MANNY vs FLOYD

A Resume Brawl for it all

Ok, for over a year now, everyone who has anything to do with boxing has only talked about the fight that has yet to happen. Manny vs Floyd, and with the boxing calendar a little light here in the beginning of 2011, I wanted do something that would put these two fighters against one another in any way I could. This article will compare each man`s last 10 opponents and a few notables, giving us a 12 round decision and hopefully answers some questions about each one`s career.

Round 1

We last saw Manny Pacquiao in November fighting Antonio Margarito. The last time Floyd Mayweather Jr was in action was last May vs Shane Mosley. This is an easy round one victory for Floyd based on the fact that Mosley and Margarito squared off against each other in January of 2009 and Mosley came away with the 9th rd TKO. Even if these two never fought it would be hard for anyone to say that Margarito was better than Mosley, So the nod goes to Mosley and Round 1 goes to Floyd.

Floyd 1 - Manny 0

Round 2

In Sept of 2009 Floyd Mayweather unretired from boxing and came back to fight one of the best in the world in Juan Manuel Marquez. In March of 2010 Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey came together for the 1st fight ever in Cowboys stadium in Arlington Texas. Again, this is a no brainer. Marquez has a Hall of Fame career and still is a world champion and Clottey is a basic unknown outside of the boxing world. Hands down, the nod goes to Marquez and again the round goes to Floyd.

Floyd 2 - Manny 0

Round 3

It was after Pacquiao`s brawl in Las Vegas with Miguel Cotto that all the Manny vs Floyd rumors really started flying. Pacquiao and Cotto Tangled at the MGM Grand in Vegas in November of 2009. Floyd Mayweather`s last fight before his brief retirement was against a tough little guy from England named Ricky Hatton. This scrap also took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in December of 2007. Cotto has always been one of My favorite fighters and with his technical skill, speed and power he easily gets the nod over Ricky Hatton, who was good, not great and probably a little overrated in My book. Cotto gets the "W" and Pacquiao gets on the board.

Floyd 2 - Manny 1

Round 4

In what was the highest grossing PPV ever and a very hyped up fight, Floyd Mayweather took on Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in May of 2007. (Because of Floyd`s retirement, the years in which this list is compiled are off, but remember, its the last 10 opponents in reverse order so bare with Me.) In May of 2009 Manny Pacquiao (In a very short fight, which I attended) faced off with Ricky Hatton. De La Hoya - Hatton? The Golden Boy vs Ricky Fatton? Need I say more?

Floyd 3 - Manny 1

Harold Lederman, How do you have it? (Lederman`s voice in you`re head) "Ok Joe, 3 rounds to 1, 30-27 Floyd Mayweather Jr, based on a few no brainers. Manny Pacquiao took on some tough opponents but Floyd defeated guys with a better resume and that’s what this is all about, JOE!!"

Round 5

In November of 2006 Floyd Mayweather took on a tough old man by the name of Carlos Baldomir at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. In December of 2008 Manny Pacquiao (in what many said was a mismatch) fought an old man in Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM in Vegas. At the time of these bouts it would have been a tough old man vs an old man but this is a comparison of resumes and there is no one in the world picking Baldomir over De La Hoya. Nod to ODLH, round goes to Pac.

Floyd 3 - Manny 2

Round 6

April 2006 the world saw a good fight with a lot of craziness at the Thomas and Mack center in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather fought "Super" Zab Judah. In June of 2008 Pacquiao took on WBC lightweight champ David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas and there was no craziness. Looking back, Zab has had a better career and fought alot of bigger names and has more significant wins than Diaz, so the nod goes to Zab and another round to Floyd.

Floyd 4 - Manny 2

Round 7

At the Rose Garden in Portland Oregon, the home of the Portland Trailblazers, Floyd Mayweather and Sharmba Mitchell tangled in November of 2005. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez had 2 unbelievably close fights and this was the 2nd of the two. Pacquiao Marquez II happened back in March of 2008 at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas. Look, I said it earlier-Marquez is a Hall of Fame caliber fighter. Mitchell has some nice names on his list but lost all of his significant fights. Marquez wins the battle and Pacquiao wins the round.

Floyd 4 - Manny 3

Round 8

Living in the Tri-state area (NY, NJ, Conn) made it very hard not to root for Arturo Gatti. He was our local hero and when He fought Floyd Mayweather in His backyard (Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey) in June of 2005, He had every one of us behind him. October 2007 was the 2nd and final installment of the Pacquiao-Barrera series. The Mandalay Bay resort Las Vegas was the venue. As much as I loved Gatti and made the 2-hour trip to Atlantic City on a few occasions, I could never hold His resume above Marco Antonio Barrera. These are two different class of fighters in the ring. Rest in Peace Arturo, Barrera gets the nod, Pacquiao evens then bout. Tissue please..... sniff, sniff.

Floyd 4 - Manny 4

Round 9

Ok, this may have been the closest round. In January of 2005 at the American Airlines arena in Miami Florida (Lebron`s house), Floyd took on Henry Bruselles?? In San Antonia Texas at the Alamodome (Home of the Spurs) Manny Pacquiao fought Jorge Solis?? I know, I know, I told you this one was close....LOL. Ok, I Based this on 2 things, their Record and the fact that neither man had ever held a world title. Jorge Solis won a world title after fighting Pacquiao and Bruselles has never held a world title before or after fighting Floyd, I`m giving the nod to Solis. I know it’s a toss up but its not like Judge Eugenia Williams giving the 1st Lewis-Holyfield fight to Evander!!! Kill Me! Pac takes the lead.

Manny 5 - Floyd 4

Round 10

Again, this is another no-brainer. In May 2004 Floyd fought and decisioned Demarcus "Chop Chop" Corley at the Home of Arturo Gatii, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City New Jersey. In January of 2006 at His 2nd home (MGM Grand, Las Vegas) Pacquiao took on and Destroyed "El Teribble" Erik Morales in their 3rd brawl together. Corley has 15 losses in his career with no notable wins except for a decision over Randall Bailey in 2003. This isn’t even close, Erik Morales is a Hall of Famer and should stop fighting now because it can only hurt his fantastic resume from this point forward. Morales the nod, Pacquiao the round and up by two.

Manny 6 - Floyd 4

The last 4 rounds have been a clean sweep for Pacquiao. After being down 4-2, Pacquiao has spun past Floyd to take a 6-4 lead on the scorecards, but we`ll go to some notable bouts before these 10 just for good measure. (Championship Rounds)

On Floyd`s resume before these 10, He had 2 bouts with Jose Luis Castillo, 1 with Diego Corrales (R.I.P.) and 1 with Angel Manfreddy. On Manny`s resume, He fought Erik Morales 2 more times and His 1st bouts with Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera

You can make arguments either way but at the end of the day, Manny Pacquiao Fought the Guys with better resumes and Hall of Fame potential. It doesn’t determine who would win should Pacquiao and Mayweather ever get it on in the ring but it does answer some questions about their respective careers.

Harold, How do you Have it? (Again, Lederman’s voice in you’re head) "Ok Joe, 7 rounds to 5, 115-113 Manny Pacquiao. I had the fight the same through 10 but I gave Floyd one of the Championship rounds because I like Castillo and Corrales and because Floyd remained undefeated but in the end it’s Pacquiao with the Victory... JOE!"

Thank You Harold, You’ve said it all.