5 of Manny Pacquiao’s most memorable fights as he calls time on boxing career
Rated as one of the all-time great fighters, Pacquiao was involved in some his era’s all-time classic dust-ups.
Manny Pacquiao has brought the curtain down on a glittering, world title-laden career that spanned 26 years in order to concentrate on a presidential run in his native Philippines.
Rated as one of the all-time great fighters after winning world honours in eight weight classes, Pacquiao was involved in some of his era’s all-time classic dust-ups.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five of Pacquiao’s most memorable fights.
Juan Manuel Marquez – May 2004
Ricky Hatton – May 2009
Miguel Cotto – November 2009
Pacquiao immediately set his sights on welterweight and challenged the formidable WBO titlist Miguel Cotto – although a catchweight of 145lbs was set. Cotto’s power was well-known but Pacquiao’s blurring speed and precise timing was the key, with the Puerto Rican knocked down in the third and fourth rounds and cut to ribbons before the fight was mercifully stopped a couple of minutes before the final bell. Arguably the finest win of his career, this seemed to put Pacquiao on course for a showdown against Floyd Mayweather, which did not materialise until six years later.
Floyd Mayweather – May 2015
Billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’, this long-awaited and much-anticipated contest which earned both pugilists upwards of nine figures underlined Floyd Mayweather’s status as the finest boxer of his generation. Pacquiao was inhibited by a shoulder injury and claimed he won afterwards but scorecards of 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 reflected his rival’s dominance, with Mayweather controlling proceedings with a ramrod jab and straight right. In truth, this event was something of a let down for many observers and, while Pacquiao courted a rematch in the years that followed, Mayweather went in a different direction.
Keith Thurman – July 2019
Having beaten Mayweather’s former protege Adrien Broner earlier in the year, Pacquiao received an unexpected opportunity at unbeaten WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman. Pacquiao rolled back the clock with a fine display in the first few rounds, knocking the Floridian down towards the end of the first three minutes. Thurman rallied in the middle of the fight but was visibly hurt in the 10th by a bruising body shot. Pacquiao was awarded a split decision win, becoming the oldest welterweight champion in history, aged 40.
