Manny Pacquiao has boxed in over 70 fights; he has one more left

Stating the obvious, for a while, Manny Pacquiao was a great fighter.

After that, he was very good.

Born into poverty 47 years ago, Pacquiao has been fighting for 30 years.

Shockingly, he’s set to meet rival Floyd Mayweather in a rematch later this year. The fight, like their first one 11 years ago, is a bit late happening. (a bit of sarcasm)

Both fighters are almost 50 years old and past their best years. It’s a money grab for sure. The fight fits today’s destruction of the sweet science, thanks to Jake Paul and others. Boxing is more WWE than WBC.

Pacquiao has held championships for an astonishing four decades.

The Filipino is the first professional boxer to capture titles in four of the original eight weight divisions, namely flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.

In 1998, Pacquiao, still a teenager, won the WBC flyweight title with a victory over Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand.

Outboxed for seven rounds, Pacquiao cornered Sasakul in round eight and uncorked a wicked left that knocked the champion out. Pacquiao lost his title soon after, but moved up to super bantamweight.

Pacquiao made his American fighting debut when he challenged favored IBF super bantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.

Ledwaba, a loser once in 34 fights, was expected to defeat the little-known Pacquiao. Didn’t happen. Pacquiao stopped Ledwaba in six rounds.

In 2003, he met highly respected Marco Antonio Barrera in Texas. Many experts considered Barrera the best fighter in the featherweight division. The oddsmakers agreed, installing him as a 3-1 favorite.

Pacquiao made them look like fools, dominating Barrera for 10 rounds and stopping him in the 11th.

In 2008, Pacquiao fought fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez for the second time in Sin City. Their first encounter, four years earlier, had ended in a draw, though Pacquiao floored Marquez three times in the second round.

Pacquiao was hurt early in the rematch but knocked Marquez down in round three. The Mexican great rallied late, but Pacquiao got the nod and picked up the WBC super featherweight title.

A few months later, he was back in Vegas, easily defeating David Diaz to claim the WBC lightweight title.

Less than a year later, he brutally knocked IBO super lightweight champion Ricky Hatton into dreamland in two rounds.

Pacquiao ended 2009 by moving up to welterweight to challenge the talented Miguel Cotto. He pocketed the WBO belt after stopping Cotto in 12 one-sided rounds.

The Ring Magazine chose Pacquiao as their Fighter of the Year for 2008 and 2009.

In Texas, Pacquiao faced the much bigger Antonio Margarito. The vacant WBC super welterweight belt was up for grabs. Pacquiao took some wicked body shots, but punished Margarito’s face and body for 12 grueling rounds.

Pacquiao lost a controversial decision to Timothy Bradley (I had Pacquiao winning) and was knocked out by Marquez. He regained his championship status by defeating WBO champ Bradley in a rematch in 2014. He lost the title to Floyd Mayweather but recaptured it.

Seven years ago, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight champion ever when he edged Keith Thurman over 12 intense rounds. Thurman’s pre-fight blather got under Pacquiao’s skin.

Pacquiao came after Thurman and floored him in the opening stanza. Thurman worked his back into the fight until a Pacquiao body shot slowed him down. With the victory, Pacquiao became the first four-time welterweight champion.

Pacquiao,45, came out of retirement to face WBC titleholder Mario Barrios last year. Many had him winning the fight, though the judges ruled it a draw.

Mayweather is next. Many will say they won’t be watching, but on fight night, more will be glued to their TVs.