Manny Pacquiao Lists His Top 5 Opponents But Shunned Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao provided a list of the top five fighters he ever faced in the boxing ring, but completely shunned Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquaio and Mayweather finally came together for the most lucrative event in combat sports history in 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, for a show dubbed Battle For Greatness, or The Fight of the Century. The welterweights had been rivals for years, and had dominated the pound-for-pound rankings for more than a decade. A bout to determine who was the No.1 was one of the most highly-anticipated things in all sports.

The fight itself was a bit of a damp squib, even though Mayweather coasted to a routine win as Pacquiao failed to ignite his signature explosiveness that had yielded numerous knockouts throughout his career.

10 years on, Pacquiao shunned Mayweather when reflecting Tuesday on the five fighters who gave him the toughest nights of his life.

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Erik Morales

Mexican legend with a pro record of 52-9-0 (36 KOs)

The first fighter Manny Pacquiao thought to mention was Erik Morales, a legendary Mexican fighter who defeated Pacquiao in the first of their three-fight saga, but ended up losing 2-1 overall. Pacquiao and Morales share one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history.

Marco Antonio Barrera

Another Mexican great with a hulking pro record of 67-7-0 (44 KOs)

Manny Pacquiao continued his legacy of enduring bruising wars with elite Mexicans when he beat Marco Antonio Barrera in a two-fight rivalry. He won the first fight by 11th round knockout in San Antonio, Texas, in 2003 and then outpointed him in a rematch four years later in Las Vegas.

Juan Manuel Marquez

Another of Pacquiao’s great Mexican rivals who had a 56-7-1 (40 KOs) record

Manny Pacquiao beat Juan Manuel Marquez again, and again, and again. Until he didn’t. The fourth fight in their legendary run provided the most devastating finish of the lot as Marquez finally landed his shot — an overhand punch that face-planted Pacquiao for ages in one of the most shocking images in modern combat sports history.

Oscar de la Hoya

A multi-weight champion who was a box sensation with a pro record of 39-6-0 (30 KOs)

When Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao were first matched against one another in 2008 there was great concern about how the Filipino was finally taking on a challenge he’d fail in, however, the way in which the bout played out proved all the fiercest of critics all wrong. This is because the difference in weight proved no problem for Pacquiao to overcome, who beat de la Hoya to the punch, over and over again, and forced an eighth-round retirement. It’s the fight that was arguably the making of Pacquiao as a box office sensation in his own right.

Miguel Cotto

A legendary, battle-hardened, Puerto Rican prizefighter with a 41-6-0 (33 KOs) record

Miguel Cotto is one of the finest fighters from the combat island of Puerto Rico, and bludgeoned many an opponent while carrying himself with class, through multiple weight classes. Cotto beat Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, and Joshua Clottey before running into Pacquiao and lasting until the 12th, when Pacquiao finally finished him with a statement.

One more for a bonus: Antonio Margarito

A controversial Mexican with a pro record of 41-8-0 (27 KOs)

Antonio Margarito was a controversial boxer because, ahead of his bout against Mosley in 2009, the fighter was caught with illegal hand wraps. Prior to his fight with Pacquiao, he was also seen on video appearing to mock his opponent’s coach Freddie Roach, because of his Parkinson’s disease. Pacquiao got the last laugh, as he beat him so bad that his retina detached.

On why he shunned Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao apologized to boxing fans for the fight, not for shunning Floyd

Considering all the legends that Pacquiao fight, one might still expect the fighter to pay respect to his career rival Floyd Mayweather. However, this was far from the case, as he instead slammed Mayweather’s approach to their 2015 fight.

“Floyd Mayweather is running the whole 12 rounds, [but] won the fight,” he said.

Watch it all right here:

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