Manny Pacquiao and the Most Popular Boxers of All Time

Manny Pacquiao is by far the single most popular boxer today. His lovable charisma, skills and ferocity inside the ring all aid in his immediate rise to the top of the boxing world.

But what does it really mean to be popular? Is it success in the ring? Does having a controversial personality help a rise in popularity? Or is it even a mix of both?

Pacquiao is one of the most successful boxers of all time when it comes to success in the ring. He also has a highly publicized rivalry with fellow boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Without further ado, Bleacher Report brings you Manny Pacquiao and the most popular and polarizing figures in boxing history.

Rocky Marciano

Although many do not know his full name, everybody knows his first name, "Rocky."

Marciano is the only heavyweight boxer in history to retire with an undefeated record. He finished his career with an astonishing 49 wins, 43 knockouts and no losses.

Marciano, who defeated everybody he faced, was so popular and well revered that a movie simulation was produced to predict the winner of a Marciano-Muhammad Ali fight.

Interestingly enough, the movie concluded with Marciano defeating Ali in the 13th round.

Joe Frazier

One of the most polarizing boxers of all time, the late Joe Frazier is one of the most popular boxers of all time as well.

It was the 1960s and the United States was fighting a brutal war in Vietnam. In lieu of the war and an impending Army draft, Joe Frazier began to make a name for himself in the ring.

While Muhammad Ali sat for three years in response to his Vietnam drafting protest, Frazier quickly rose up the boxing ranks.

Ali returned and set up one of, if not the single greatest, boxing rivalry of all time.

In a three-fight showdown throughout the 1970s, Ali defeated Frazier twice, including the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1976.

Frazier recently passed away, on November 7, 2011.

Evander Holyfield

A strong and resilient fighter, Evander Holyfield made a name for himself in the heavyweight division, especially with his bouts with rival Mike Tyson.

Holyfield eventually became the heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Buster Douglas and Geroge Foreman.

One of the most popular incidents of all time occurred between Holyfield and Tyson on June 28th, 1997. During their fight, Tyson attacked Holyfield and bit off—yes, bit off—a large chunk of Holyfield's ear.

Tyson was immediately disqualified and Holyfield eventually had his ear stitched back together

Joe Louis

One of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, Joe Louis even has his own professional sports stadium named after him. Louis also owns two almost unbreakable boxing records.

He owns the longest streak as the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, a streak which lasted over 11 years. He also successfully defended his title 25 times over that span.

Although an African American, he became widely loved and respected for having defeated German boxer Max Schmeling, a fight that took place during World War II.

Louis is one of the most beloved boxers of all time and has a wide following and love in his hometown of Detroit.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the most popular and controversial boxers of the present era. Although the early years of Mayweather's career were not highly publicized, Mayweather quickly rose up the boxing ranks and eventually set up a heated rivalry with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather is an excellent trash talker, who can get any opponent riled up and rattled prior to a fight.

In 2007, Mayweather helped break the pay-per-view record with 2.5 million viewers tuning in to his historic fight with Oscar De La Hoya.

Presently, Pacquiao and Mayweather have tried to set up a "fight for the ages" match, but controversy aroused when Mayweather did not consent to taking a drug test prior to the fight.

The push for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight has since gone cold.

Manny Pacquiao

The other half of the Mayweather-Pacquiao rivalry is a story of great success under immense odds.

Manny Pacquiao was born as a poor boy in the Philippines, who eventually moved to the United States and made his fame as one of the most successful boxers of his era.

He's defeated rivals such as Juan Manuel Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya but still itches to fight Mayweather soon in the future.

A hero in his native Philippines, Pacquiao has a seat in the Filipino congress and has also launched a successful singing career.

Pacquiao is definitely the most popular boxer today, and he surely will be for years to come.

Mike Tyson

He was known as the "baddest man alive" back in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, he is remembered for his soft heart, love for pigeons and his knockout punch of Zach Galifianakis while singing Phil Collins in the movie, "The Hangover."

But back in the day, Tyson was the fear of the whole boxing community. He became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at the young and unbelievable age of only 19.

Tyson eventually suffered a crushing defeat to Buster Douglas and lost his heavyweight title. Later, Tyson lost two highly publicized bouts with Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, including his memorable ear-biting fiasco against Holyfield.

Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya was the man prior to Manny Pacquiao who received almost all the media attention as the greatest boxer of the time.

After making a name for himself in the 1992 Summer Olympics, De La Hoya was expected to make a huge name for himself in the United States as a professional boxer. Even the media dubbed him the "Golden Boy."

De La Hoya cemented his name in history as one of boxing's greats after he knocked out fellow Mexican Julio Caesar Chavez not once, but twice.

He was the first and only fighter to knock out Chavez in the ring.

Like all boxers, De La Hoya aged and his success diminished. He eventually retired from boxing but will always be remembered as one of the most popular boxers of all time.

Muhammad Ali

Known simply as "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali is by far the single most popular and polarizing figure in boxing history. Better yet, he may be the most popular athlete of all time.

Ali was someone who could back up his huge ego with his fists. He was quick, yet graceful in the ring, and his "rope-a-dope" technique used in his fight with George Foreman is still mimicked today.

Ali is known for his involvement in the black community during a time in which blacks were often scrutinized and put to a lower standard than whites.

His success in the ring helped inspire millions of African Americans to stand up for what they believed in and what they believed was right.