Manny Pacquiao and the Most Impressive Little Guys in Sports
Manny Pacquiao isn't the biggest boxer in the history of the sport, but he is one of the baddest.
He proved that last night, as he pummeled Antonio Margarito, earning an unanimous decision in a fight that wasn't even close. Pacquiao beat up on Margarito's face, giving him deep cuts and swollen eyes. And impressively, his decisive victory came while sacrificing height and a significant amount of weight.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best guys in sports that prove size doesn't matter.
Any thoughts or comments? Leave them below.
No. 10: DeSean Jackson
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DeSean Jackson has always been an undersized guy, but his speed has more than made up for that in his NFL career.
He stands at 5'10" and 175 pounds, but his blazing speed has turned him into one of the top wideouts in all of football. He has made it work with multiple quarterbacks during his career. He's a great player and proves that size doesn't always matter.
It's a thrill to watch him run routes every Sunday.
No. 9: Darren Sproles
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Darren Sproles is one of the tiniest guys you'll ever see on a football field.
Sproles stands at 5'6" and 190 pounds yet has found a place in this league because of his blazing speed. He has made plenty of big plays for the San Diego Chargers, even if he's never going to be an every down back.
It takes a lot of effort and determination to make it at that height.
No. 8: Steve Smith
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Steve Smith has been one of the better wideouts in all of football in his career, and he's done it while being a pretty small guy.
Smith stands at 5'9" and 185 pounds, but he's not afraid to get physical and throw what little weight he does have around on the football field. It's the reason he's been so successful. His lack of fear has been a great benefit to his career and the Panthers.
You have to love his effort on the field.
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No. 7: Dustin Pedroia
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Dustin Pedroia was always discounted because of his size, but he's proven a lot of people wrong during his time with the Boston Red Sox.
Pedroia has won the Rookie of the Year, MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards, and has been selected to three All-Star teams. He's listed as being 5'9", which is being VERY generous if you've seen him in person.
Pedroia missed most of the year with a foot injury, so we'll see how he rebounds next year.
No. 6: Maurice Jones-Drew
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Maurice Jones-Drew is one of the best running backs in the league, and he does it while being one of the shorter ones.
Jones-Drew is 5'7", and I think his height has something to do with his success. He hides behind his lineman, and when he's ready to make his move, he darts out through the defense for a big gain. Not only that, but for a small guy he packs a punch.
He's not exactly a guy you want to try and challenge physically.
No. 5: Bob Sanders
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Bob Sanders is a monster on the football field, but he's not exactly imposing in stature.
Sanders is 5'8", but that didn't stop him from earning the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year award as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He's one of the better safeties in the league, and even though he's had some bad luck with injuries, he's still a force when healthy.
He just has to stay on the field now.
No. 4: Drew Brees
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Coming out of Purdue, a lot of people thought Drew Brees was too small to be a pro quarterback.
Now Brees has been to multiple Pro Bowls, and he won the Super Bowl and was the game's MVP last winter. Not bad for a guy who wasn't considered big enough to make it in this league. He's been successful in San Diego and New Orleans in his career despite shoulder issues.
Brees is only getting better and has proven his doubters wrong.
No. 3: Tim Lincecum
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Tim Lincecum doesn't exactly look like a power pitcher when he takes the mound.
Lincecum is a flame thrower who comes in at 5'11" and 170 pounds. Yet he can throw mid-90s on the gun and was a big reason that the San Francisco Giants won the World Series against the Texas Rangers, as he pitched the clinching game.
There were questions about his durability with how hard he throws, but he has held up just fine so far.
No. 2: Allen Iverson
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Despite the fact that his career has degenerated and he now plays in Turkey, it doesn't change the fact that Allen Iverson has been a monster in the NBA despite his size.
Iverson won an MVP award and won a Finals game against one of the best Lakers teams in recent memory almost by himself. Think about who he got to the finals with. There was Dikembe Mutombo, who was declining as a player. Throw in Eric Snow, Aaron McKie and Tyrone Hill and you don't exactly have much help there.
Iverson is a beast, and it's a shame he's playing overseas right now.
No. 1: Manny Pacquiao
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After last night, how could it not be Manny Pacquiao?
Pacquiao dominated Antonio Margarito. Not only did he win, but did it while sacrificing height and a lot of weight to Margarito, and then dominated him and made his face look like hamburger when it was all said and done. He was beating him so badly he tried to get the ref to stop the fight.
Pacquiao is the most dominating boxer alive, hands down.
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