No Doubts: Pacman is the Best
Posted by Jonathan Yaghoubi on 07.04.2008
Manny Pacquiao makes the successful jump to lightweight and to the top of the boxing world.
Who will stop this man?
Retired or not, many people in the boxing world consider Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the number one pound for pound fighter in the world today. For myself, I had no choice but to agree with everyone on that statement for a long time. But no more, not today! I actually changed my mind Saturday night and I dare anyone to challenge me on this. Manny Pacquiao is the best pound for pound fighter in the world today. No doubts! When I watched the PPV card on Saturday night, the whole time during the under-card I kept telling my brother "Man, I can't wait to see Manny fight. This is going to be an awesome fight!" Well it certainly was an awesome fight but not if you were David Diaz. Manny Pacquiao put on a severe prison style beat down on Diaz that never stopped. It was nine rounds of torture for Diaz and nine rounds of excellence for Pacquiao. He looked like a tiger attacking a zebra in those nature videos. It was quite disturbing.
This was Manny's first fight as a light weight and there are some who thought that it would be a tough task moving up to face Diaz…(cough…Teddy Atlas).and that he would lose his speed and get hurt. Sorry Teddy but that theory was gone in Round 1.It was Manny that looked like the bigger man. Pacquaio looked like a heavyweight in a lightweight's body. He looked like he was getting better with each round. The amount of punches he was throwing was amazing. I can't believe this is the same guy that fought a 12 round war with Juan Manuel Marquez only three months ago. It is usually the case that fighters that are involved in many wars in their beginning of their career, they tend to die out at a very early age. But Manny is showing no signs of slowing down. Diaz was so thoroughly beaten that referee Vic Drakulich didn't even bother to count. Diaz had been cut severely over his right eye in the fourth round. His face was a bloody mess. And Pacquiao, who by the mid-rounds looked like a boy pulling the wings off a fly with the way he was tormenting Diaz, did not have a mark on him. He looked like he could fight again next week.
We all get the idea how badly Manny killed Diaz. So let's get to the talk of him being the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. There are no questions about it with this guy. He brings it all to the table. The victory puts Pacquiao into the historic elite as he won a title in his fifth weight division. He has won titles at flyweight, junior featherweight (122), feather weight (126) and in March, he narrowly won a decision over Juan Manuel Marquez for the junior lightweight title (130).
Manny said after the fight that he felt much stronger and quicker at 135 which is a very scary thought for all the lightweights out there and is the biggest draw in the entire division. I mean we have some possible big time matches that Manny can go for. He could go for a huge mega fight at 140 to fight Ricky Hatton, who fights Paul Malignaggi in November. The thought of that fights makes my hands numb because I know it would be the most exciting and emotional fight I think he would ever see. Look for early 2009 for that fight to happen.
Back to many being the best fighter in the world. Look, for many years people have said that either Roy Jones Jr or Floyd Mayweather were the best fighters in the world. They are both outstanding fighters and deserve the recognition they both get. But after watching Manny Pacquiao fight Saturday night, those two guys are ballet dancers compared to Pacman. There are no doubts, Manny is the best!
watch for the coming of hatton, pacquiao will down to the ring,thats the of pacmans career, im a filipino man
Posted By: cris (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 03:36 AM
You hit it right on the head Jon! Indeed Manny Pacquiao is now the MAN!!! I see Hatton's fall early next year, but it will be very tough for the Pacman.
Posted By: glover (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 04:45 AM
Yes, Jonathan, you may be right but look at his opponent! Even Juan Manuel Marquez and Joan Guzman might pull out the same showing that Pacman displayed, against Diaz. Diaz is the weak link among the top lightweight contenders and Pacman was lucky to have been paired off against Diaz, while Marquez is scheduled to fight Casamayor and Campbell gets to fight Guzman. Tough for them to be paired together while Pacman had it easy. The winners in those two fights will be a real test for Pacman and I think this is where you'll see a war to the finish. At least for now Pacman showed some promise. To be fair, I was surprised with the right hand arsenal that Pacman brought to the ring against Diaz. It was a vast improvement over his fighting style and will definitely be a factor in future fights as they watch his left not knowing that his right is as potent as it is. I am glad that Diaz will now upgrade to a better car with aircon. He deserves it.
Posted By: tony (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 05:22 AM
This is the most truthful article so far on Pacman's Saturday night demolition of David Diaz!
imakaiw ad kiangan
Posted By: nandi (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 06:48 AM
101 % I agree with you selecting by Manny Pacquiao as no. 1 P4P even if Floyd Mayweather has not retire. We are lucky enough to have witness in our lifetime this greatest fighters from the island of Philippines.
Posted By: rocky peteros (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I agree - Pacquaio is the best P4P atm. Can't wait for his fight against Valero (rumoured to be nearly a done deal) in November.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 11:35 AM
What a performance from an already accomplished boxer like Manny. He's like a Jekyl & Hyde, but certainly the most classiest person in boxing. I really enjoyed reading your article. Now my question is how many boxers out there who can talk less, instead show heart, grit and skill when it matters most....in the ring like Manny does?!
Posted By: EJ (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 12:26 PM
PacMan IS the world's No. 1 4P4 boxer... but Márquez beat him...
Posted By: Diego (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 12:56 PM
i am a believer now. i thought pacman is eating much more than he could chew when he fought diaz at lightweight because diaz was way too big. diaz even fought at 147 lbs early in his career. what the heck. big or not, manny is so quick in getting out of harms way and punch like a lightning, lol!
Posted By: ARIES (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 01:45 PM
In nature, there is no tiger attacking a zebra. There is no zebra in tiger territories, its a lion not a tiger.
Anyway, Pacquiao is indeed the best pound for pound boxer. Mayweather is not a boxer, but more of a runner/sprinter. Look what he did in his fight with Hatton, 1 punch then hug Hatton, 1 punch then run. The hell, so boring to watch. Look at the total punches for Mayweather and Hatton, Mayweather total punches is 329, while Pacquaio had total punches of 788. With this stat we know what the fighters did in the ring, Pacquiao boxed and Mayweather run.
Mayweather thinks his a Sugar ray leonard in style, but no way near. Leonard, tires his opponent in first couple of rounds, then engaged in boxing all through out the round.
Watch all Pacquaio's fight and see the stats. He never slow down, he don't run but box. That's the definition of a true boxer.
Posted By: JJ (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Can't wait for Manny's next bout. Always exciting and always fun to watch - they're "can't miss". Manny is looking for a November fight so we'll keep you posted on who his opponent will be. There's a few names being tossed around right now but I'll keep the lid on until we have official confirmation.
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on July 04, 2008 at 05:10 PM
PACMAN - Pound for Pound the best boxer!! NOT Joe Calzaghe!! Pacman is 5 division champ beating champs (hall of famers) and contenders in moving up. JC? the likes of Jeff Lacy?? washed up B-Hop?? Only Kessler is credible, even then is questionable.. Thanks Jonathan for objective journalism..
Posted By: eddie (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 05:26 PM
I'm a Pac fan, let's get that out of the way. I watch most of his fights over and over and over again. I mean, he's very good. Okay, he is great. But, honestly, I cannot judge him "great" from the Diaz fight. Diaz was as slow as a geriatric snail on downer. I judge Pac "great" from the previous fights like Morales II, Barrera I, Ledwaba. I'd like to see him fight the cream-of-the-crop like Campbell, Marquez again at 135, Joan Guzman, etc. Whether he does it or not, he's still a great fighter to me. He beats these worthy adversaries, I'd line him up there with the Alis, Haglers, Robinsons and Leonards of the world.
Posted By: PacIs4Real (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Excellent article. An extremely intelligent analyses.
How an absurd article if you're a British and say Calzaghe is the #1 #4# Boxer. Boxing fans are not so damn to be convinced of an irrational argument and give justification via emotional motivation.
You, British journalist will have your ultimate embarassment when the Pacman will KO your Hitman Hatton.
Your great Jonathan Yaghoubi!!
Posted By: Ottog Hahn Matalam (Guest) on July 04, 2008 at 09:24 PM
I like these words right on target my friend "Back to many being the best fighter in the world. Look, for many years people have said that either Roy Jones Jr or Floyd Mayweather were the best fighters in the world. They are both outstanding fighters and deserve the recognition they both get. But after watching Manny Pacquiao fight Saturday night, those two guys are ballet dancers compared to Pacman. There are no doubts, Manny is the best!
Posted By: MrHoneyko (Guest) on July 05, 2008 at 12:37 AM
too much talk about pound-for-pound. this pound-for-pound title really doesn't mean anything. don't we pit a fighter against another to settle the argument who's better? (aside from making money, of course, lol). wanna talk p4p? ok, do you people really think pacquiao can beat smart and skilled boxers like floyd, dela hoya or even, say, malignaggi, etc.? roy jones jr even at this stage of his career? don't get me wrong, i love watching pacquiao and i'm a big fan of his and his style. exciting, yayyy! lotsa blood. entertainingly violent! but, let us call a spade a spade, there are a lot of boxers who can run circles around him, it will be waste of time and money, though. i won't watch pacquiao lose to somebody tap-boxing him and running away.
Posted By: OlegAndropov (Guest) on July 05, 2008 at 07:06 AM
HMMMMM, I'm wondering, would other lightweights show the same action packed that MP did against diaz? I DON"T THINK SO. ONe writer said that the reason MP did a good show because DD is not a good boxer but prefered VALERO is better that MP. Dude, and what kind of quality fighters did this valero guy fought. Shit head boxers like the shit head writer. The writer's name is BARRY McGuigan. And please don't try to analyze if MP could beat ODLH, FMjr. or Calzage because they're in different weight class stupid shits.
Posted By: boxing fan (Guest) on July 05, 2008 at 02:44 PM
This was Manny's first fight as a light weight and there are some who thought that it would be a tough task moving up to face Diaz…(cough…Teddy Atlas).and that he would lose his speed and get hurt. Sorry Teddy but that theory was gone in Round 1.It was Manny that looked like the bigger man. Pacquaio looked like a heavyweight in a lightweight's body. He looked like he was getting better with each round. The amount of punches he was throwing was amazing. I can't believe this is the same guy that fought a 12 round war with Juan Manuel Marquez only three months ago. It is usually the case that fighters that are involved in many wars in their beginning of their career, they tend to die out at a very early age. But Manny is showing no signs of slowing down. Diaz was so thoroughly beaten that referee Vic Drakulich didn't even bother to count. Diaz had been cut severely over his right eye in the fourth round. His face was a bloody mess. And Pacquiao, who by the mid-rounds looked like a boy pulling the wings off a fly with the way he was tormenting Diaz, did not have a mark on him. He looked like he could fight again next week.
