The name Manny Pacquiao is once again making waves in the boxing world. The Filipino will face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, a fight that has raised a lot of expectations as Pac-Man has not been in a professional ring since 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas.
Manny is currently in Los Angeles working for this fight with the trainer who led him to glory during the past two decades, Freddie Roach. As if he had never left, the legendary eight-division champion (six if we look at the four organizations that govern boxing today) is the center of media attention these days.
Pacquiao has revealed on the Fighthype channel who his toughest opponents have been and he has left Floyd Mayweather off his list, although he has explained his decision. “I’m sorry for the fans because the fight was boring. That’s not what they expect from us as fighters. As a fan, I want to see an exciting fight, not a fashion show. You want action,” Pac-Man confessed. Let’s remember that the event was sold under the label of ‘Fight of the Century’ and did not live up to expectations. “Floyd Mayweather ran the 12 rounds, but won the fight,” said the Asian boxer.
In contrast, Manny has cited rivals alongside whom he starred in real fights as the toughest he has faced. In fact, it could be said that together with Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, Pac-Man returned boxing to the era of the ‘Four Kings’.
Pacquiao’s toughest rivals
Erik Morales: The first name that came to Manny’s mind is that of the Mexican, who defeated him in the first of their three fights, but ended up losing to him twice afterwards. Pacquiao and Morales share one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history.
Juan Manuel Marquez: Perhaps his toughest opponent, with whom he faced four times. Manny won three close fights, but in the fourth he was knocked out by Marquez, a KO whose image is boxing history.
Oscar de la Hoya: DLH was a major challenge for the great Filipino champion due to his quality and size. Pac-Man countered his smaller size with very intense boxing that forced the Los Angeles native to retire in the eighth round.
Marco Antonio Barrera: Pacquiao won the first fight by KO in the 11th round in 2003, and outpointed him in the rematch four years later in Las Vegas.
Miguel Cotto: It is logical that the Puerto Rican’s name is on this list, because if he had anything, it was that he was fierce. However, despite his danger, Pacquiao dominated him, knocked him down in the third and fourth rounds and knocked him out in the 12th.
Antonio Margarito: Manny was crowned super welterweight champion against the Mexican, who was a very dangerous opponent due to his size. In reality, Pac-Man, who moved very nimbly, gave his opponent a beating, although he noticed how hard he hit
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