Manny has more to lose

The Ring Magazine recently came out with a list of the 10 greatest living fighters in the world today. Writer Michael Rosenthal said The Ring editors consulted with “knowledgeable contributors” in making the selection.

First in the elite cast was Sugar Ray Leonard. Then came Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Jake LaMotta, Manny Pacquiao and Larry Holmes. Missing were stars like Oscar de la Hoya, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Eder Jofre, George Foreman, the Klistchko brothers, Ricardo Lopez, Wilfred Benitez, Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

In my view, LaMotta shouldn’t have been in the lineup. Instead, it should’ve been Brazil’s Jofre, the former world bantamweight and featherweight titlist who retired in 1976 with a record of 72-2-4, including 50 KOs. One of his victims was Filipino Johnny Jamito whom he stopped to retain his bantamweight crown at the Araneta Coliseum in 1963. Another fighter more deserving than LaMotta to be in the roster could be Mexico’s Lopez, the former world minimumweight and lightflyweight champion who retired in 2001 with a record of 51-0-1, including 38 KOs.

Pacquiao was the only Asian in the list. No fighter from Europe made it. If you believe that Mayweather is retired from boxing, then Pacquiao is the only active fighter in the roster. That makes his recognition even more significant. No doubt, Pacquiao is a living legend. No other fighter has won eight world titles in eight different divisions and Pacquiao could’ve won 10 if only he didn’t skip the superflyweight and bantamweight divisions. From winning the WBC flyweight crown in 1998, he jumped to the superbantamweight class, claiming the IBF version in 2001.

The Ring said the key victories in Pacquiao’s career were over Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand for the WBC flyweight title, Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF superbantamweight crown, Barrera in their first meeting for the “people’s” featherweight championship in 2003, Morales in their second encounter in 2006, Juan Manuel Marquez in their second bout in 2008, De la Hoya in 2008, Ricky Hatton in 2009, Miguel Cotto in 2009 and Tim Bradley in their rematch last year. His win over Antonio Margarito should’ve been included because Pacquiao won the superwelterweight title in that fight.

“Pacquiao probably was no better than the second best fighter of his era – behind only the unbeaten Mayweather – but nobody has a more robust resume,” said Rosenthal. “Pacman won major world titles in an unprecedented eight divisions from flyweight to junior middleweight, almost half of the 17 weight classes in boxing. He had 17 fights against possible future Hall of Famers, going 12-4-1 in those matchups. He had a record of 6-2-1 in his riveting series against the great Mexican trio of Marquez, Barrera and Morales. And he did it all in dramatic fashion.”

While Pacquiao’s legacy as a boxing icon is secure, his goal is to ride into the sunset of retirement with a world title belt around his waist. That would be a fitting climax to an incredible career. And Pacquiao has a chance to do it in his comeback fight against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

Pacquiao without a world title is like LeBron James without a basketball. Some fans may think he doesn’t need a throne because Pacquiao is bigger than any world championship, if not the fight game itself. But reputation is all about recognition. It wouldn’t be proper to call Pacquiao one of the greatest fighters of all time if he doesn’t retire with a world title. It wouldn’t only be appropriate, it would be rightful.

Last April, Pacquiao put on an impressive performance in flooring Bradley twice on the way to winning a clear unanimous decision. Skeptics downplayed Pacquiao’s showing and said at 37, age was fast catching up with the Filipino, pointing out that he averaged only 37 punches a round compared to 63 in his first meeting with the Desert Storm. But Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said, “he’s capable of a lot more fast combinations, his legs were good, his work ethic is great … he hasn’t missed a beat … this may be the beginning of bringing back the old Manny Pacquiao.”

Vargas, 27, is 10 years younger than Pacquiao and in his most recent outing last March, stopped Sadam Ali in a scintillating display of skill and power. Ali was floored twice before referee Kenny Chevalier stopped it at 2:09 of the ninth.

Pacquiao has more to lose than Vargas in their bout. If Pacquiao wins, Vargas surrenders his WBO title but he’s young and down the road, he’ll get the chance to regain it. If Pacquiao loses, it’ll kill his hopes of a rematch with Mayweather for another big payday and end his dream of retiring with a world title. A loss to Vargas will tarnish his reputation and put a sad footnote to his career. A loss to Pacquiao will mean Vargas bowed to a future Hall of Famer, surely nothing to be ashamed of.

The pressure is on Pacquiao, as challenger, to show he’s still got what it takes to become a world champion. Vargas vowed not to let his fans down. “I’ll make it a great fight,” he said. “I’m going to beat the sh*t out of Pacquiao and then, I’ll be the next star, everyone will be talking about me.”