By Liam Santiago: After many months of illusion hype towards the Pac-Man, it is time for boxing fans to open their eyes and get real. Pacquaio is a good fighter, but not a great one. I am 100% sure he will lose to Miguel Cotto in November, probably by knockout. If he does not, I will never writer another article on boxing again.
So, what has Pacquiao actually achieved? He has been knocked out twice in the third round. He has lost a points decision to Erik Morales and he has been held to two draws. He went on to defeat Morales in a rematch, although Morales was past his best. He beat Juan Marquez in a fight which many, including myself, saw him as the clear loser. He beat Barrera. I will give him that. A good win. He beat an old, weight dead De La Hoya. WOW! And he beat a mentally shook up and past his peak, Ricky Hatton.
The story we keep hearing about how Pacquiao has risen from straw weight or whatever it was to division 43 weights higher and is still dominating. Let’s get real. He is only about half an inch shorter than Cotto who is a welterweight. He is bigger than Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao is not that small. Also, the idea that Pacquiao can demand that fighters drag themselves down in weight, ie Miguel Cotto, and still they are forced to put their titles on the line, is crazy. If Pacquiao will not fight Cotto at welterweight why should he fight for his welterweight title? This guy is a joke!
Like I say, the hype for Pac has got far too out of control. Cotto will stop him and we won’t ever hear much about the guy again, and good riddance I say. No more weight dead fighters fighting for the mythical pound for pound title, which Pacquiao certainly does not deserve. What about Hozumi Hasegawa, the Japanese bantamweight who has not lost for eight years.
Or Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, the flyweight with three defeats in 76 bouts, compared to Pacquiao’s three in 54. These type of fighters are unheard of for a reason. They do not generate money or mega fan bases. But, does that mean Pacquiao is the ruler of the boxing world? NO! There are many better fighters out there such as these that go unheard of, but that’s boxing for you.
So, what has Pacquiao actually achieved? He has been knocked out twice in the third round. He has lost a points decision to Erik Morales and he has been held to two draws. He went on to defeat Morales in a rematch, although Morales was past his best. He beat Juan Marquez in a fight which many, including myself, saw him as the clear loser. He beat Barrera. I will give him that. A good win. He beat an old, weight dead De La Hoya. WOW! And he beat a mentally shook up and past his peak, Ricky Hatton.
The story we keep hearing about how Pacquiao has risen from straw weight or whatever it was to division 43 weights higher and is still dominating. Let’s get real. He is only about half an inch shorter than Cotto who is a welterweight. He is bigger than Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao is not that small. Also, the idea that Pacquiao can demand that fighters drag themselves down in weight, ie Miguel Cotto, and still they are forced to put their titles on the line, is crazy. If Pacquiao will not fight Cotto at welterweight why should he fight for his welterweight title? This guy is a joke!
Like I say, the hype for Pac has got far too out of control. Cotto will stop him and we won’t ever hear much about the guy again, and good riddance I say. No more weight dead fighters fighting for the mythical pound for pound title, which Pacquiao certainly does not deserve. What about Hozumi Hasegawa, the Japanese bantamweight who has not lost for eight years.
Or Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, the flyweight with three defeats in 76 bouts, compared to Pacquiao’s three in 54. These type of fighters are unheard of for a reason. They do not generate money or mega fan bases. But, does that mean Pacquiao is the ruler of the boxing world? NO! There are many better fighters out there such as these that go unheard of, but that’s boxing for you.
Comment