MANNY Pacquiao’s feat of winning seven world titles in seven weight divisions has been accepted by the international boxing community, although there are a reluctant few, who still dare question the worth of a Ring Magazine belt or even that of an International Boxing Organization title.
The story of Pacquiao’s rise from a skinny 16-year-old kid, who put lead weights in his trunks in order to make the minimum weight when he launched his pro career, to the summit of his achievements when he hammered World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto into submission in 12 rounds, is a fascinating tale that no Hollywood scriptwriter could have conceived of.
He won his first world title when he scored a eighth-round knockout over Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxing Council flyweight title on Dec. 4, 1998 in Phuttamonthon, outside Bangkok.
In his US debut on June 23, 2001, he ripped through the defenses and bloodied a hapless Lelohonolo Ledwaba of South Africa to win by a sixth-round TKO. Ironically, that fight was on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Javier Castillo duel, with neither Pacquiao nor De La Hoya ever dreaming they would meet some day in the ring.
Pacquiao then took on Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas for the prestigious Ring Magazine featherweight title, because although Barrera had won the WBC crown, he cast it aside over some differences with the organization. Pacquiao annihilated Barrera in 11 rounds when the Mexican’s brother Jorge entered the ring, embraced Marco and wept as referee Laurence Cole called a halt.
Although technically, no world organization belt was at stake, Barrera was the best featherweight at that time and Manny beat the best in the 126-pound division.
On Jan. 21, 2006, in a rematch with another Mexican legend Erik “El Terrible” Morales, who had beaten him on points in their first meeting when a nasty gash caused by an accidental head-butt in Round 5 effectively cost Pacquiao the fight, he demolished Morales to win by a 10th-round knockout in a WBC super featherweight title eliminator to set up a rematch with Juan Manuel.
Their first clash ended in a draw despite the fact that Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round. In an eagerly awaited rematch that was another close encounter, Pacquiao won a split decision after dropping Marquez one more time in round four, to grab the WBC super featherweight title on March 15, 2008. Marquez earlier won the vacant title in a battle with Barrera.
Pacquiao moved up to lightweight to challenge champion David Diaz and mauled him mercilessly to score a ninth-round TKO on June 28, 2008. This was followed by his Dec. 6, 2008 fight with Oscar De La Hoya. No title was at stake except pride and prestige and Pacquiao pulverized De La Hoya, who quit at the end of the 8th round.
The Pacman then challenged Britain’s Ricky Hatton for his International Boxing Organization light welterweight title and the Ring Magazine, belt which the Briton held at that time as the recognized champion by the Ring. Pacquiao separated Hatton from his senses in a second-round knockout on May 2 before going after a world record seventh title in seven weight divisions against the acknowledged king of welterweight—Cotto.
After scoring stunning knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds Pacquiao controlled the fight the rest of the way and a bloodied, battered and bewildered champion could only run, but not hide and when Pacquiao caught him on the ropes in the final round and blasted away with both hands, referee Kenny Bayless mercifully called a halt.
Not only did Pacquiao win the WBO’s 147-pound belt, he took home the WBO Super Champion’s Belt and the coveted WBC Diamond Belt, studded with hundreds of tiny diamonds, rubies and other precious stones and thus became the first fighter to win such a worthy honor. Ronnie Nathanielsz
