Powered by:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
Contains commercial content
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / If I Were a Boxing Matchmaker: Manny Pacquiao

If I Were a Boxing Matchmaker: Manny Pacquiao

If I ran his career
Publish Date: 10/13/2019
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Howdy folks. Today I’d like to discuss some potential match ups for a legendary fighter.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39 KOs)

There’s not a whole lot that I can say about this great that most everybody doesn’t already know, but I will give my two cents anyways. This man is a living legend and unquestionably a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee. There are not too many notable names in the business that Pacquiao hasn’t been in the ring with. Pacman has squared off with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez four times, Marco Antonio Barrera twice, Eric Morales three times, Timothy Bradley three times, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios, Chris Algieri, Floyd Mayweather, Jessie Vargas, Jeff Horn, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner, Oscar Larios, Chatchai Sasakul, Keith Thurman, and others. There are about eight or more potential, or current Hall of Famers on this list, and many more past titleholders that he has put the gloves on with.

Pacquaio has technically won titles in eight weight divisions his resume is one of the best that this sport has ever seen. We all know that Manny is past his prime, but how many boxers can still perform at an elite level like this man has at his age? Considering he can still defeat top level opposition, why not keep going?

He makes millions of dollars any time he steps into the ring, yet probably gives away half of it to homeless people in the Philippines. Let’s see what some more suitable match ups for this living legend are.

#1 Matchup: Errol Spence 26-0 (21 KOs)

This is assuming Spence recovers fully, as was stated by PBC

Errol Spence is currently the number one welterweight according to all major ranking boards after the tough victory over Shawn Porter. He is also the IBF and WBC belt-holder. Manny Pacquaio is the WBA titleholder. This would be a major challenge for an aged veteran like Pacquiao, but is there really a challenge that has been put forth for Manny that has turned out bad? Usually when a veteran is faded, you tend to assume the worst and it typically ends about exactly the way you anticipate, especially when you’re in the ring with an elite fighter. The good thing about this, is I’ve never been overly concerned for “Pacman”. He doesn’t really seem to ever look completely shot. His legs are still under him and his wits still seem intact.

Considering that he still has enough left in the tank, this could be an interesting match. Pacquaio is the faster of the two and has a high work rate. This can pose some problems for Spence, if Pacquaio can still pull the trigger. Spence is the bigger guy, but it’s pretty rare to see Manny really hurt. We would see if an aged legend is enough to defeat a rising star. This would be perfect in Dallas at AT&T Stadium.

#2 Matchup: Terence Crawford 35-0 (26 KOs)

Questions are going to continue to linger until we can finally get some more clarification on who the best in this division is and nearly every other division in boxing. Can we PLEASE STOP THE BULLSHIT and just get these shows on the road? This has actually started to heat up and get exciting for all of us fans, with the recent pairings of Pacquaio versus Thurman match and the Spence versus Porter match. We all just want it to continue and hope it does. A round robin with these elite athletes is just a recipe for success and we are proving what can happen when you pin the best against the best. It provides great entertainment.

However, leaving a guy like Terence Crawford out of the mix is just criminal, so let’s get some negotiations going and complete the puzzle. As far as how this match would go, it would be very interesting to see if Crawford can match the punch output and speed of Pacquaio. Crawford would most likely try to stay at distance and wait for the counter shots on Manny, but he might have to turn it into a bit of a fire fight like Thurman had to, which would be very intriguing to watch. Las Vegas would be a good landing spot for this match, or what about a place like Colorado Springs where Crawford trains? Can’t think of a big match that has been set up there ever. Many people from the Colorado Springs and Denver area can fill up a big stadium like the Air Force academy. There are many former Olympians, you could add to this card, as Colorado Springs, is where Olympic training is.

#3 Matchup: Danny Garcia 35-2 (21 KOs)

Danny Garcia is still a formidable opponent in the welterweight division. He can match up well against all of the top boxers at 147, or even some coming up from 140 to 147. Basically, don’t count him out against anybody right now. I know he lost to both Thurman and Porter, but he was still competitive. Pacquiao and Garcia are top-7 welterweights right now and this would keep both men in line to fight other elite welterweights for Championship pedigree.

Pacquaio’s key’s to victory are to use his speed and his in-and-out style to pressure and outwork Garcia. Garcia needs to use his catch-and-counter style to catch Manny with a few big shots. The problem is that Pacquaio has a legitimate beard and Garcia can’t count on one big punch to stop the “Pacman”. He will need to up his work rate drastically. Still an interesting matchup and would be great to land in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, or New York.

#4 Matchup: Shawn Porter 30-3-1 (17 KOs)

Although Shawn Porter defeated Danny Garcia, I think the Danny Garcia bout would be an easier match for Pacquaio and probably get the same credibility for the win, or loss. Also, Shawn Porter is more of a bruiser than Garcia, which keeps Manny’s body a little fresher. This could be an interesting match from the standpoint of seeing if Shawn Porter can actually wear down a guy like Pacquaio. Would this end up being too taxing for Manny, or can Pacquaio stay far enough away, using angles and his in and out movement to pepper Porter with his speed? Both men are currently top-5 welterweights, so this would put either one in a position to fight on a championship level again. This would be good to set up in New York, or Las Vegas.

#5 Matchup: Amir Khan 34-5 (21 KOs)

This might not seem like the most interesting bout now, but a few years back this was being discussed as a potential match. Which could have been a good one had it happened. I have still heard some small rumors about this happening not too long ago, so I think it could still be worth talking about. Even at this point in time of his career, Amir Khan still has some international pull when it comes to fans and generating revenue. Which is why this could be a possibility.

Both have respectable reputations in the fight game and both are past their primes. I would still be interested in this match, even right now. Both are very fast and it would be fun to watch these little speed demons go at it. The biggest question, obviously, is Khan’s chin. If Pacquiao can catch Khan clean, he goes down. However, Khan can make it interesting if he can move and stay away from Pacquaio with his quick combinations. This would especially be relevant if Manny Pacquaio cannot bribe Floyd Mayweather out of retirement, or if he were to lose to any of the other titleholders. I don’t think Floyd is coming out of retirement, otherwise I would have put him in this spot, but you never know if his funds start running short. This could be a huge money maker in the U.K. where everyone would show up; or in the Middle East somewhere, since they seem to want to spend some big money on entertainment (Joshua versus Ruiz), or in the Philippines where the entire country would probably tune in. Or even in China, or in Las Vegas.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
BetMGM Promo
Every NFL team’s best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame- NFC East
The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the greatest players in NFL ...
Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes
Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Active NFL players in 2019 who will make the Hall of Fame- NFC East
I tried to include as many players worthy of consideration for the ...
Active NFL players in 2019 who will make the Hall of Fame- NFC West
I tried to include as many players worthy of consideration for the ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
NFL Week 13 Quarterback Power rankings: A New number one!
Goff's brave resilience has won him fans in ...
Top 10 Dirtiest Boxers of All Time
Dirty boxing was more prevalent in the early ...
Top 10 Left-Handed Pitchers in Baseball History
Two hundred eighty-eight victories, there are currently only ...
Betting Tips
11/29/2023 - 7:15 pm
Chapel Hill
Tip:
North Carolina to Cover
-1.50
FanDuel
11/26/2023 - 4:30 pm
Gainbridge
Tip:
Harvard to Cover
6.50
FanDuel
11/25/2023 - 12:00 pm
Michigan Sradium
Tip:
Ohio State to Cover
4.00
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Video: Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Video: SEC Championship Georgia vs Alabama: Preview and Prediction
SEC Championship Georgia vs Alabama: Preview and Prediction
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 Instantly
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
$1000 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Place your first cash bet up to $1,000, and if the bet loses, you will have your wager refunded in Bonus Bets. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+10
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
aukje
aukje
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
berina
berina
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site