Manny Pacquiao is Overrated! An Early Look at Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather
Published: Dec 07 2009 by: Nathan Nau
Before Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is Signed... Is There a Chance That Manny Pacquiao is Overrated?
The legacy of Manny Pacquiao has yet to be determined. Will he be remembered as pound for pound one of the greatest fighters in boxing history or for his lavish life style? One thing is certain, the Filipino sensation covets the bright lights, whether it’s winning championships in seven different weight classes, traveling with a giant entourage, being on the cover of Time Magazine or having aspirations of becoming President of the Philippines.
The great mathematician Democritus once stated: “I would rather discover one scientific fact than become King of Persia.” I sadly, but admittedly, will never become the King of Persia or President of the Philippines, but after analyzing Pacquiao’s boxing career one fact becomes apparent – a statistically significant argument can be made that the current pound-for-pound kingpin is either slightly overrated or his opponents have been strategically selected.
One fact that cannot be argued is on average Manny Pacquiao has been fighting opponents that are considerably older, have been recently defeated or are statistically proven to be on the decline. Since his last loss, Pacquiao, 30, has gone on an eleven fight winning streak, with his opponent’s average age being 31. During the winning streak, Pacquiao’s average age at the time each respective bout took place was 28. A three year age advantage may seem minute, but boxers that have consistent success in the lower weight classes typically have tremendous speed. Pacquiao is known for, and does have world-class speed in his repertoire, but does consistently fighting opponents in their early 30’s help protect and even boost his speed advantage?
In addition to an age advantage, statistics prove that Pacquiao has been fighting opponents that have been recently defeated or are on the decline. During his present winning streak, the average winning percentage of Pacquiao’s opponents throughout their entire career is an impressive 94%. However, when further analyzing the data it becomes apparent that the average winning percentage of Pacquiao’s opponents during the five fights leading up to the their respective bout declines to 84% and the average winning percentage of his opponents after their bout took place, not including the loss to Pacquiao, drops to a measly 67%. Considering the data at hand, can the argument be made that Pacquiao is consistently fighting opponents that are older, statistically on the decline and have been recently defeated?
Attacking Pacquiao’s opponents is a logical choice to the argument that he is overrated. Why hasn’t the score been settled with a game and willing Juan Manuel Marquez? Why did Pacquiao fight a recently defeated and in some cases “over-the-hill” Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Marco Antonio Barrera?
Insiders within the sport will profoundly point out that tougher match-ups exist for Pacquiao, such as Shane Mosley or the much younger Andre Berto. Rumors are swirling that Arum and Pacquiao are even interested in moving up to the 154lb division in an attempt to become an eight division world champion. Pacquiao’s opponent of choice in this dangerous move: of course, the unheralded Yuri Foreman. If Pacquiao wants a challenge, how does a David versus Goliath match-up with the giant Paul Williams sound?
On average Manny Pacquiao’s opponents are older, on the decline or carefully selected – certainly. However, what does that really mean? Pacquiao cannot control that his competition are fighting other champions or top contenders, hence the losses, or that Bob Arum is thinking about money, his fighters legacy, and money again when deliberating on his next bout. One thing is certain, Pacquiao is a great fighter and the only outstanding item worth deliberating is where the Filipino phenom ranks versus the legends of boxing?
Presumably, on January 11th, two fighters will be in New York City to announce a mega fight that will take place on March 13 of 2010 and will not only settle the score of who is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world today, but where Pacquiao, and even Floyd Mayweather’s, rightful ranks is among the legends of the sport of boxing. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao would be one of the biggest fights of the last 25 years, undoubtedly.
So is Manny Pacquiao overrated? You can decide for yourself. Keep checking in with ProBoxing-Fans.com for all of the news regarding the potential Pacquiao vs. Mayweather super fight.
Image Credit: Mike Gonzalez/Creative Commons 3.0 License
Kicking off 2010′s mma events is the amazing UFC 108. It’s definitely going to be a great event with the main match being Evans vs Silva going head to head. You can watch ufc 108 online for FREE in full HD without paying that grotty $55.95 PPV cost.
You have hit the nail on the head nothing all that great to me, he throws alot of punches my era fighters would have mopped the floor with him leonard,hagler,hearns and duran all of these greats would have given manny an ass whoopin belive it,strategically picked yes old oscar, never was really that good hatton, beatin up cotto that looked very slow to me but stll messed up mannys face, overrated for sure in my book!May will kick pacquiaos ass easy work.
HAHAHa and yet all those guys you mentioned never got 4 lineal titles or 7 division titles hehehehe jealous, envy but you do have a purpose you make us Pacfans rich hehehehe. keep telling people how sucky pac is. I perfer him to be the underdog anyway I have made over $129,000 betting for pac. Please tell everyone to bet against pac I love the odds. Especially 4 to 1 for Dela Hoya I made a killing hehehehe please be 8 to 1 I dont care. I know who will really win hehehehe!!!
If Pacquiao is overated, why write about him?
Why compare him to Mayweather?
Why are the Mayweathers so desperate to fight Pacquiao?
Why is Pacquiao so loved?
If Pacquiao is overated, ignore him! But you can’t because he isn’t. Otherwise, you could’ve wrote a story about Paris Hilton.
how about being critical of mayflower’s last number of opponents. he escaped with a split decision win against a slower and less active dela hoya a few years back. it is very interesting to see how disfigured the face of arrogant jr. will be after the fgiht.. better think of more excuses once manny beats up ang knocks out floyd mayflower.. if the fight pushes through.
Manny is the best p4p of all time he is the only fighter who catptured championship belts in 4 lineal weight aside from winning belts in 7 division belts, that record alone should have carried him as the all time great. I disagree that if you based it on P4p basis leonard, hearns, Duran , or hagler is greater than him . If you pit them he will give them the fight of their life because of his power and speed plus those blinding powershots at all angles that the quadro great have. The size advantage only comes to them. But when you consider p4p pacquiao is still ahead of them. I even rate him better than sugay ray robinson.
if pacman is over rated, then all the fighters that he beat are nothing but bums that are better off mopping your floors. That would be an insult because the man that beat barrera, morales, marquez, hatton, cotto, de la quitter are merely overrated. Where then is the place of these boxers? To the gutters? You are not insulting the pacman but you are more than degrading these boxers that he beat.
Moreover, writers of ring magazine, yahoo sports, espn, SI and other sports establishments that rated him #1P4P will look like fools and idiots.
But then again, this article’s author is the idiot and the fool, rather than the writers of ring magazine, yahoo sports, ESPN, SI, etc. who have ranked pacman that high.
I totally agree with you and the rest of us who know boxing in its inside and out. The writer of this article is a complete ignorant and never knew what hes talking about…………
Right on Cue bErNiE vEe! Why write about Pac if he is overrated? hehehe.
@David, so does that mean Mayweather is also overrated since he also fought ODLH, Hatton, and JMM? Sheesh…
I can see if he is overrated and just won only 2 world titles but 7 come on writer thats already unbelievable. He is more like underrated for not even makin ESPN’s 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time. Mayweather, Barrerra, Morales & Dela Hoya are all on that list and pac is nowhere to be found. He beat 3 of those fighters I have mentioned and about to Demolish the 4th with his speed, stamina & power!! SO HE IS DEFINITELY UNDERRATED AND FLOYD IS THE ONE OVERRATED!!!
this is the stupedest analogy i have ever read about pacquiao… that he is over-rated. this writer clearly has no future…
take your medicines man!
Plagiarist! You’ve just stolen this idea from stupid writers who wanted traffic in their sites so badly using the Pacman as bait! Get original will you?