By Mark Hepplestall: This article is a follow up article, to one posted by another writer on this site which I felt was one sided in highlighting only certain facts about Manny Pacquiao’s past career. The correct facts in this article conclude that in fact Manny Pacquiao has fought more African Americans then he has Europeans.
Firstly I would like to point out that there is very few evidence that supports the argument that Manny Pacquiao has evaded African American boxers in any weight.
At Flyweight in the world top 20 there are 11 fighters from the Far East and 5 South Americans, which will explain why his early record consists of mostly Mexicans and Far East boxers. There is only 1 American in that weight division who is from Hawaii; there are no African Americans and only Moruti Mthalane from South Africa.
Next at super flyweight the rankings show only 1 American in the top 20 which is Raul Martinez who is Hispanic, 9 South Americans and 7 fighters from the Far East plus 2 South Africans and a European boxer, once again a weight limit with no African Americans in the world’s top 20.
At super bantamweight the rankings show once again that the majority of boxers in the Top 20 are from the Far East with 9, there is 1 Canadian, 2 British boxers, 3 South Americans and 2 South Africans and 2 Hispanic Americans. Once again a weight limit with no African Americans in the top 20.
Next at Featherweight the records include 4 boxers from the Far East, 11 South Americans, 4 Hispanic Americans and 1 Australian. This is a division known for Mexican boxers dominating; names include Marquez, Morales and Barrera. However once again there were no African American boxers in the top 20. Looking for the first African American boxer in the rankings at Featherweight it took as long as 34th in the world.
The super featherweight has never been a division dominated by a specific race, country or continent and includes a good mix. The records include 2 South Africans, 5 South Americans, 5 from the Far East, 5 European’s and 3 Hispanic Americans. There are no African Americans in the top 20 but the first African American to be found in the world rankings for Super featherweight is Mickey Bey Jr at 62nd in the world.
More recently the Lightweight division has been ruled by South Americans and this shows through the rankings as there are 7 South Americans in the top 20 of the world, and then 5 Hispanic Americans (not included with the south Americans), there are also 2 Australians, 2 British boxers, and 2 boxers from the Far East, and lastly 2 boxers from African Nations (South Africa and Namibia). The first African American boxer in the rankings is at number 38 and is Anthony Peterson.
It is at the Light – Welterweight division were there are actually African Americans in the top 20 of the world, it is worth mentioning that Manny Pacquiao only fought once at this weight against the strongest champion at that time in Ricky Hatton, in the top 20 there are 5 South Americans and 6 African Americans with 3 other Americans, 2 Africans nations, 3 British boxers and lastly 1 European boxer. It is worth mentioning that not only are African Americans dominating here but it’s the majority American boxers dominating in this division with 2 of the 4 world recognised belts held by African Americans.
At Welterweight there is no dominating nation, continent or race, the world rankings show that there are in fact 4 African Americans in the top 20 and 1 Hispanic American. There are also 8 European boxers in the top 20, 3 South American boxers, one boxer from the Far East and 3 boxers from African nations. In this weight limit Pacquiao has fought three times against Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey. African American boxers in this weight limit include Floyd Mayweather Jr who have contract indifferences with Manny Pacquiao, there is Andre Berto who is just not a big draw even though he is rated number 2 in the world, also Mike Jones who is set up to fight Kell Brook. Also there is Randall Bailey who really isn’t worth mentioning with a big 7 loses on his record.
Lastly at Light middleweight which is Pacquiao’s 8th and last weight limit there are 7 South Americans in the world rankings, with 1 boxer from the Middle East, one boxer from the Far East. There are also 4 European boxers in the top 20. Lastly at this weight limit there are 7 Americans the majority Hispanic with only 2 African American. At this limit the biggest draw would be Shane Mosley but he has been on the slide for the last few years only beating Antonio Margarito, losing badly to Mayweather Jr and had the judges save his blushes against Sergio Mora.
Lastly this is not an article that is aimed at putting down any particular race; it is just a reply to an article that suggested that Pacquiao avoided African American boxers because they are superior to all. The reasons why Pacquiao has not fought that many African Americans are purely down to coincidence. The fact that there are not many if any African Americans in the lower weight limits comes into play and the fact Bradley and Alexander were not world champions or even on the world title scene when Pacquiao fought Hatton is an important factor. The only Competitive fight out there is Mayweather Jr Vs Pacquiao.
Comments are closed.