Manny Pacquiao is believed to be no longer in the boxing ring. Here are seven of the greatest opponents Pacman has ever faced.
Pacquiao has officially announced that he is running for president of the Philippines. This is what makes Pacquiao more focused on political campaign matters rather than preparing the agenda for the next duel.
Pacquiao himself just lost in his last duel against Yordenis Ugas. Pacquiao lost by unanimous points in the duel.
Despite losing to Ugas, Pacquiao’s reputation as a great boxer remains undeniable. He has faced many tough duels and is widely known throughout the world.
Here are seven tough opponents Pacquiao has faced:
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather is the arch-enemy of Manny Pacquiao. Since Pacman stepped up and defeated one by one great boxers in the late 2000s, Mayweather has been called a candidate for the next Pacquiao opponent.
However, the discussion of the Mayweather vs Pacquiao duel went tough because of the many conditions that Mayweather gave. The Mayweather vs Pacquiao match was only held in 2015, about five years after the duel began to be widely discussed.
Mayweather vs Pacquiao is an anticlimactic match. Mayweather was able to dictate to Pacquiao through the distance advantage and eventually won by unanimous points. Pacquiao admits he was injured while preparing to fight Mayweather.
Pacquiao asked for a rematch but Mayweather never granted it.
2. Juan Manuel Marquez
Juan Manuel Marquez is Manny Pacquiao’s eternal rival because they have met four times in the boxing ring. After a draw in the first meeting, Pacquiao won on points in the next two matches.
Pacquiao’s points victory sparked protests by Marquez’s camp, especially the second victory that occurred in 2011. Pacquiao then returned to duel against Marquez for the fourth time in 2012.
Pacquiao appeared dominant in front of Marquez until finally Marquez’s crushing blow made Pacquiao lay helpless in the sixth round.
Pacquiao lost in the fourth duel against Marquez. The idea of Pacquiao vs Marquez’s fifth match was floated several times but never materialized.
3. Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is one of the opponents who helped make Manny Pacquiao’s name soaring. When facing Pacquiao, De La Hoya was already 35 years old and past his golden age.
But the great figures of De La Hoya and also Pacquiao still made this duel attract a lot of attention in 2008.
De La Hoya’s face was battered by Pacquiao’s punches. Pacquiao won after De La Hoya decided to stop fighting after the eighth round.
The match against Pacquiao was the last duel in De La Hoya’s career.
4. Erik Morales
Erik Morales is one of the fighters who became a formidable opponent of Pacquiao when he just set foot in the United States. Morales won on points in the first duel in 2005.
A year later, Pacquiao twice beat Morales. In early 2006, a combination of Pacquiao’s punches left Morales on the ropes and prompted the referee to declare a TKO victory for Pacquiao.
In the third duel that took place at the end of 2006, Pacquiao even won faster. In a fierce duel full of blows, Pacquiao was able to frustrate Morales with a left hook.
5. Antonio Margarito
Manny Pacquiao’s duel against Antonio Margarito was one of the most important duels in Pacman’s career. The match against Margarito is Pacquiao’s attempt to become champion in eight different classes.
During the match, the difference in body weight between Pacquiao and Margarito was very clear. But that did not prevent Pacquiao’s ferocity in the ring.
Margarito’s right eye looked bruised. Pacquiao was declared the winner by unanimous points. Margarito was immediately rushed to the hospital and had to undergo surgery due to fractures in the bone around the eye area.
6. Timothy Bradley
Timothy Bradley is another boxer who has experienced the trilogy against Manny Pacquiao. Bradley had won a split decision in the first duel against Pacquiao in 2012. It made Pacquiao suffer his first defeat in seven years.
However, Pacquiao was then able to take revenge by winning over Bradley in the second (2014) and third (2016) duels.
7. Miguel Cotto
Pacquiao vs Miguel Angel Cotto duel in the fight for the WBO welterweight title. This match is Pacquiao’s attempt to become world champion in seven different classes.
The match was fierce and interesting because it was decorated with buying and selling punches. Cotto who had fallen could continue to stand and provide resistance to Pacquiao.
Pacquiao was finally declared the winner in the 12th round after the referee stopped the fight by TKO decision for Pacman.
