE EXPERTS ON THIS ONE.

18 November, 2009

355X6 Bench said:

If Manny is not useing anything then he must be the most supernateral fighter of our time, I dont think anyone is accusing anyone here,I dont think any of us have seen somthing so phenominal, his power is aweinspiring, he is actully strong enough to fight at 160. I am a big Manny fan and i would never take anything from him, but threatening people you dont know come on, you dont need to read into things so closely. No one here is scarred cuz you really dont know who you are talking to .Ill leave it at that.

18 November, 2009

junlim said:

I agree, pac-mosley show is in order. aside from that that it will entertain and satisfy fans more,the pac-mosley fight certainly will bring more honor, prestige and credibility to the boxing world. it's the duty of boxing world and the people primarily running it to stage ring battles among and between fighters who are genuine boxers, and who are true gentlemen with respect to the institution. so, why dignify now a fighter (who does not even hold a belt in the welterweight) -by clamoring for a shot at the pacman- who is flagrantly making a mockery of the whole system. think people... it's nonsense, except its going to be a huge payday. i tel u, the clamor for pac-floyd clash and the clash itself (which i believe, a boring dance)operates and will operate in the mayweathers fooling and playing the institution and in the process insulting and demeaning the champions in berto and mosley.

pls., BOXING do not allow that floyd be rewarded for his disrespect and ungratefulness to U. floyd is not your prodigal son. do not ignore and abandon the true champions. don't fault them just because they lack the skill to create odes and poetries as would sell them. in fact, i believe mosley and berto and the other champions are capable of doing what floyd does, but they simply choose not to because they simply are, as the pacman say, "ordinary (CHAMPIONS)who fight to win." also, they simply are gentlemen and honorable

18 November, 2009

Johanne said:

Wow, Manny doping is the lamest excuse only a racist can come up with. I suggest you guys enter the wild card gym to see Manny work out to see for yourselves why Pacquiao is a physical beast.

For the record, during training camp, Pacquiao averages 3000 sit ups a day, runs at least 3 miles uphill every other day, spars up to 24 rounds (during the peak of training camp) and works the mitts for 16 rounds without a break.

His workouts span a little over four hours and after he's done, some bloke will hit his gut and arms with a thick bamboo stick for five minutes.

Besides, Manny's options (in case the mayweather bout doesn't push through) include defending his 140 lbs title. Manny even suggested that he can still drop down at 135lbs to reclaim the lightweight title he vacated. He won't be confident in making the lower weights if he was indeed taking HGH.

Get a life people, Manny is the modern day Henry Armstrong.

18 November, 2009

GbDc said:

im not really a big pac fan but i gotta admire his skills... and its ok if some people think he uses HGH or something, especially at this time where a lot of athletes have admitted using steroids.. but im been into boxing, mma, and other combat sports for a while... what people dont understand is that some people are just faster and stronger... they have better genes.. to cite an evidence... LOOK AT MANNY's LEGS... his upper body is not that big.. but his legs are like that of a middleweight or somthing... that is his source of speed and power..

18 November, 2009

steely said:

I can't believe that there are people that actually give merit to Papamouth Floyd words.
Unbelievably gullible.
By the way is there anyone out there interested in a beach front property atop Mt Everest? It comes with an unobstructed view.

18 November, 2009

Prime1 said:

After PBF Jr. beat JMM I thought Manny Pacquiao would not have much of a chance against him.

But after seeing Manny demolish Cotto now I see Manny putting the hurt on PBF Jr. for sure with the help of Master Freddie Roach.

I can see Roach developing a plan for Manny to penetrate PBF Jrs. defense with his speed and power combinations.

They will be able to get quality sparmates with similar style and speed of PBF Jr., Amir Khan comes to mind. PBF Jr. won't have sparmate that can come close to the PACMANS style of fighting.

Manny will beat down on PBF Jr. and smash his loudmouth.

19 November, 2009

JoeLuis said:

Another tiny thing that ure forgetting "Prime" is the JMM that fought PBF is not the same than the one that fought pacman. He was by far, slower, heavier,(W/luvhandlesnall) and could not counter cus of that and that was his plan.

We can all argue wether or not manny's taken any drugs. Well its about time that boxing added its biggest athlethe to the mix. We got A-rod for baseball, etc.. haha lol.jk. I trully want to believe that the pacman is just a freak of nature but im not discarting the possibility either. Only people that dont know about them drugs would be a non believer. Quite frankly what Pac man has done is astonishing and people are gona point fingers. He has all my respect because he's a true gentleman and a crowd pleaser fighter. Can't get anybetter than that. oh wait he sings too! The whole package!.
Guys dont look much into this..Im almost possitive that nowadays most athletes at one point have had someshit done to enhance themselves. If manny took it he still had to put in the work in the gym. Jose luis castillo (former manny's sparring partner) said -"I've never seen anyone train as hard as Manny" Also Its not the power that's beek anihliating the opposition.. is the speed. What you dont see will F#$%K you up! and they all say the same.. They could not see the punch.

19 November, 2009

oinkee said:

for the record, it is clear to me that buboy fernandez only translated what roach's instructions to manny.

19 November, 2009

oplod said:

Yes, That is why Buboy is always there---so that instructions from Freddie will not be misunderstood.

Manny's training and perception of boxing is on different level---that is why no ordinary boxers will ever understand or catch up with him.

His power is not from the dope---he is in the state of "Natural High" which has the effect of more than the dope. He got this through his strong faith in God. Manny's mental decipline comes from his martial art training which he learned way back before he became a professional boxer. The stick training is not practiced by any boxers yet. Which is very effective-that training comes from ancient school of matial arts. Nobody noticed his "bolo" punch yet--that is why they couldn't figure where he is coming from. The other thing that some people doesn't notice yet is the way he throw his punch with his foot not touching in the ground. That strike seems awkward in boxing but that is used in karate. which is very powerful but maintains your balance even if you miss the target. This things are not ordinary in the perspective view of boxing.

19 November, 2009

Jandro83 said:

Manny does NOT use steroids PERIOD, for example the greatest asian martial artist Bruce Lee, u people saw him when he started all skinny just like Pacman, they r both same height and body structure and if u remember Bruce from Enter the Dragon u can see Manny's body has a strong ressemblence to Bruce Lee's and not to mention Manny always comes in @ 149, for ur information DOC Bruce got up to 165, and the thought of him using steroids never crossed anyones mind, so how come Manny cant do it also?

19 November, 2009

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