By Gerardo Granados: Let me ask the reader, which are the major boxing governing bodies? Some are older than the others and some are more recognized and prestigious, I guess we all can agree that the major ones are the World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO); but there are more: IBO (International Boxing Organization), WBF (World Boxing Foundation), WBF (World Boxing Federation), WBU (World Boxing Union), IBA (International Boxing Association), IBC (International Boxing Council), IBU (International Boxing Union).
All this are boxing governing bodies as I just mentioned, now I´ll ask again to the reader, if a prizefighter battles for a championship title (paper title – vacant title – or picks an easier opponent not fighting against the number one ranked – or even worst fights against a non previously ranked in the division) do that makes him the real champion of the weight division if he wins the alphabet title that he disputed?
Ok, let me begin by making clear that I don’t hate Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. As I have previously stated in an old article I admire and respect Pacman as a man and as a fighter, but, I don’t believe this story about him been the only boxer to become champion in eight different weight divisions. I will never criticize what the congressman has accomplished as a human been, the urban legend of this man can be taken as an example of how we can forge our own future with hard work, determination and courage.
Catch weight is not a main issue if both fighters agree, but it should matter if the weight division established minimum and maximum weight, then fighters should stick to it. Miguel Angel Cotto (WBO welterweight) agreed to a catch weight that he could manage to accomplish, then he was defeated and no excuses were made by him. Oscar De la Hoya mislead himself to believe he could still fight at that catch weight and at the end quit on his corner; it wasn’t a title fight but we can’t blame Pacman if Oscar agreed to fight on that weight; if the fight was so uneven or presented a risk to the boxers health then the boxing commission shouldn’t have allowed them to fight only for strictly economical reasons.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao conquered championship belts defeating top champions in the small divisions primarily and with the exception of his victory against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto (gained his seventh); he has been eluding dangerous opponents to become “the only champion in eight weight divisions”.
Pacquiao defeated Chatchai Sasakul KO8 to conquer his first title belt the WBC flyweight title, and then he jumped “three” divisions to gain the IBF super bantamweight title by KO6 Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the second title in different weight division.
His third division title was awarded by a magazine when he defeated at featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera TKO11. A great magazine, with a large boxing tradition, but still a magazine not a boxing governing bodied. If this magazine has a full global structure and sanctions fights then Pacman should be recognized as a real featherweight champion, but if it is not the case then he shouldn’t be considered as one because he never defeated any of the champions of the major governing bodies.
Pacman defeated in a close combat via SD12 Juan Manuel Marquez to gain the WBC super featherweight as his fourth title.
Defeated Diaz to gain his fifth title in different division, David Diaz not Juan Diaz, David was the WBC lightweight champion, he may not be recognized as the best of all the champions in that division but still was a belt holder of one of the most recognized governing bodies.
Pacquiao demolished Ricky Hatton with a brutal second round knockout to achieve his sixth division, I wont argue if Hatton was still in his prime or not, but Ricky was the holder of one of the less prestigious belts in the light welterweight division at the time, International Boxing Organization (IBO). If we are to recognize this organization as a major one then there are various boxers that will be recognized as champions or multiple division champions by doing it. Manny was also awarded by a magazine as his light welterweight world titlist.
The Antonio Margarito fight. Well Margarito was chosen to dispute the WBC light middleweight title after a long time of inactivity, but neither Pacman or Tornado were previously ranked in that division, even worst Manny only weighted 144 ½ pounds. Pacman utterly defeated a not prime former welterweight champion but he never defeated a title holder in the light middleweight division, so he can’t be considered as a real 154 pound champion.
So he should be considered only as a five different division champion not as an eight division champion. Neither the magazine title, the IBO title nor the WBC junior middleweight title can be considered as a legitimate championship title.
Not the less Manny Pacquiao is proven warrior and one of the most exciting fighters to watch, he may not be a real eight division champion but still he is a real former flyweight champion (WBC) and currently is a real welterweight champion (WBO), there is a gap of 9 divisions! Not an easy feat to accomplish by any of the present or future boxers to come.
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