Daniel Cann

BWAA president Jack Hirsch explained that ‘Pacquiao’s wins were more decisive than those of his counterparts from 2000 to 2009.’ Pacquiao beat off undefeated rivals Floyd Mayweather Jr and Joe Calzaghe to win the prestigious honour.

It is a crowning achievement for the fighter after an exceptional decade in the sport where he arrived as an unknown quantity and became one of the most feared and respected boxers pound for pound in the world today. Pacquiao is the only boxer to win seven world titles in seven weight classes (from flyweight to welterweight) an achievement that looks unlikely to be bettered.

Scoring notable wins over world champions Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, the Filipino phenomenon has proved his credentials for greatness beyond a shadow of a doubt. He has recently turned his attention to politics being elected as a Sarangani congressman in his native country. He plans to retire in September this year to serve his constituents full time. With only one remaining fight and rival to face, the award comes at a nice time to remind him of the high regard fans and experts hold him in.

Pacquiao will be presented with the award at the 85th Annual BWAA Awards Dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Unfortunately his main rival Floyd Mayweather Jr has made some rather unpleasant and disparaging remarks towards Pacquiao and his achievements. It all sounds like sour grapes to me. Mayweather said ‘He beat a Miguel Cotto who got pummelled with a cast and he beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretchered by me…(he) struggled twice, which we really know he got beat, struggled with (Juan Manuel) Marquez, which we know he really lost. Right? And we know he been knocked out twice and he got outboxed by Erik Morales, but then they still give him Boxer of the Decade. So that’s another thing I don’t understand.’

Everyone is clamouring for a Pacquiao versus Mayweather contest later this year. It has been scuppered in the past due to blood testing and general haggling over conditions between the two rivals. Because of the money and that all important word in sports: ‘Legacy’ it has to happen.

There is too much needle and too much rivalry now for the two men to turn away from a fight and speaking as a fan this match simply must happen for the good of the sport as well as to clear the air. I have no doubt in my mind that this seismic occasion would be the biggest event in boxing history for three decades. It will be a true grudge match in the mould of Zale v Graziano, Ali v Frazier and Hagler v Hearns. It needs no hype and with two vastly different fighting styles and personalities the clash is a natural.

But back to the award which is the most important thing at present. Pacquiao is fully deserving of it regardless of what his main rival thinks. I have watched Pacquiao’s progress over the years with slack jawed amazement and admiration as he has mowed down world class opposition in spectacularly merciless fashion.

The intensity and determination with which he brings to each contest is unsurpassed. I can honestly think of no other fighter in boxing history at any weight who appears as focussed and as intent on causing destruction to a foe ever and that includes Henry Armstrong, Roberto Duran, Rocky Marciano and Marvellous Marvin Hagler. All of those mentioned were terrific pressure fighters who did not stop going forwards working for openings, throwing punches and imposing their will over their opponents. None of them would let up until the other man was a physical wreck resembling something that had been put through a threshing machine. I do not say this lightly when I say that Pacquiao is the King of the pressure fighters.

With his menacing, frowning moustachioed countenance and ripped, teak - tough physique he often scores big psychological points over rivals before the first bell sounds. He then becomes the equivalent of a human buzz-saw as he slips inside opponents punches and unleashes blindingly fast and powerful combination punches with ‘bad intentions.’

He has managed to carry his power up with him through the divisions as his stunning inside the distance wins against de la Hoya (something which Mayweather could not do), Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto attest. He demolished all of these naturally bigger men and emerged unmarked and fresh himself at the conclusion of each. Such has been his dominance that the Mayweather camp has made assertions that Pacquiao’s strength must be attributed to illegal performance enhancing drugs. These allegations have all been refuted by the Pacquiao camp.

Other fighters have had to adapt their styles as they have got older, but Pacquiao has not altered his ‘blueprint’ and is using the same style that won him first title way back in 1998 (the WBC world flyweight title). This is impressive and shows just how tenacious and strong he really is. Nearly every fighter in history has had to make some concessions or minor changes to accommodate the ravages of time or moves up to a higher poundage, not so Pacquiao.

‘Legacy’ as I mentioned earlier is the key word and it is my belief that Pacquiao has already secured his regardless of what his future holds. Win, lose or draw against whomever faces him next is irrelevant to his overall standing in the Parthenon of ring greats. The man is a marvel. He has walked through and destroyed champions in their prime as the Cotto fight displayed. He has learned from past mistakes and has been undeterred by adversity, despite having a 51 – 3 – 2 (38 inside the distance) record he is a true colossus of the ring. Having an unblemished record is an unhealthy obsession for many sports hacks and fighters today. They seem to forget that the all important thing for any sportsman is experience and seasoning.

Pacquiao has shown personal growth and development since turning professional in 1995 and like wine has improved with age. He is fully deserving of the sobriquet of ‘Pac Man’ as like that 1980’s video game icon he literally consumes anything in his path. He has enjoyed an unstoppable rise to the top, yes there have been bumps along the way but thanks to a successful partnership with trainer Freddie Roach he has emerged as the one regarded as ‘pound for pound’ the best in the world today.

If he gets past Mayweather then it would be the icing on the cake, should he not…well, to my mind it does not matter. He has reached the mountain top and the BWAA have named him as Fighter of the Decade out of expert analysis not out of misplaced or misguided favouritism. He has earned his plaudits and it is a wonder that he not only enjoys the fanatical support and devotion of his loyal home fans but he has also won the recognition and admiration of fans across the globe.

Well done Manny Pacquiao! We will all miss you when you retire.