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By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
Boxing superstar Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao ruled Ring Magazine’s
Top 100, a listing of the best boxers for 2008, solidifying his
clout as the world’s finest prizefighter.
Pacquiao improved from his second-place finish
in 2007, succeeding former No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr., who retired
undefeated at welterweight in July.
Speculations are now rife that a convincing
victory by Pacquiao over British world junior welterweight titlist
Ricky Hatton on May 2 would entice Mayweather to return to the ring
for what could be the most lucrative mega fight between the
world’s best fighters.
“The fabulous Filipino icon’s breathtaking
eighth-round stoppage of Oscar De la Hoya last December earned him
legitimate comparisons to the great Henry Armstrong,” said Ring,
referring to the legendary boxer who held simultaneous titles in
three weight classes.
Pacquiao won the World Boxing Council junior
lightweight and lightweight titles and then demolished De la Hoya at
welterweight. De la Hoya, a 10-time world champion in six different
weight classes, is also the world’s most popular prizefighter.
“Pacquiao, a former flyweight titleholder who
had never fought above 135 pounds, was not only the faster man in
his welterweight debut against De la Hoya, but the stronger man, the
harder puncher and the smarter!
“The version of the ‘PacMan’ who dominated
De la Hoya is far removed from the left-hand-happy puncher he used
to be. Pacquiao now uses both hands to equal effect and can play
cautious or aggressive depending on the situation,” said the
magazine, which is considered “the Bible of Boxing.”
It noted how Pacquiao used a mix of strategies
to narrowly decision Juan Manuel Marquez in March to snatch his
world junior lightweight belt, then blitzed overmatched David Diaz
via a ninth-round knockout in his lightweight debut in June to win
his second title belt in a span of three months.
Ranked second in the listing is Marquez, who is
bidding to get another shot at Pacquiao should Marquez beat fellow
Mexican Juan Diaz, a three-time world lightweight champion.
In third place is undefeated British
middleweight and light heavyweight star Joe Calzaghe, followed by
ageless American light heavyweight icon Bernard Hopkins and Mexican
junior featherweight sensation Israel Vazquez.
The only other Filipino in the top 25 of the Top
100 list is International Boxing Federation flyweight titlist Nonito
Donaire Jr., who is ranked 17th.
“Much to our disappointment, [Donaire] only
fought twice in the past 18 months, but looked sensational in
dominating Luis Maldonado [knockout in the eighth round] and solid
in turning back Moruti Mthalane [technical knockout in the sixth
round].
“[His] confidence has soared in the wake of
career-defining win over Vic Darchinyan in 2007, and it’s turned
the 25-year-old Filipino into a flyweight force. Now he just needs
to get busier, which he expects to now that he’s switched
promoters from Gary Shaw to Top Rank,” the magazine said.
Ring said an intriguing 115-pound challenge to
belt-holder Fernando Montiel or a battle with tough veteran Jose
Lopez for Montiel’s vacated World Boxing Organization title in the
Philippines this March has been discussed but nothing has been
agreed on.
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