Cotto vs. Pacquiao: The One True Superfight Of The Year

Matthew Hurley
Cotto vs. Pacquiao: The One True Superfight Of The Year

Wed 26-Aug-2009 23:02




By Matthew Hurley: The upcoming bout between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao on November 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas holds so many intangibles that boxing fans are champing at the bit for the opening bell to ring.

Every year there is one fight that defines the sport whether or not the match-up itself warrants such scrutiny. Cotto – Pacquiao is this year’s high water mark. (Don’t let Floyd Mayweather’s diarrhea of the mouth concerning his comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19th fool you.) Whether Cotto – Pacquiao lives up to expectations remains to be seen but most insiders speculate that for however long it lasts this bout, because of the respective styles and temperaments of the fighters, will be fan friendly from first punch to last.

And then there are the questions surrounding both fighters.

Is Miguel Cotto damaged goods?

After his brutal loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008, in a fight of the year candidate, many wondered if the beating Cotto took over the second half of the bout robbed him of his prime. Fighters are so vulnerable, no matter how skilled and how courageous, that even one vicious encounter can take away bits and pieces of his physicality and his will. For Cotto, the Margarito fight was his foray into hell. We don’t quite know if he’s come all the way back.

Cotto fought masterfully for six rounds but Margarito’s imperviousness to pain or fatigue overwhelmed him in the bout’s final rounds. Cotto, his face battered and his will depleted, took a knee in the eleventh round and suddenly his future as an elite fighter was in question.

Can he come back from such a wicked beating, many wondered.

Cotto rebounded with an easy victory over the limited Michael Jennings in February to take the WBO welterweight title and then he took on the rugged Joshua Clottey in June. The razor thin victory over Clottey seemed to split opinion on Cotto right down the middle.

He suffered a hideous gash over his left eye early in the bout but his resolve remained firm and he battled through it. Some saw the close victory as an indicator of wear and tear on a body subjected to several taxing fights over the years. (To his great credit Cotto has sought out and taken on tough competition over his last several fights.) Others applauded his courage, fighting through injury and closing the show strongly. It seems with Cotto everything is open for debate.

Everything, including his loss to Margarito, which came into question when the Mexican fighter’s hand wraps were discovered to have been padded with hardened bits of a plaster-like substance before he entered the ring to take on Sugar Shane Mosley. Had Margarito and his team done the same thing prior to his dismantling of Cotto and simply gotten away with it? It’s a legitimate question, but the damage done in that fight is done. It can’t be wiped away from Cotto’s mind and body.

All questions regarding the past are actually moot now that the biggest fight of Cotto’s career is on the horizon. His future, and perhaps his legacy, will be determined on the outcome of this one big fight.

As for Pacquiao, his legacy is already secure. Few, if any, will question the legitimacy of his greatness as a fighter. He is already a lock for the Hall of Fame. But a win over Cotto, particularly if it comes in dramatic fashion, will elevate him into the pantheon of the all time great fighters.

Pacquiao’s star quality began to change when he broke apart David Diaz in June of 2008 for the WBC lightweight title. That perfect performance, against the perfect opponent, led him to a showdown with Oscar De La Hoya.

Going in, many assumed Oscar’s size and strength would be too much for Pacquiao. But the Filipino used speed and angles to dominate a weight drained De La Hoya who, on that night, was more tin than gold.

With that signature win under his belt Pacquiao’s popularity exploded. Even marginal fans of the sport, and non-fans as well, took notice of the diminutive fistic titan.


He then solidified his standing as boxing’s most popular figure with his most emphatic performance yet – a second round stoppage of junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. The knockout of Hatton was so conclusive that it could actually serve as the only highlight reel necessary in years to come to define Pacquiao’s career.

However, skeptics – and they are out there – point out that in these three key victories Diaz was a marginal foe at best, De La Hoya came in too light and was probably shot and the popular Hatton was a wide open target and arguably overrated to begin with.

There’s a bit of truth in all of that, but hindsight justifies the brilliance in us all. Going into the fights with Hatton and particularly De La Hoya, many people picked Pacquiao to lose. Well, not only did he not lose he embraced his moment on center stage like all great performers do and simply killed. In fact Pacquiao hasn’t lost a round since his 2008 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Cotto is a different animal altogether. He is either at or a little past his prime. And though not a one-punch knockout artist he has very heavy hands, good boxing skills and a tremendous will to win.

He’s also a natural 147-pound fighter and at some point in Pacquiao’s rise in weight classes size will make a difference. Will this be that fight?

Should Pacquiao win in impressive fashion his status as an all time great fighter will be fully realized. It will also mark the closing act of a brilliant career, as Manny has stated that he only intends to fight two or three more times.

Should Cotto win all the questions surrounding him since the loss to Margarito will be brushed aside and he will have also reestablished his lofty standing in the pound-for-pound rankings. He can then look forward to further big time match ups down the line. A rematch with Sugar Shane Mosley, whom he defeated by a close decision in 2007, to decide preeminence in the welterweight division is a natural.

Whatever the outcome, because these two fighters always come to do damage and never fail to entertain, Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao is the most anticipated fight of 2009 and should the fight exceed expectations and the surrounding hype boxing fans are in for a treat on November 14th.

August 26, 2009

Mayweather vs. Marquez as proposed undercard on Pacquiao vs. Cotto on October 17Mayweather vs. Marquez as proposed undercard on Pacquiao vs. Cotto on

Mr.Richard Schaefer, CEO
Golden Boy Promotions
626 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 350
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Richard,

May I introduce myself as a boxing enthusiast, Houston Boxing Examiner, and supporter of Golden Boy Promotions.

Conveying a few suggestions for consideration by your team regarding the proposed Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez welterweight match.

Suggestions, as follows:

1. The Mayweather vs. Marquez fight should be held either as an undercard or co-main event bout together with the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto fight, and preferably on October 17 (and not in November).
2. On that date, perhaps we can see another exciting fight, perhaps with Victor Ortiz squaring off against Edwin Valero or Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz. Even a Vladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye fight would be most welcome as one of the other "super undercard" fights. Let's have not just super-fights, let's also have "super undercard" fights. MMA and the UFC have both done wonders in capturing the imagination of today's youth, what can we do to counter, or complement, such interest in prize fighting?

Given your (and my) background in investment banking, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts if synergies are realized. The fact of the matter is, Mayweather vs. Marquez is not selling with the fans. We don't even know the details on Mayweather's (alleged) injury. Re-scheduling the bout to take place right around Mexico's Independence Day, in my view, is but an artificial ploy for increasing viewer traffic without ample or significant interest in that fight.

What would greatly elevate the interest in Mayweather vs. Marquez, however, is if it is scheduled right before Filipino phenom Manny Pacquiao takes on Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto. It would be an unimaginably raucous and loud crowd - the Americans, Mexicans, Filipinos, Puerto Ricans, Russians, Brittish, and every other boxing-loving creature, would be there . . . flag-waving, chanting, talking smack, yelling, and enjoying.

Delusional anxiety: Pacquiao's vocabulary expands

Cotto-Manny Pacquiao fight as an indication of what promoter Bob Arum plans for the remainder of the Pinoy Idol's career.

Many think that Arum, with the possible exception of the huge showdown fight against Floyd Mayweather, will try to keep Pacman bout as Top Rank in house affairs. Cotto, for example, is a Top Rank chattel who has or had a contract due to expire at the end of this year.

I asked Arum about that at a New York press conference and he said it is all poppycock.

"No, I will seek the maximum paydays for Manny no matter who handles the opponent," Arum said. "Golden Boy gets paid under our out of court settlement arrangement any way.

"If Manny fights a Golden Boy fighter, then Golden Boy gets 20 percent of my company's share of the profits from that bout. If Manny's opponent is not a Golden Boy boxer, then they get 25 percent of the profits we make.

"Sure I like Manny fighting my other guys because my guys are the best. But I would not avoid Shane Mosley for Manny because his promoted by someone else (Golden Boy)."

Arum said Pacquiao knows the Cotto bout has to go on Nov. 14 and not on Oct. 17 due to TV conflicts with American baseball and football events.

"I guess Manny forgot about that but he knows the fight is Nov. 14 in Las Vegas."

Arum took another sly shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Until he can prove otherwise, Mayweather is a good B side but a B side nonetheless. He is not a De La Hoya."

Arum said that when Nevada gives a boxer's license to his Top Rank handled Edwin Valero, he will be put on the possible Pacman foe list.

But then he suggested a different foe for the undefeated KO artist from Venezuela.

Absolutely it could be possible for Valero to fight Manny next year," Arum said. "I think Valero is a very good and very exciting fighter.

But, if that does not happen, then I think a very good fight for next year would be Valero-Juan Manuel Marquez. I could see that as a big fight maybe next September."

Arum said Pacquiao's last minute arrival for the Boxing Writers Dinner and the Joshua Clottey-Miguel Cotto fight in New York put the kibosh on a CBS network appearance for Pacman.

"Manny's English is good, he does not speak pidgin English. He uses big words in English."

I asked Arum to be specific.

"He uses words like anxiety and delusional," Arum said. "We want to put Manny on the big national TV shows. He will do well."

Anxiety, delusional.

Two words that come in equally handy in boxing and in politics, I might add.

Credit by: www.examiner.com

CHASING MANNY

By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.

Miguel Cotto’s status as front runner in the Pacquiao sweepstakes has not discouraged Shane Mosley from chasing the Filipino IBO/Ring magazine world jr.welterweight champion. This poses an interesting question – Will Sugar Shane be too sweet for the Pacman?

The current WBA welterweight champ does have the best credentials. He is a future Hall of Famer who beat a prime Oscar dela Hoya twice. In his last fight, he gave the feared Antonio Margarito a one-sided beating. Mosley has held world titles at three different weights including unifying the jr. middleweight division five years ago. He is currently ranked number four in Ring magazine’s pound per pound rankings.

Mosley can neutralize Pacquiao’s best asset – his speed. He is a natural welterweight and at 5’9” would have the size advantage. He has the skills to outbox and outmaneuver Pacquiao. He has the power to make Pacquiao respect him and can take a good punch. The last time he was really hurt was seven years ago against Vernon Forrest.

The 37 year old Mosley (46W-5L-1D, 39 KO’s) has indicated that he is willing to concede purse shares and fight at a catch weight He even has an ongoing internet survey as to who the fans want to face the Pacman next. The only thing he hasn’t said so far is that he’ll face Pacquiao in Gen.Santos or Sarangani. Mosley would not be this “desperate” unless he has the unshakeable belief that he can beat Pacquiao.

The current favorite, WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto is ranked number nine in the Ring’s pound per pound list. He beat Mosley by unanimous decision November 2007. Cotto has called out Pacquiao prior to the Ricky Hatton bout and said that he wanted to fight the winner. He does not have Hatton’s porous defense and can take a good punch. The Puerto Rican is also an excellent body puncher. He squeaked past Joshua Clottey in his last title defense and suffered cuts. If negotiations do not hit a snag, he will get to face Pacquiao tentatively in November.

Juan Manuel Marquez chased Pacquiao all the way to Manila after losing a narrow split decision in their second epic contest. All he got was a lot of bad press in the Philippines. He is ranked second to Pacquiao in almost all pound per pound lists. He was on the cover of Ring magazine last month where he declared that he doesn’t think he is the best till he beats Pacquiao.

The Mexican is a three division world champ and holds the bragging rights of having got up four times after being knocked down by Pacquiao and pushed him to the brink for twenty four total rounds. In an ideal and just world, there should be a trilogy.

Marquez’ landed a big fight with the returning Floyd Mayweather, Jr. but the fight is now in limbo after the American’s rib injury.

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KO’s) is the former number one pound per pound best boxer in the world before he “retired”. The undefeated 32 year old has held titles from 130 to 147 lbs. He has not lost since the 1996 Olympics. His outspoken personality has made him a fan favorite to face Pacquiao. His narcissism, however, will make it difficult during negotiations.

Mayweather is a slick boxer and has beaten the best; stars like Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, and Zab Judah. He did beat Hatton and Dela Hoya before Pacquiao did. But he was not a pay per view attraction before he faced and beat Arturo Gatti in 2005. Fans booed him even when he was winning every round.

Mayweather’s speed and skills will be a match for Pacquiao. But he now has to hurdle his injury as well as Marquez. Pacquiao may not hang around long enough as he has made public his plan to run for congress next year.

There are also two Australians who want to fight Pacquiao:

WBO Asia-Pacific Lightweight titlist Michael Katsidis was in Manila last June 5 to issue his formal challenge. He is the only one willing to face Pacquiao in Manila. The only chance he has is if negotiations for the above fighters will fall through and if Pacquiao decides to have a “farewell fight” on home soil. That is pretty slim at this point.

Vic Darchinyan has also called out the Pacman. The unified superflyweight world champ is ranked number 9 in the Ring’s pound per pound list. He is best remembered by Filipino fans for losing to Nonito Donaire by 5th round TKO in what was 2007’s upset and KO of the year. He also suffered a knockdown in his draw against Z Gorres in Cebu. He beat the very popular Jorge Arce last February by 11th round stoppage in a brutal contest. Darchinyan is moving up to bantamweight to challenge IBF Champion Joseph Agbeko. He will still be 22 pounds below Pacquiao’s present fighting weight.

All of these fighters will also have to contend with the fact that Pacquiao will retire in 2010 and pursue his political plans. Will 2009 really be his last year as a prizefighter or will he have a January 2010 bout? Is the Philippines ready to give up its boxing icon to politics? These are intriguing questions that will be answered in the coming months.

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Stick to boxing, bishop urges Pacquiao

By Dennis Carcamo

MANILA, Philippines – People's champion Manny Pacquiao should stick to boxing instead of running for Congress in 2010, a Church official today said.

Marbel bishop Dinualdo Gutirrez said if Pacquiao really wants to help his constituents in Saranggani province, the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer can put up a foundation that will send children to school or provide jobs to the unemployed.

"He could put up a foundation for example, scholarships, foundation for health care, foundation for a jobs, he can do that instead. He must capitalize on his stature to get some credible and competent people to manage the foundation," Gutierrez said today in an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas.

The bishop said Pacquiao will most likely lose again in his congressional, this time in Saranggani province, for his lack of political experience and credibility. He previously ran for congressman in South Cotabato and suffered a lopsided defeat to incumbent Darlene Custodio.

"Here we follow the three three Cs in voting candidates: credibility, commitment and competence. (In the) last election, we said he (Pacquiao) had credibility. He also had commitment to the Filipino people especially the poor. But in the field of competence, he fails. And this time, even his credibility is being questioned now," Gutierrez said.

He said Pacquiao's association with gamblers is also one factor that would go against the boxing icon.

"Especially with his gambler friends and the way he is getting lands here are all questionable. We have to look into that deeper," he said.

Gutierrez claimed that some friends and administration officials are the ones who have prodded Pacquiao to run for an elective post despite his lack of political experience.

143 lbs for Cotto unrealistic – Arum

By NICK GIONGCO

June 22, 2009, 6:55pm

Top Rank head Bob Arum yesterday torpedoed trainer Freddie Roach’s proposal that Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto has to come down to 143 lbs to get a shot at Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

“That’s not realistic,” said Arum about Roach’s insistence that a catch weight of 143 lbs be imposed for the proposed Nov. 14 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After conferring with Cotto’s people, led by legal counsel Gabriel Penagaricano, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion said he is willing to meet Pacquiao halfway to make the fight happen.

“The catch weight will be 144 or 145 lbs,” said Arum, whose outfit has both fighters under his promotional banner.

Arum also revealed that Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s Los Angeles-based adviser, has in his possession the proposal that he will present to the 30-year-old puncher later this week. Koncz, Arum noted, will travel back to the Philippines this weekend.

“I spent three to four hours with Mike today and he read the proposal and said he is very confident that Manny would approve it,” said Arum without revealing the details of the documents that Pacquiao and his lawyer Franklin Gacal would review.

“I think the proposal is very fair (to both camps),” added Arum.

Despite Cotto’s difficulties in his last outing against Joshua Clottey, Roach believes Cotto remains a very dangerous opponent for somebody like Pacquiao, who is not a natural welterweight.

Ringsiders have been very vocal about Pacquiao’s demand that a catch weight be set since the welter class has a limit of 147 lbs.

While Pacquiao has fought at welter — his ninth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya last year being his landmark victory — the Filipino only weighed 142 lbs for that fight.

And when Pacquiao fought at the super-lightweight class of 140 lbs against Ricky Hatton last May, he only tipped the scales at 138 lbs. Cotto weighed in at 146 lbs against Clottey and Gacal believes he can still get rid of a few pounds.

Forbes: Pacquiao world's 6th highest-paid athlete

Philstar.com - Thursday, June 18

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao made it to Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid athletes in the world, tying for the sixth spot with basketball phenom Lebron James and golfer Phil Mickelson.

According to Forbes, Pacquiao is the highest-ranking among four newcomers to the list, raking in a total of $40 million in the past 12 months. The boxing star is among the eight non-Americans on the list, which had golf icon Tiger Woods ($110 million) at the top.

"Pac-Man hogged the boxing spotlight over the past year with victories in two blockbuster fights against Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in May that combined for more than $100 million in pay-per-view revenue in the US," Forbes said in a brief write-up.

"The two blockbuster fights garnered more than 2 million pay-per-view buys in the US and earned Pac-Man $30 million combined."

The reputable business magazine cited the General Santos City-based southpaw’s endorsements with giant firms.

"Pacquiao's massive popularity in his native Philippines is why companies like Nike and San Miguel beer have signed him to endorse their products. Pacquiao intends to use that popularity to run for political office when his ring career is over," Forbes added.

Among those ranking above Pacquiao include basketball stars Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and Formula One star Kimi Raikkonen at No. 2 ($45 million each), and football standout David Beckham at No. 5 ($42 million).

Forbes has earlier listed Pacquiao as the 57th most influential celebrity in the world. The Filipino spitfire was also included in Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People.

Pacquiao is reportedly returning to the ring in November, possibly against welterweight star Miguel Cotto.

Click here to view the complete Forbes "World's Highest-Paid Athletes" list. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Seconds out: Pacquiao flattens Hatton to prove he's king - now bring on Mayweather!

The Filipino Pacman proved he's the best fighter on the planet with his two-round demolition job in Las Vegas. Now Manny is eyeing the biggest purse of his career...

Blazing through with phenomenal hand speed and devastating punching power, Manny Pacquiao proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he is the king of boxing - the best fighter in the planet today.

Pacquiao rocked Ricky Hatton with a vicious left hook to the jaw to score a brutal knockout victory in the second round of their junior welterweight championship match on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao sent Hatton crashing to the canvas, flat on his back and motionless for a moment, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight at the 2:59 mark and award a TKO win to the Filipino superstar, who also snared Hatton's IBO junior welterweight crown.

The match, dubbed as the 'Battle of East and West', came to an abrupt end and was reduced to a no-contest as Pacquiao totally outclassed the brawler from Manchester.

Hatton's legion of British fans - who had boisterously cheered for him - fell silent when their hero collapsed into a helpless heap for the final time in the fight.

The outnumbered Filipino fans erupted in wild celebration as Pacquiao dropped to his knees to pray in a corner and was hoisted on the shoulders of his assistant trainer, former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.

Pacquiao's emphatic victory cemented his claim as boxing's pound-for-pound champion and carved his name among the sport's legends by winning title belts in six weight classes - a rare feat achieved only by the great Oscar De La Hoya, whom Pacquiao also destroyed last December.

With the stunning win, Pacquiao raised his record to 47-3-2, with 37 knockouts, and extended his winning streak to 10 consecutive fights.

The early knockout win surprised even Pacquiao, who made short work of his highly-regarded opponent by knocking Hatton down twice in the first round before sealing the contest with a crushing left hand late in the second.

“I’m surprised this was so easy,” said the Pacquiao, who was unmarked after the fight.

Hatton made Pacquiao's work so easy by leaving himself wide open for the Filipino's right hook - and it landed flush on his jaw and sent him sprawling to the canvas for the first time with 54 seconds left in the opening round.

Dazed and legs wobbling, Hatton received more punishment as Pacquiao blitzed him with a sizzling combination capped by a straight left that left the Englishman sitting on the canvas near his own corner.

Living up to the words tattoed on his back, The Hitman showed pride in battle by taking Bayless' count on his knees and then went right after Pacquiao. But he swung and missed as the bell sounded.

Hatton appeared to have recovered after the knockdowns when he started connecting with his right to Pacquiao's body in the second round but the Filipino took his best shots with hardly a flinch.

In his trademark fighting style, Hatton started grabbing Pacquiao and hitting him with rabbit punches to throw the Pacman out of rhythm. The ploy seemed to give Hatton some momentum but as soon as Pacquiao got his distance and out of Hatton's arm lock, the Englishman was ripe for the picking.

Pacquiao beat Hatton to the draw with his signature punch - which could rank as one of the best knockout punches delivered in the history of the sport. Upon impact, Ricky Hatton was history, too.

“It was a hard loss, but I’m OK,” Hatton said later. “I didn’t really see the punch coming, but it was a great shot.”

Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer, revealed during the post-fight conference that Hatton was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The fight, which was expected to be very competitive, turned into a spectacularly one-sided performance by Pacquiao as fight stats showed that he landed 73 of his 127 punches, including 34 of 53 power blows in the second round, while Hatton connected with only 18 of 78 punches.

“Our strategy was the one punch,” Pacquiao said. “Left hook. Right hook. That was going to be the key to this fight.”

Pacquiao's quick work affirmed the pre-fight prediction of his chief trainer Freddie Roach, who said his prized pupil would stop Hatton inside three rounds.

"It will be easy. I told Manny I will be really disappointed in him if it goes beyond three rounds, " Roach said during the pre-fight interviews.

Indeed, Roach reputation as boxing's best trainer glowed even brighter with Pacquiao's electrifying knockout win. “This was no surprise at all,” Roach said.

“Hatton pumps his hand before he throws a punch. He’s a sucker for the right hook and that’s what we worked on the whole camp. He fights the same way over and over.”
The thrilling match was attended by more than 16,000 fight fans dominated by Hatton's devoted followers, who trekked across the Atlantic to cheer for the British ring idol.

They went home disappointed as Hatton (45-2), who was unbeaten in the 140-pound class, suffered only his second defeat at the hands of the current pound-for-pound title holder.

In December 2007, Hatton was also brutally knocked out in 10 rounds by Floyd Mayweather Jr., previous holder of the mythical boxing crown, who announced his comeback from retirement before the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.

Mayweather's return sets up a gigantic collision course with Pacquiao in a fight that will determine the true pound-for-pound king.

“I left on top, and I came back on top. I’m here to fight and reclaim what’s mine,” Mayweather declared after announcing his July 18 fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's nemesis, who held him to a draw in 2004 and lost on a split decision in March last year.

Pacquiao was guaranteed $12 million and Hatton $8 million, excluding the revenue from pay-per-view and gate receipts. Pacquiao figures to earn the biggest purse of his career if the fight with Mayweather pushes through late this year, as envisioned by fight afficionados.



by Ramir Correa on 04 May 2009

Manny Pacman Pacquiao

Name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao(Manny Pacquiao)
Date of Birth: December 17, 1978
Homeland: Phillipines

known as Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer, part-time actor and recording artist. He is the WBC Lightweight world champion, WBC Super Featherweight world champion, IBF Super Bantamweight world champion, and WBC Flyweight world champion. He has also held the Ring Magazine titles for Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Light Welterweight divisions. For his achievements, he became the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win five world titles in five different weight divisions. He is currently the IBO and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight champion and is rated by the Ring Magazine as the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He is also the first boxer to win the lineal championship ("the man who beat the man") in four different weight classes.

creadits by wikipedia.org