By Bryan Derbigny: It is well known that from ‘1999 to 2007, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been the best pound-for-pound boxer in the sport. Mayweather may not have fought who you thought was the best, but he has fought some good opponents. During that time, Mayweather has dominated pretty much everyone he got into the ring with. His first fight with Jose Luis Castillo in April 2002 was a questionable win, but Mayweather followed that up with a unanimous decision win in the rematch in December 2002 (even though he weighed in 9 lbs less).

Unlike Pacquiao, who had a controversial first fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in their first fight in 2004, and even more controversial fight in the second bout with Marquez in March 2008. Pacquiao also wouldn’t give Marquez another rematch still to this day.

I don’t think Mayweather’s fight with Oscar De La Hoya should have been a 12 round split decision and other analysts and so called experts don’t either. But if you ask a De La Hoya or Pacquiao fans, they for some unexplainable reason think De La Hoya won.

Mayweather fought Zab Judahin April 2006, who was coming off of a loss to Carlos Baldomir in his previous fight in January 2006, but Mayweather turned around beat Baldomir worse then he beat Judah.

Pacquiao fought Erik Morales two more times after losing to him in their first fight in March 2005. Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barerra for a second time after Barrera had been beaten in his previous fight by Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2007.

Pacquiao fought Joshua Clottey after Manny had already beaten Cotto, who had previously beaten Clottey last year in June by a 12 round decision. What kind of sense does that make?
David Diaz was awarded the WBC lightweight title in August 2008, and some say he lost to Erik Morales before Diaz fought Pacquiao in 2008.

Pacman’s resume, if you break it down, is filled with very smart choices in terms of matchmaking. I think since Mayweather has been back from his 2-year retirement, he has been the pound-for-pound king and also the better fighter. Mayweather’s PPV numbers and compubox scores tell you that.

Not until after Mayweather’s one-sided 12 round unanimous decision win over Shane Mosley on May 1st did people start calling Mosley old. Do you guys blame old age for Mosley not hitting Mayweather once in the 4th round? You discredit Mayweather, but give Pacquiao credit for what he did to De La Hoya. That was a final pay day for De La Hoya. We all know that he had no reason being in that ring by that point in his career.

Pacquiao won “Fighter of the Year” because he fought two fighters – Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto – last year and Mayweather fought one – Juan Manuel Marquez.

I think Pacquiao won “Fighter of the Decade” only because Mayweather didn’t fight the whole decade. But when it is all said and done in November, Pacquiao will go down as a great warrior. Mayweather will go down as one of the best to lace them up in this era. I have this fight looking the same way as the Mosley fight. Then Mayweather can retire for good, and then comeback and beat WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan when they pump him up like they did Pacquiao. Manny can fight and beat Cotto again in a rematch, and get the support from his fans and go out with his head held high.