'The Greatness' of Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao landed 73 of 127 punches in just under six minutes against Ricky Hatton, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round. Hatton connected on only 18 of 78.

Pacquiao's victory has historical undertones, with the 140lb world title belt having been on the line from The Ring Magazine. He has now won undisputed titles in three divisions.

Many fighters have won world 'titles' in three divisions, but this victory puts Pacquiao in great company in boxing history alongside Henry Armstrong (featherweight, lightweight, welterweight) and Bob Fitzsimmons (middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight) who won undisputed titles in three different weights at a time when there was still only one world sanctioning body.

In the first of those – in November 2003 – he defeated Marco Antonio Barrera for the Ring Magazine featherweight world title.

In March 2008, when he beat Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC superfeatherweight world title (Marquez was also considered the world 130lb champion by The Ring, considered to be the Bible of boxing), and on Sunday, he took the The Ring magazine light welterweight title from Hatton.

Pacquiao has also fought in four weight categories in a span of fifteen months and won world titles in three of them. The Ring magazine belts aside, Pacquiao has also won four world titles from the major sanctioning bodies – the WBC flyweight, IBF superbantamweight, WBC superfeatherweight and WBC lightweight titles.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/5269288/The-Greatness-of-Manny-Pacquiao.html

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