Current WBO world welterweight champion and Ring Magazine light welterweight titlist Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao was honored as the fighter of the decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America on Monday.
Pacquiao, the first boxer in history to capture seven crowns in seven different weight divisions, joined Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as the only legendary pugilists to win the coveted award three times.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) indicated to the media that he plans to personally accept his accolade at the 85th boxing writers awards dinner on June 11 in New York City.
“Pac-Man” has long been considered an extremely skilled and accomplished fighter.
However, Pacquiao’s dominating recent performances versus Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) and Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) clearly elevated the Filipino superstar to an iconic status.
Pacquiao was chosen as the fighter of the decade over greats Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
“Manny deserves to be the fighter of the decade,” said Roger “Pit” Perron, 73, a respected boxing trainer from Brockton who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training. “It’s a good choice. I wish he and Mayweather would have fought. But, they will get together sooner or later.”
Pacquiao is next scheduled to defend his crowns against Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey (35-3-0-1, 20 KOs) in March at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Pacquiao just turned 31 this past December.
Although extremely unlikely, if Pacquiao continues to utterly maim the competition for the next five years or so, he may be voted the fighter of this new decade as well.
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Keywords: bernard hopkins, boxing, floyd maywetaher, joe calzaghe, manny pacquiao
