I'm sure plenty of Herald - aholics and die hard Pacquiao fans by now have filled Mr. Dan Horgan's email box up. After reading Horgan's pound for pound list, and seeing the UK's Joe Calzaghe leading the PAC (no pun intended) on the pound for pound list, I had to throw in my two cents as to why I think the Irish Bostonian has it wrong.
Yes, yes, yes my friend Dan, Calzaghe is 45-0. He compiled this record over a long stretch of time. He's been a champion for 10 years. Ten years is a long time, but I ask this question. Who has Calzaghe fought and defended his title against for those ten years? Other than recent fights against Jeff Lacy, Peter Manfredo Jr, Mikkel Kessler, and an older and much less dangerous Bernard Hopkins, who has he fought? That older and much less dangerous Bernard Hopkins gave Calzaghe all he could handle! Ten years is a long time, but can anyone other than a die hard Calzaghe fan name who he's fought (besides those who I just mentioned) and defended his title against? No cheating either, no boxrec.com!
Calzaghe has fast hands, but he slaps when he punches and nobody respects his power. Joe Calzaghe FINALLY left his nest and took a fight in America when he fought Bernard Hopkins. A champion for ten years, and he never defended his title in enemy territory?
Manny Pacquiao a FIVE division world champion has fought and beat EVERY recent Mexican legend in the sport of boxing. Erik Morales (twice), Marco Antonio Barrera (twice) Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar Larios (former world champion) and a recent thrashing over lightweight world champion David Diaz. How many multi divisional world titles has Joe Calzaghe grabbed? Oh, I did mention Pacquiao has conquered world titles in FIVE divisions, didn't I? I thought so.
To me, in order to be labeled as the pound for pound greatest in the world, you better have disposed of some legends in the process -- that's plural, legendS. Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat Oscar De La Hoya, and then he introduced Ricky Hatton's face to the canvass by way of his fist, then the turnbuckle. Then mix in Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, and Jose Luis Castillo. How many divisional world titles has Mayweather grabbed? Five? How many has Pacquiao grabbed? Five? Oh yeah, I said that already, didn't I?
Let's talk skills now. Calzaghe to me is a very fast handed fighter, BUT, he slaps when he punches. In my opinion, he has not crafted his game, and he has not excelled as a fighter over time. Manny Pacquiao on the other hand has developed and crafted his game as his career has progressed. Training under Freddie Roach, Pacquiao has developed a very dangerous right hand. Pacquiao is fast, he doesn't slap, he punches, and his punches have bad intentions.
In my opinion, there is no way that Joe Calzaghe should be ahead of Manny Pacquiao on the pound for pound greatest list. I look at skills, opponents, and accomplishments. Let's compare the two fighters accomplishments.
Joe Calzaghe
10 year world champion
1 division – super middleweight
Editor's note: Calzaghe won the linear light heavyweight championship from Bernard Hopkins, although no title belts were fought for.
Notable victories:
Peter Manfredo Jr
Jeff Lacy – former world champion
Mikkel Kessler – former world champion
Bernard Hopkins – former world champion
Manny Pacquiao
World champion in FIVE different divisions
Notable victories over legends such as:
Erik Morales (twice) former world champion
Marco Antonio Barrera (twice) - former world champion
Juan Manuel Marquez - former world champion
David Diaz - former world champion
Oscar Larios - former world champion
SKILLS
Pacquiao extreme speed, power, and now he has power in both hands.
Calzaghe only has fast hands.
PACQUIAO IS THE POUND FOR POUND GREATEST!
questions/comments – bradcooney1@bellsouth.net
