In what was seen as a potential grab at the pound-for-pound throne, the number one contender to Floyd Mayweather's top spot, crowned himself king last night.
With a chilling ninth round knockout of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Pacquiao showed boxing fans that he is indeed the sport's top fighter.
Pacquiao put on a display of his underrated boxing skills, winning virtually every round in route to the win. He jabbed effectively, showed tremendous handspeed, and often rattled off combinations and moved away before Diaz could answer back.
Round after round he got in, got out, and moved away. He bloodied Diaz and opened a cut above Diaz's eye before hitting him with a perfect left cross as Diaz was throwing a hook that put Diaz out. The referee waved the fight off without bothering to issue a ten-count.
"That's the best I've ever seen him box," stated his trainer, Freddie Roach.
Many questioned Pacquiao's lack of training and focus coming in to this fight, as well as how he would handle Diaz's size and strength advantages. Those questions were answered last night.
With the win, Pacquiao moved to 47-3-2 with 34 KO's. David Diaz dropped to 34-2-1 with 17 KO's.
Up next for Pacquiao may be a battle with young KO artist, Edwin Valero or a possible showdown with 140 pound champ, Ricky Hatton.
While recently retired pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather is planning his three-day retirement celebration, he might want to include one event on his schedule.
Somewhere between the car show, the rap concert, and the carnival he needs to plan a coronation. It's time for him to hand his crown over to Manny Pacquiao.
The king is dead, all hail the king.
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3 months ago
Manny is such a sportsman telling the ref to check on Diaz while the bout was on progress, and immediately checking his condition and pulling his hand to help him standup after the fight was stop instead of jumping around in celebration. That's the biggest contrast to Barrera who hits opponents even the ref called a stop, using his elbow, rabbit punching and other dirty tricks just to win; what a SHAME. Manny is such a gentlemen and caring even to his opponents. The Hall of Fame for boxing should consider other threats in addition to ring records and includes sportsmanship and disqualify Barrera. Manny should snub induction to Hall of Fame with MB in it. Levi's
from 3 months ago
While MAB may or may not be a great sportsman, he was an absolute all time great fighter in his prime and a rough, tough, SOB.
He seemed to genuinely want to hurt people in the ring, and often showed real distaste for his opponent. I am a huge fan of his if you can't tell. Rather than snub him I think Manny will go in after or alongside him into the HOF.
from 2 months ago
I think you are a Idiot and your blind, Manny did the same thing to Juan Manuel Marquez in their first fight hit him on the third knock down in the first round. Before you talk smack about Barrera and say that Manny is a gentleman think first. Manny is a chicken and is afraid to fight Marquez for a third time and he will loose to De La Hoya bad!!!!
3 months ago
Too bad for me that I have never had the pleasure of watching this man fight!
from 3 months ago
if you get the chance Ian, check him out. the best way to describe him fight is a whirlwind. He is blazingly fast, and has thunder in his left hand.
He is also the equivalent of Michael Jordan in his homeland, the Philippines.
from 3 months ago
no worries...
dvd's are now out in the black market...lols.....
3 months ago
The first time I ever saw him fight was on HBO about four years ago when he fought Barrera for the first time. Manny absolutely beat the piss out of him and of course we had all been watching Barrera, Morales etc. just dominate the lower weight classes before that, so I was like: "Who is this dude?". He was so much better than Barrera I thought Barrera must have been sick or was throwing the fight.
My comment on him then was the same as what I think when I see him now: This guy is born to fight. He loves it. He'd fight every day if he could, and he's so unorthodox in his style he's hard to defend. That's why that straight left always gets through even though the other guy knows it's coming. Because it always comes from a different angle and he's just so damn fast. He looked bigger last night for sure and if he is that fast at 135 (145 by fight time) then that is bad news for everybody up to junior welterweight.
from 3 months ago
I second your feelings exactly Rick.
3 months ago
he's a great fighter with compassionate heart, and i believe he is worthy to idolize by the filipino boxer. Not only the way he showed his superiority against his opponents at the ring but the way shows his concern towards his opponent even on his glorius moment.
from 3 months ago
his concern for his opponent was a good show of sportsmanship Sonny, but considering the beating he was giving Diaz, it was just due.
3 months ago
To stay on top of the lightweight division, and to avoid squeezing himself dry for the weigh-ins, Manny should watch his weight in between bouts and avoid gaining so much poundage .. He looked pale and sick
immediately after the weigh-in for the 135..
from 3 months ago
Im glad it didnt affect his performance Gregg, my major concern coming in to the fight was how much speed and power he would lose moving up. the answer was none, apparently.
3 months ago
well who's next?just fall in line ok?but be sure that youre in full battle gear .don't forget to wear your helmets.ha ha.
from 3 months ago
Manny's a warrior, most def.
3 months ago
The "pacman" wins,game is over..He belongs to the "justice league"now ,like the flash,the hulk,whatever.One thing is vividly clear now Manny's power and skills can be a talking matter for all boxing afficionados for a long time.Actually just like me ,a new boxing fan ,thanks to a very good fight.
from 3 months ago
In his country, he actually is a superhero.
3 months ago
manny is a phenom..this guy is worthloving,when koed diaz he did not rejoiced ryt away instead he checked diaz.what a man..mabuhay pinoy..by reynante
from 3 months ago
I cannot wait for his next fight, being 29 Manny doesn't have a lot of time left in his prime. I want to enjoy him while we still can.
3 months ago
Just right Mayweather retired because many people may have realized that his fights are boring. People may not flock to his fights again.
from 3 months ago
Its certainly possible that Mayweather may unretire, however he will not be atop pound for pound lists unless he comes back against someone like Cotto and wins.
3 months ago
I would like to commend Diaz as well that even in defeat he was a true gentleman and a warrior, he accepts defeat and willing to stand to fight another day...I hope everybody agrees.. JBMT
from 3 months ago
Diaz was gracious, however a beatdown like the one Manny gave him can humble a man.
3 months ago
i never consider PBF as the P4P king but I love the way he decked the British Icon.
All hail the new King.
http://collecta-mania.com.au
from 3 months ago
Mayweather was the pound for pound king until his retirement. Depending on who you ask, Calzaghe or Pacquiao resides there now. I think Pacquiao deserves the nod.
3 months ago
I never consider PBF as the P4P king but I love the way he decked the British Icon.
All hail the new KING. Pacman was too awesome in this fight.
http://collecta-mania.com.au
3 months ago
steven metha from the uk is going to be the new welterweight king u all watch, hes 18 wins 18 kos...watch this space
from 3 months ago
i seriously doubt he will, if ive never even heard of him.
3 months ago
This forum stands out from the rest as it maintains a certain level of respect and decency, no badmouthing and no foul words. What a a respite! Indeed, a man is more glorious in times of humility. Pacquiao is indeed a treasure, our national fist who embodies the best traits of being a Filipino. We're glad that the world is enjoying the beauty of a masterpiece that is Pacquiao. For all his worth, Pacquiao is an inspiration to us all in these trying times. Whoever Pacquaio faces next, be it Valero, Hatton or dela Hoya should expect the best of Pacquiao, who's carrying the weight of a whole nation.
By Pinoynani
from 3 months ago
well put Nani, well put.
3 months ago
I agree with the title statement. I have been saying it all along. Manny would give Floyd the fight of his life, for this title.
from 3 months ago
well Im certainly not suggesting that they ACTUALLY fight, because as much as id love to see that one, Floyd is too big for Manny. Although Diaz's size and strength didnt prove too mean much saturday night, Floyd is much bigger, faster, stronger, and more experienced than Diaz. He would probably ko Manny inside 7 or 8 rounds.
As far as the pfp title goes, now that Floyd has retired from boxing, Manny is now the best boxer on the planet at any weight, with Calzaghe a close 2nd.
3 months ago
now that manny is miving up floyd is happy he wont die in the ring because the fans would scream for a pac man mayweather fight and floyd Gayweather would either die or dodge him floyd knows he has hand picked all his fights he knows pacman will kill him cmon Gayweather admit it you fucking coward you would never fight manny the true pound for pound champ you couldnt stand in the same ring as him
from 3 months ago
Whoa there Scott, once again lets not confuse things. Manny would not beat Mayweather. I am talking about Mayweather handing over the pound for pound title to Pacquiao, I'm not suggesting they fight.
Many fans share your opinion about Mayweather, but again he is too fast, and too good defensively for the real "PacMan"
Doesn't matter though, because the fight we are more likely to see, is a Ricky Hatton fight.
3 months ago
Ricky Hatton is a very hard man absolutley no queston But Manny Pacquaio would beat him in my opinion, yes im a mancunian but i believe pac man is to good all round for hatton to handle .
from 3 months ago
Mark before I will comment on a potential Hatton/Pacquiao fight, I will need to see Pacquiao beat a real lightweight champion. If he should beat a Joel Casamayor or a Nate Campbell at 135, then I would consider him fighting Hatton. Right now its still a pipe dream.
3 months ago
Yeah everyones entitled to their opinion , however ive met ricky hatton in a pub and he drinks too much , if he used the time he spent getting smashed on alcohol to get himself in the highest condition instead then id agree that manny may not have a chance . but he does , hes lightning quick , he was brought up as a real hard worker and that is showing and paying off . hes a likeable guy too . and i believe ricky hatton is a lot slower than pac man . we will have to see anyway , one thing for sure i know who my money would be on . Am i dreaming or is there a Naughty Girl on bleacher report ? :-) hi .
3 months ago
I think it is worth responding to some of the Pacman v. Mayweather speculation even though that is a fight that is simply not make able for many reasons. But let's say they fought at, what, 140? That's what Floyd fought Gatti at.
So just for kicks: In Floyd, Manny would be fighting a guy who:
1) Has faster hands. It seems unreal to say that after Saturday, but just queue up some of Floyd's footage and it will all come back to you.
2) Is virtually impossible to hit and completely impossible to hit hard enough or often enough to hurt him. That would be frustrating to Manny who likes the give and take of a brawl, which is why we all love to watch him.
3) Is unflappable. Floyd would have no problem with the pressure of fighting the media's new darling. He loves the role of villain. He thoroughly enjoyed punishing Gatti, knocking off DeLa Hoya, and pistol-whipping Hatton.
I would like to see it because I would enjoy watching someone chase Floyd around and not let him slow the fight down, but would much rather see a brawl between Hatton and Manny.
from 3 months ago
I agree Rick. I would much rather see Manny against Hatton, but I still want to see Manny fight someone else at 135 before jumping straight to 140. I also wouldn't want a fight with Hatton anywhere near England, as Hatton seems to fight much better there due to the crowd and rule violations he gets away with.
An old friend of mine once said that the British fans are like the horn in Minnesota, they give their fighters magical powers. I would hope this fight took plce in Vegas to give Manny better odds.
3 months ago
I agree with the article Bryan, Pacquiao is the real deal! Mayweather is scared of the good fighters in his division, which annoys me. He should at least fight Cotto, but he won't. His time has moved past.
from 3 months ago
Don't bet on Money Mayweather staying retired long, he will have to return to the ring soon, how else is he gonna make 20 mil in one night?
3 months ago
Pound for Pound?!!! -in the world at what ever weight class you'd throw at him-you're waisting your time and watching the wrong sport: It is ANDERSON SILVA hands down!!! ...Boxing is DEAD!!
from 3 months ago
Maybe its losing popularity, but its certainly not dead. Esp since if it were you wouldn't have read this article. Thanks anyway J!
from 2 months ago
what the heck,
3 months ago
actually, it was the "Pound For Pound" headline on the front page that got me. i then saw and realized it was about boxing, then snickered to myself and decided to click on it, just to see. boxing isn't extinct (yet), they're still trying to keep the organization afloat. You have this fight and maybe 1 other in a years time that might make some headlines here and there. like Kelly Pavlik (from my hometown),and ......see that's just it-there just really isn't much of anybody. boxing is still big in other countries, especially over on the Russian side of the world. however in the states here, there aren't alot of guys...they are mostly from other countries and no one knows anything about them. so the interest isn't there. which the, and your OWN American public says, based on viewing statistics alone. yes, i know about the whole PPV Oscar had with Mayweather, but aside from that- name me another matchup in the last 5yrs. to atract an audience. the only reason people even watched that fight was because of the ridiculousness that went along with the hype and ads for it. they figured this is supposed to be good so...my point is this: whether you and other boxing fans want to admit it or not, boxing is in trouble and has been for yrs. Tyson was the last big draw in boxing and people only watched 'cuz he was nuts! Boxing is dying and just doesn't have the talent or following it once did- no one cares. if you want to see some REAL fights, you'll eventually jump-ship for MMA. its just plain BETTER and more entertaining. these guys are GOOD at what they do and the talent is unmatched. its more than just watching to see a big KO, there is alot that can be going on in a match and its quite impressive. you'll get it sooner or later. once you do, you'll find boxing real HARD to watch-like i do.
from 3 months ago
I could spend all day ripping your dumb criticism of boxing to shreds but instead Iwill just say in that case don't watch boxing then J. For fans of both like me we dont have to choose between sports. I like MMA, and I like boxing. There is no need for comparison.
from 3 months ago
-in response to Bryan below, it's not MY dumb criticism, it's the criticism of the entire US. i was just letting you know about it 'cuz appartently you had no idea and still don't want to believe it. facts are facts viewing stats show, and when people are asked about there thoughts of boxing in todays day and age the average person can't even name three boxers. Oh, wait a minute Holyfield!..is he still around-yeah he is. Duran!..how about him?-yep. what are they both? 63 yrs old? -pretty much. wow, that's pathetic, about as pathetic as boxing IS. oh, and let's not forget about that nice fella who pretty much runs the show...what's his name? somethin' King, is it Don?-yeah! at least he's kept boxing an HONEST sport. Yeah, there's Sly Stallone too w/ his stupid deal he's got going: the "Contender". what a crap load that is. someone needs to tell him that those Rocky movies he was in WEREN'T real! give me a break, this is what your sport comes to battle with?! and boxing is not dying, huh?
from 3 months ago
you certainly dont speak for the entire U.S. Your just another idiot with an opinion. My article wasn't comparing MMA to Boxing in any way. It was a boxing article, and seeing as how you have written about neither, you obviously dont know enough for me to argue with you intelligently.
With that said, keep reading my articles, enjoy your Sam Adams(boston lager is my fav) and keep your ill informed and highly biased comments to yourself.
from 3 months ago
-actually i do speak for the entire US, once again-there are things called viewing statistics and that's what they say, period. it isn't just me. you may think i'm an idiot , but you are the one PROVING its YOU. not my problem your in denial. i wasn't really comparing MMA to boxing, was just sayin' you boxing heads are a little silly. and if a person wanted to see something that is MUCH MUCH better, jump-ship.' cuz after you follow MMA exclusively, you won't even WANT to watch boxing-that's all. you're taking it too personal, i didn't have a vendetta against YOU, but am slowly developing one. you are entitled to YOUR own opinion, and it is you that has the issue with mine, are you related to Don King? oh, and this is America, and i quite frankly AM entitled to my own opinion(especially on something like the free internet)- i thought that's what the purpose of this website was: to have free and open opinions-to write about and discuss and comment on, no matter what they are. IT'S FOR FUN-if everyone kept their thoughts and comments to themselves, no one would be on this website! AND you wouldn't be writing anything on it. at least its good to know that you aren't a total jacka**-you have one thing right, your taste in beer- Boston Lager IS one of the best beers made, it is too my favorite. AND people should be able to discuss stuff over a good beer without getting their feelings hurt over dumb sh**. sorry to hurt yours and your precious love for something i and a whole lot of other people don't agree with you on. you guys who write these articles are big babies if- someone doesn't totally agree with you. i thought this website might be a good time, but maybe i was wrong-too many spoiled sports and sore losers. if a person didn't know it, they might think you people were actually one of the athletes being discussed, based on how apparently; some of you are so quick to jump on the defensive. this was never against YOU, my end of it was boxing too and what it lacks anymore. maybe this website should segregate(sp?) articles into; write and comment based on age group- 'cuz there are alot of CHILDREN who just want to argue, when someone dosen't see it their way.
from 3 months ago
Your right, you should find another website to visit, seeing as how you have nothing to contribute to this one. You see before i responded to you I checked to see if you had actually written anything, and you havent. After looking at your comments I see that you just click on any story and start insulting the writer's article and argue about whatever was written.
So yes id appreciate you not bothering me with your nonsense. I never mind a good intelligent argument, but what you said just doesn't hold. Boxing may be losing many fans to MMA, but it still is the top ppv draw, its top fighters still make way more than MMA's top fighters, and the top boxing events still draw tens of thousands more than MMA can draw.
That's my last response for you, now go play, daddy's busy.
from 3 months ago
-you're an idiot!
from 13 days ago
You can't be serious!!! Most UFC fights are all about grappling and trying to look good in the judges eyes. If I wanted to watch to grown men struggling to stay on top of one another I would watch gay porn. Yes MMA is exploding on the scene however most of those main events finish within minutes by a single blow or go the distance as both men struggle to control the other man's body (No HomO). I personally enjoy watching athletes stand and exhange HITs until someone drops. Now you tell me why you enjoy watching grown men grappling so much! Oh and popularity, boxing has been around for ages, whereas MMA or "grown men grappling" has just exploded on the scene recently. Not to mention each fighter in boxing makes a whole lot more money than some of these MM artists. I personally would like to get paid well for getting hit in front of millions of viewers, wouldn't you? I just want to hear why you enjoy watching men grapple so much...
3 months ago
this phillipino bloke is undoubtedly a very good boxer,but mayweather would tear him apart.mayweather is an unbelievable boxer
from 3 months ago
Mayweather is retired. The top spot belongs to Manny now until he loses it. Im interested in seeing him campaign at 135.
3 months ago
I don t want to comment, but this comment is for j.. I hope he know's the word educated and professional.. All i know is I watch boxing and MMA for fun and enjoyment, just be happy with it and follow the flow. Dont make it complicated sir..
from 3 months ago
exactly Pogi,
who cares if MMA or Boxing is better? we can watch and follow them both!
from 2 months ago
die-hard MMA fans CAN'T watch boxing-because it's just that bad!-ya know, if i'm gonna put any time, that of which i don't have alot of, into watching a fight-it should be good. something of which you just don't really see anymore in boxing. just a fact! you people just don't get it!! AND are cry-babies when someone else has a different opinion (here of boxing). that's all i ever had-and was just trying to offer up a suggestion to the frustrated boxing fan that may read; that if you weren't in tune to watching MMA-start to be. because overall, you will see much more competitive, better, and more skillfully impressive fights. it wasn't ever an arguement which was better, the US viewing stats alone tell you that the UFC is to most than boxing, period. even you boxing fans HAVE to admit the truth to that! you would be a jacka** TO argue that-by the way who would also know nothing. even if you wanted to break it down into the fact of the UFC PPV's alone; in comparison to boxings' last year, let alone the last 5 yrs.-it was BRUTAL murder; UFC!!!! hands down. maybe you should all listen to what Dana White has to say about boxing and its demise, because its true-he WAS involved in boxing he says its his blueprint of what NOT to do with an org.- which was also another one of my points to maybe the boxing fan who didn't know. that was all ever had to END up arguing with "certain" people on. it was all MY opinion and a suggestion to others, based on FACTS! do you, of those who still try to argue for boxing understand my points YET? if not, you're helpless...they just so happen to be a statistical fact as well ...i'm done with you all!!!
2 months ago
oh men, de la hoya pacquiao is it really possible? just an advise for my fellow filipino,
"THINK" a million times
from 2 months ago
I hope this matchup doesn't happen, wouldn't be a good idea for either guy.
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