Manny Pacquiao: He'll Never Be an All-Time Great Without Fighting Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao will never be an all-time great without fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Though it's probably an unpopular opinion, it's one that should be discussed and placed in the context of boxing history.

Throughout the sport's long history, many have climbed the ranks of greatness using their wits, strength and speed to become champion. However, only one thing can raise a champion above his peers—the domination of the other great fighters of the era.

Pacquiao and Mayweather represent each other's apex—the pinnacle of their careers will not been reached until they meet in the ring.

So, while Pacquiao may be great, he still can not be considered an all-time great.

Manny Pacquiao: Defining Greatness

Greatness can result from a fighter achieving great feats, such as capturing multiple titles at multiple weight classes, or knocking out good fighters in record time.

All-time greatness, however, only comes from legend-on-legend fighting

Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali both had knockout victories over plenty of other great fighters such as Floyd Patterson and Cleveland Williams, but the two needed each other for all-time greatness.

If Ali had found Liston too hard to deal with, or avoided him altogether, his career would've had a noticeable question mark that might have kept him from all-time greatness.

Manny Pacquiao: Defining All-Time Greatness

Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns were greats of the 1980s, but it wasn't until they met in the ring in 1981 that either of them could be considered all-time greats.

Leonard defeated Hearns, but the amazing effort that BOTH fighters put up created not only a great fight, but a great legacy—punctuated by their 1981 meeting, which helped determine the best fighter of the era.

Manny Pacquiao: The Status of His Legacy

Pacquiao's career can essentially be broken up into two sections: the period before he fought Oscar De La Hoya and the period after that fight.

Pacquiao changed the expectations of his career, for better or worse, with a fight against De La Hoya in 2008.

Let's examine those eras.

Manny Pacquiao: The Pre-De La Hoya Era

Manny Pacquiao fought three great Mexican legends, as well as other Mexican contenders, in the featherweight and super featherweight divisions.

The greatest of these foes include legendary Mexican warriors Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera I

November 15, 2003, Pacquiao came up to featherweight for the first time to face Barrera in a fight that put him on notice as a great in the making.

Barrera was a veteran of the division with his power and experience, yet it wasn't enough for Pacquiao's speed and power.

Pacquiao won by technical knockout in the 11th round.

Marquez would come next...

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez I

Arguably the fight of the year in 2004, Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the opening round only to allow Marquez the chance to comeback and out-box him for nearly the entire rest of the fight.

The fight would end in a draw, with the scores close enough for Marquez to have won if he had not been knocked down three times.

It would be another four years before they would meet again to clarify who was the better fighter.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales I

Pacquiao went on to face Morales in 2005 in his first trip to the super featherweight division.

The more experienced Mexican world champion clearly out-boxed Pacquiao, getting even more help from a cut that opened over Pacquiao's right eye as the result of an accidental headbutt.

Though Pacquiao would lose by unanimous decision, he would get a rematch the following year.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales II

Pacquiao met Morales for a rematch January 2006. Morales was knocked down twice before being stopped in the 10th round.

Pacquiao got his revenge and was now set to continue to blaze a path in the super featherweight division.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales III

After splitting their first two contests, the third match was set to decide everything.

Morales came out and was brutalized over a short three rounds, as Pacquiao brought the fight to an end by way of knockout in just the third round.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera II

In 2007, Pacquiao and Barrera met for a second time.

Though the match that proved Barrera could go the distance against Pacquiao, he couldn't pick up a decent offense to keep the Filipino warrior at bay.

Pacquiao won by a clear and wide unanimous decision.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez II

This is the fight that was supposed to settle the "unfinished business" of their first fight, which had ended in a draw in 2004.

Marquez faced Pacquiao in 2008 in what would become Pacquiao's last fight at 130 lbs, as he had planned to move up to lightweight after handling Marquez.

Despite the fact Marquez was only knocked down once this time, Pacquiao improved enough to nail the split decision in a fight many argue either fighter could've won.

Manny Pacquiao: The Filipino Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard fought the best of his era, most notably Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler, across at least three weight classes.

Pacquiao has fought Barrera, Morales and Marquez across two weight divisions with a third one coming up November 12, when Pacquiao faces Marquez at welterweight.

Leonard fought his trio of legends six times, resulting in a record of four wins, one loss and one draw.

Pacquiao has fought his trio of legends seven times so far, resulting in a record of five wins, one loss and one draw.

With this type of resume, one would think Pacquiao would already be an all-time great.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Sugar Ray Leonard: Era for Era

Pacquiao's competition had a few great disadvantages—they were a bit older, a bit more shopworn and many were coming off losses.

Morales came off a loss all three times he faced Pacquiao. He lost to Barrera before beating Pacquiao. He lost to Zahir Raheem, then lost against Pacquiao. Then, after losing to Pacquiao, he lost to Pacquiao again.

Barrera came off a win the first fight, but had just been beaten by Marquez before he fought Pacquiao the second time.

Marquez is the only one of the three to come off great victories before facing Pacquiao—and he's done the best out of the three fighters, though Marquez is easily the oldest.

Leonard was older, or nearly as old, as most of his opposition, with the notable exception of Duran. Leonard also fought them at great times in their careers—Hearns was undefeated and Duran was on a roll.

When compared to Leonard, Pacquiao's record, prior to his fight with De La Hoya, may not be that of an all-time great.

Maybe Pacquiao-Marquez III will put this era where it needs to be.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are much older now, with Pacquiao at 32 and Marquez at 38.

Pacquiao has moved up to welterweight effectively, while Marquez's one fight at welterweight was a horrible showing against Floyd Mayweather two years ago.

Will this fight really prove anything? Why did Pacquiao and his team wait four years to face Marquez?

Why did Pacquiao say "this business is over" after the second fight, despite it being a split decision?

Pacquiao fought Morales three times over the course of two years, 2005-2006. If Pacquiao and his team were so confident he could effectively beat Marquez back then, why the near half-decade between fights?

Some of the question marks over Pacquiao and Marquez seem as if they will remain, regardless of the outcome on November 12, thanks to age and time taking away some attributes of Marquez.

But, however effective Marquez is against Pacquiao will tell a lot about how Pacquiao has grown in the post-De La Hoya era.

Manny Pacquiao: The Post-De La Hoya Era

Pacquiao escaped the super featherweight division with a split decision victory over Marquez, and thus started his epic weight-climbing journey.

He starts by taking out David Diaz in nine rounds for a lightweight title.

He then moves on to Oscar De La Hoya in non-title 147-lb fight.

De La Hoya quits after eight rounds of a beatdown.

Pacquiao emerges as a giant-killer, and a new era is born.

Manny Pacquiao: The Validation of the Post-De La Hoya Era Opponents

After De La Hoya, Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton in two rounds for a title at junior welterweight. He also stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th, earning him a record-breaking world title in a seventh different weight class.

This became the peak of Pacquiao's new-found giant-killer reputation. But criticisms from some fans came that Hatton wasn't the same after losing for the first time, and Cotto was damaged goods after the brutal assault he took from Margarito.

Pacquiao needed to address these issues with a victory that was far from questionable in order to achieve all-time greatness.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather?

Pacquiao and Mayweather are the pinnacle of each other's ascension toward pound-for-pound glory.

Mayweather has scaled to the highest mountains of greatness through the likes of Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya.

Pacquiao has fought some similar names, possibly in an effort to stake his claim to being better than Mayweather by beating Mayweather's opponents more impressively.

But, with so much arguing and bickering on whether to have cut-off dates to random urine and blood drug testing, one has to wonder if Mayweather and Pacquiao ever come to an agreement to fight.

Manny Pacquiao: Since Their First Failed Negotiations

Though Pacquiao and Mayweather tried to negotiate, Mayweather demanded they both go through random urine and blood drug testing not specified by the boxing authorities.

Pacquiao and Mayweather struggled with when to cut off random drug testing, so as not to draw blood to close to the fight.

They eventually failed to negotiate a fight, thus Pacquiao went elsewhere for his 2010 and, eventually, 2011 opponents.

Pacquiao blazed through his first 2010 opponent, Joshua Clottey, in boring fashion. Clottey used his big forearms to cover up as Pacquiao rained a hundred punches a round on the bigger man.

His last opponent of the year was Antonio Margarito, a man caught with illegal handwraps before a scheduled fight with Shane Mosley.

Pacquiao told the media he forgave him and then proceeded to beat his eye socket loose.

Pacquiao sent Shane Mosley, one of the hardest hitters at welterweight or below, running for an entire fight once he lit him up.

Now Pacquiao faces Marquez to close out this year, which has been yet another year of uneventful matches for Pacquiao thus far.

Hopefully Pacquiao-Marquez III won't be like his last couple matches.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather: Set for May 5, 2012

Will these two veterans finally collide May 5, 2012?

The boxing world was recently rocked by news of Mayweather holding the MGM Grand for May 5, 2012 for a proposed Pacquiao fight.

Come November 13, if Pacquiao has destroyed Marquez, will he be willing and ready to face Mayweather?

Is Mayweather willing and ready to face Pacquiao?

Does the MGM Grand holding mean Mayweather is willing to do whatever it takes to make the fight happen?

For now, no one actually knows. But come November 13, the fight will be eagerly anticipated via online debate and searches for any sign of a deal being struck.

Hopefully Pacquiao realizes that he doesn't have that one great victory that guarantees him all-time great status.

Pacquiao is certainly one of boxing's greats, certainly one of boxing's first-ballot future Hall of Famers, but the all-time title takes the perfect opponent to beat it out of him—and that opponent is Floyd Mayweather.