By Jaime Ortega: Based on overall performance, the best welter in the past four years without a question of a doubt is Keith Thurman. He fought the toughest prospects coming up on the welterweight division and his resume consist of a variety of boxing styles which showboat his overall talent. He fought a dangerous boxer on Diego Chaves who offers a blend of technique with brawling, and gave him his first loss via body knockout. He also made Luis Collazo quit the fight – an achievement no other boxer has accomplished. He then took on Shawn Porter, and beat him via UD; he took on undefeated Danny Garcia, and gave him his first loss. Thurman remains the best boxer in the welterweight division based on his four year performance.
However, the most dangerous fighter is not Thurman, but Manny Pacquiao until the unifying champ beats him – a task that won’t be by any means easy. A lot of people sleep on Pacquiao assuming he no longer remains a threat to the welterweight division. They don’t treat Pacquiao like a legend, or a hall of famer, but as an average old fighter – a big mistake! Yet, Pacquiao toyed with Timothy Bradley on his retirement fight, and he cruised through Jessy Vargas who presented power and reach. Let’s not forget how Bradley struggled with Vargas, and how Vargas knocked out Saddam Ali – Ali a highly skillful opponent now on his way back to the ranks. Vargas and Bradley give anyone trouble – that includes Thurman, Errol Spence Jr., and Kell Brook — and Pacquiao dominated both fighters.
Everyone gives Errol Spence Jr. the title of best welter based on his performance against Chris Algieri and Leonard Bundu; two average boxers who frankly lack quality in many departments – one old and the other a pillow puncher. What casual boxing fans fail to realize is Bundu often connected punches against Errol’s face, but the power gap between the two made the big difference in the end of the fight. Errol broke down an old boxer, but he did it in brutal fashion and it looked crisp. Just because Joe Smith Jr. knocked out old Bernard Hopkins out of his chair is it mean he will destroy Adonis Stevenson, Arthur Beterbiev, Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev? Absolutely not and same logic applies to Errol beating Bundu or Algeri.
The most technical inside boxer outside of Vasyl Lomachenko, Arthur Beterbiev, Srisaket Sor Runvisai and Guillermo Rigondeaux is without a question of a doubt Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s inside game allowed him to move up different weight classes and out-swarm his opponents — an achievement none of the other boxers listed above have replicated. Pacquiao has the best inside game in boxing, and fighting him on the inside is nothing short of strategically suicide. No boxer goes toe to toe the first fight with Manny Pacquiao and wins in the exchanges. It took Juan Manuel Marquez one draw and two losses to finally catch Pacquiao off duty and knock his soul out. Erik Morales was successful, but as soon as Pacquiao learned how to use both hands, Morales was destroyed.
I highly doubt Errol would go toe to toe with Pacquiao, and win in the exchanges while his face is open. I say it again, and I will say it know; Floyd Mayweather Jr., had the defensive edge to utilize his sense of distance and set the jab to outpoint Pacquiao. Errol has no defensive edge, he likes to come recklessly – to some extent Errol is actually like a prime Pacquiao — he first sets the jab or a body punch and then throw bombs on a fixed position when he moves forward. Errol relishes mowing down his opponents, but that will end the moment he faces a serious elite counterpuncher, then his style will change. The way Errol presently fights he would get repeatedly countered by Pacquiao in the exchanges. It would be akin Danny Garcia with Keith Thurman, Pacquiao’s foot movement and angles are till by far the most acute in the welterweight division and he is experienced whereas Errol is not.
Pacquiao would also outbox Kell Brook. Brook offers better head movement than Errol – only based on the low grade European fighters he faced — and throws his counters with precession and good timing, but he wouldn’t last toe to toe with Pacquiao. Once again, Pacquiao experienced all styles of boxing, and he would be able to counter Brook without much problem. Brook has not faced an elite boxer puncher, his battle with Shawn Porter does not determine his pedigree or how it would play into Pacquiao’s hands. Pacquiao might not be Floyd Jr., but he knows how to box almost better than any welter, and he would not lose a boxing match against Brook. Also Kenny Porter explained a year ago how Shawn sparred with Pacquiao and learned, but he wasn’t successful when Pacquiao turned the gear on and adjustments needed to be made. Brook’s foot movement is good, but he can’t turn in the angles like Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is still the most dangerous boxer in the division, to think otherwise is actually weird. He might be old, but the way he handled Vargas and Bradley shows he is still in good shape and can beat anyone. Don’t sleep on Pacquiao, he might not be Floyd, but he is still the legend and the man to watch out in the division. His hands are fast, and he is still quick – don’t bet against him.