The Boxing Writer’s Association of America (BWAA) has named Filipino boxer and seven weight world champion, Manny Pacquiao as ‘Fighter of the Decade.’ He won the award as a result of his ‘dominating performances’ over the last few years. BWAA president Jack Hirsch explained that ‘Pacquiao’s wins were more decisive than those of his counterparts from 2000 to 2009.’ Pacquiao beat off undefeated rivals Floyd Mayweather Jr and Joe Calzaghe to win the prestigious honour.
It is a crowning achievement for the fighter after an exceptional decade in the sport where he arrived as an unknown quantity and became one of the most feared and respected boxers pound for pound in the world today. Pacquiao is the only boxer to win seven world titles in seven weight classes (from flyweight to welterweight) an achievement that looks unlikely to be bettered.
Scoring notable wins over world champions Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, the Filipino phenomenon has proved his credentials for greatness beyond a shadow of a doubt. He has recently turned his attention to politics being elected as a Sarangani congressman in his native country. He plans to retire in September this year to serve his constituents full time. With only one remaining fight and rival to face, the award comes at a nice time to remind him of the high regard fans and experts hold him in.
Pacquiao will be presented with the award at the 85th Annual BWAA Awards Dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Unfortunately his main rival Floyd Mayweather Jr has made some rather unpleasant and disparaging remarks towards Pacquiao and his achievements. It all sounds like sour grapes to me. Mayweather said ‘He beat a Miguel Cotto who got pummelled with a cast and he beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretchered by me…(he) struggled twice, which we really know he got beat, struggled with (Juan Manuel) Marquez, which we know he really lost. Right? And we know he been knocked out twice and he got outboxed by Erik Morales, but then they still give him Boxer of the Decade. So that’s another thing I don’t understand.’
Everyone is clamouring for a Pacquiao versus Mayweather contest later this year. It has been scuppered in the past due to blood testing and general haggling over conditions between the two rivals. Because of the money and that all important word in sports: ‘Legacy’ it has to happen.
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