Ring hails Pacquiao as decade's best

By NICK GIONGCO
January 25, 2010, 7:09pm

The Ring magazine has named Manny Pacquiao as the best boxer of the 2000s.

In its March 2010 issue, Pacquiao was listed on top ahead of Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Juan Manuel Marquez, Winky Wright, Shane Mosley, Marco Antonio Barrera, Rafael Marquez, and Israel Vazquez.

Eric Raskin, The Ring’s contributing editor, wrote that “as far as we’re concerned, Manny Pacquiao is the only choice for number one.”

“In terms of quality of opposition and success across a broad spectrum of weights, nobody else comes close,” wrote Raskin, noting that in the division rankings,
Pacquiao rated No. 2 at super-bantamweight (122 lbs) and feather (126), first at super-feather (130), fourth at super-lightweight (140), and third at welter (147).

The mere fact that Pacquiao was even voted Fighter of the Year thrice (2006, 2008 and 2009) by The Ring and was 23-1-2 in the 00s, is more than enough to name him as the recipient of the accolade.

“And to name anybody else Fighter of the Decade would be unfathomable,” said Raskin.

Pacquiao’s biggest wins during the decade were those over Barrera (twice), Erik Morales (twice), Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao is revving up for a March 13 defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Joshua Clottey of Ghana at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Source: mb.com.ph