Discipline key to Pacquiao's rise

MANILA, Philippines - Sugar Ray Leonard once said it is a rare feat to win world titles in six different divisions. He’s one of only nine fighters ever to capture championships in five weight classes.

So when Manny Pacquiao halted Ricky Hatton to win his sixth crown in Las Vegas last weekend, Leonard was clearly impressed.

“He deserves all the accolades anyone can give him,” said Leonard. “This is one of those records that, man, it’s a rare, rare feat.”

Pacquiao’s ascension placed him in elite company with Oscar de la Hoya, James Toney, Hector Camacho and Tommy Hearns as the only fighters to claim titles in six categories. But Pacquiao stands out from the rest by being the only fighter ever to win “linear” titles in four divisions – flyweight, featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightwelterweight. Additionally, he has collected “alphabet soup” championships as a superbantamweight and lightweight.

If Pacquiao moves up to annex the welterweight crown, he’ll be the only fighter in history to win seven titles in as many divisions, joining the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson among the sport’s immortals.

Pacquiao’s opportunity may come sooner than later. In June, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto stakes his crown against Joshua Clottey at Madison Square Garden in New York City and if the Puerto Rican retains the throne, it’s likely he’ll face Pacquiao next in late November or early December.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has singled out Cotto as the hottest candidate to be Pacquiao’s next foe. Madison Square Garden and Dubai were mentioned as possible hosts.

Pacquiao, 30, started his pro career as a scrawny 106-pounder in 1995. From the lightflyweight ranks, he has invaded one division after another and last year, stopped De la Hoya in a fight with a weight limit of 147 pounds. In the last 14 months, Pacquiao has fought and won in four weight classes from superfeatherweight to welterweight.

Against Hatton, Pacquiao appeared comfortable in grabbing the lightwelterweight belt. He scaled 138 pounds the day before the bout and 148 when the bell rang. Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao is at his optimum fighting in the lightwelterweight division – for the moment.

“Fighting at 140 pounds is my regular weight and I am very comfortable at that weight,” said Pacquiao, quoted by Dan Rafael of ESPN. “But I can fight at other positions. It’s about discipline. I have disciplined myself so that is why I can fight at heavier weights. If the fight is at 147, I can fight at 147.”

Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza pegged 147 as the absolute limit for his rise in body weight. But as Pacquiao matures, it’s possible he could grow into the lightmiddleweight class which has a weight limit of 154 pounds.

Leonard said the limiting factor in Pacquiao’s invasion of more weight classes is his frame.

“As you go up, the guys you wind up fighting are a lot taller, they have a lot longer reach, they hit harder and they take punches better,” said Leonard. “When I was a welterweight, there were shots I’d hit guys with that I knew they’d go but when I got up in those higher weights and was fighting guys like Marvin (Hagler), I’d hit them with that same shot and they’d grunt and keep coming forward.”

De la Hoya said Pacquiao’s accumulation of six titles has earned his respect.

“To me, I see it as a lot more difficult to jump up through six classes and win than it is to stay in the same class and defend the title there for a long time,” said De la Hoya, quoted by Kevin Iole. “As you go up, you have to deal with stronger fighters with more power but they also have different styles. The bigger guys can fight a lot more different types of styles.

“When you stay in one class, you get used to the speed, you get used to the power and you know what to expect. Each time you jump up, there’s a mental hurdle you have to clear. You ask yourself, ‘Can I do this? Do I have what it takes to handle this kind of a jump? We’re all human, too, and we ask ourselves those questions.”

Leonard said Pacquiao’s latest feat deserves global recognition.

“It’s an amazing, amazing accomplishment and I don’t think people truly grasp how difficult that is to do,” said Leonard, referring to Pacquiao’s collection of six world titles.