The Philippine Online Chronicles

Super Bantamweight Campaign (2001-2003)

Pacquiao vs. Ledwaba

Pacquiao’s entry to the world stage happened on June 23, 2001 when he faced IBF Super Bantamweight champion, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. As a late replacement, Pacquiao dished out a thrilling performance that left Ledwaba’s nose bloodied. He also knocked him down a number of times before the referee stopped the fight in round six. The win was Pacquiao’s second world title in two weight classes, making him only the second Filipino to achieve such a feat.

Junior Featherweight Campaign (2003-2005)

Pacquiao vs. Barrera I

If there’s one fight that completely turned around Pacquiao’s career, it has to be the time when he faced Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera on November 15, 2003 in San Antonio. Pacquiao was the underdog when he faced Barrera. At that time, Barrera was considered the world’s best featherweight fighter.

In an exciting match, he dominated the favored Mexican in 11 power-packed rounds. Though Barrera scored a contested first-round knockdown, it was obvious that Pacquiao was the stronger, faster, and hungrier fighter between the two.

After the win, Pacquiao was recognized by the Ring Magazine as the featherweight champion as well as the lineal featherweight champion. More importantly, the win catapulted Pacquiao into superstar status.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez I

On May 8, 2004, after his Barrera fight, Pacquiao challenged another feared Mexican fighter and double-belt holder, Juan Manuel Marquez.

Marquez, being a slick boxer and a skilled counter-puncher gave Pacquiao a run for his money when they fought. In spite of getting floored three times by Pacquiao in the first round, Marquez recovered just enough to figure out Pacquiao’s vaunted right jab and left cross combo. As a result, the Mexican legend won the majority of the rounds to salvage a draw.

Super Featherweight Campaign (2005-2008)

Pacquiao vs. Morales I

By this time, Manny Pacquiao was already a boxing superstar. After his successful conquest of the featherweight division, he moved one division by going straight to the super featherweight class to challenge Erik Morales.

A three-division champion, Morales was one of the best pound-for-pound boxers during the mid-2000s. He was also famous for the exciting trilogy he fought against archrival Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao and Morales faced each other on March 19, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Pacquiao won the first three rounds, Morales recuperated and went on to win the rest of the rounds. It was one of the most anticipated fights of 2005 and both fighters gave it their all.

At the end of the fight, Morales won via unanimous decision. Then again, anyone who has watched the fight knew that it was close. From round five onwards, Pacquiao had to deal with a cut right eye that left him virtually blind the entire fight.

Pacquiao vs. Morales II

The much-anticipated rematch between Pacquiao and Morales happened on January 21, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Unlike the first fight, it was clear that Pacquiao was already the bigger and stronger fighter between the two. Morales escaped being knocked down twice by holding on to the ropes in rounds 2 and 6.

Morales remained the better boxer as he led in all judges’ scorecards during the first five rounds. Eventually, the vicious body and head blows by Pacquiao finally took their toll. By the tenth round, the already exhausted Morales was knocked down twice before the referee stopped the fight. It was the first knock-out loss for the Mexican legend.

Pacquiao vs. Morales III

On November 18, 2006, Pacquiao and Morales met for the third and final time. Compared to the first two fights, it was clear that Pacquiao was too much for Morales to handle. The much-improved Pacquiao made quick work of the Mexican legend by knocking him out in three rounds. Pacquiao’s win finally decided the winner in their trilogy. Because of his dazzling performances for the entire year, Pacquiao became Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year for 2006.

Pacquiao vs. Barrera II

Three years after they first fought in San Antonio, Manny Pacquiao once again faced the former two-time champion Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6, 2007. Just like their first meeting, Pacquiao dominated the Mexican legend although he failed to knock him down. The Filipino boxing superstar won an easy unanimous decision victory.

Pacquiao vs Marquez II

If there was one fighter who was itching to fight Pacquiao, it had to be Juan Manuel Marquez. Four years after they first met, Marquez was already the WBC Super Featherweight Champion. He was also recognized as the lineal super featherweight champion by the Ring Magazine. Pacquiao meanwhile was the number one contender to Marquez’s title and it only made sense for him to challenge the Mexican champion.

The fight couldn’t get any closer as both fighters fought tooth and nail to get the advantage. As usual, Marquez used his exceptional counter-punching skills to catch Pacquiao. He landed more punches at a higher percentage whereas Pacquiao landed the harder punches.

The deciding factor, however, was the knockdown that Marquez suffered in the 3^rd round. At the end of the fight, Pacquiao escaped with a narrow and controversial split decision victory that Marquez’s camp contested. The win meanwhile made Pacquiao the very first Filipino to ever win four different belts in four weight classes.

Lightweight Campaign (2008)

Pacquiao vs. Diaz

After the win against Marquez, Pacquiao decided to move to the lightweight division. At this point, he was already a multi-division champion. Then again, he announced that he wanted to win several more titles and his first agenda is to challenge lightweight champion David Diaz.

In their fight on June 28, 2008, the Filipino pugilist dominated Diaz all throughout the fight before it was officially stopped in the 8^thround. Although Diaz gave a good account of himself, Pacquiao gave him a severe beating that resulted in cuts.

After the win, Pacquiao became the first Asian to ever win five championship belts in as many weight classes. He also became the first Filipino boxer to ever win a title in the lightweight division.

Welterweight Campaign (2008)

Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya

Respected boxing analyst Larry Merchant proposed the idea behind Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya. Though it was initially criticized because of their huge size disparity, both fighters eventually faced each other on December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Contrary to what many experts predicted, the smaller Pacquiao used his phenomenal speed and boxing power to dominate De La Hoya in eight rounds. In fact, De La Hoya only won one round in the judges’ scorecards. Throughout the fight, the Filipino boxing superstar kept De La Hoya off-balance with excellent side-to-side movements. Because De La Hoya was being viciously punished, his corner finally decided to throw in the towel before the start of round nine.

The win by Pacquiao eventually forced De La Hoya to retire. It was also the win that made Pacquiao a household name all over the Western World.

Light Welterweight Campaign (2009)

Pacquiao vs. Hatton

After the dominant fashion that Pacquiao beat De La Hoya, he challenged Englishman Ricky Hatton for the IBO Light Welterweight Championship, Ring Magazine Light Welterweight title, and lineal light welterweight title.

Billed as the Battle of East and West, the fighters faced each other on May 2, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Just like what he did to De La Hoya, Pacquiao used his blinding hand speed to overwhelm the Englishman. This resulted to two knockdowns in the first round. At the start of the second round, Hatton seemed to have recovered, but with less than 10 seconds remaining in the 2^nd round, Pacquiao knocked Hatton unconscious with a whirlwind left hook.

Welterweight Campaign (2009)

Pacquiao vs. Cotto

On November 19, 2009, Pacquiao made boxing history by beating Puerto Rican slugger Miguel Cotto via 12^th round knockout. The win made Pacquiao the very first fighter to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions.

With the Cotto fight done with, Pacquiao was expected to face Floyd Mayweather Jr., Unfortunately, the deal failed to push through because of Mayweather’s demands for Olympics drug testing. Pacquiao on the other hand has moved on to other tough targets. In this case, Pacquiao will be facing Ghanaian boxer and former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey March 13, 2010.

Photo: “pacquiao vs. barrera” by Raju Tavadia, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved