Manny Pacquiao: 5 Boxing Fights That Defined His Career In The Ring

Here are five of boxing champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's best fights inside the ring.

Every person knows that he or she has landed at the heart of Metro Manila as soon as street vendors, bumper to bumper traffic, and multi-coloured jeepneys start to show up. This chaotic yet slightly compelling scene is the image of the country's modern capital and not even Poncio Pilato could tone it down.

But in the early 2000s, there was one man who tamed the busy street: Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

When Pacquaio is in the boxing ring, Filipinos are glued to their television screens; the roads are clear; and sports bars, basketball courts, and restaurants offer private screenings so people could get the first dibs on the fight.

In this article, Tatler highlights five of Pacquiao's most memorable boxing battles.

1. Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez I

When Juan Manuel Marquez met Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in 2004, he was not ready for the talent that his opponent had. In the first round, Marque landed a couple of very hard punches which triggered Pacquiao.

The Filipino fighter immediately hammered his opponent with three first-round knockdowns. The battle went on for 12 rounds, with one judge giving the edge to Pacquiao, and one giving it to Marquez. There was a draw, but this fight definitely set the tone for these two superb boxers.

2. Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales III

Who could forget about Erik Morales' third-round knockdown? In their first fight, Morales pounded out a win in a 12-round decision. In their second battle, Pacquiao won after he dominated the ring and unleashed serious assault.

But the third round defined who the real fighter was. Pacquiao was able to throw a second-round knockdown to take charge and finished Morales with a knockout in the third round.

3. Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera

Mainstream American boxing fans may have heard Pacquiao for the first time when he fought Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome in 2003.

Prior to this battle, Barrera was already known as a skilled boxer who had a 57-3-0 record. But this did not intimidate Pacquiao in any way. The fight was done at the 11th round, all thanks to Pacquiao's barrage of punches.

4. Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya

In 2008, Pacquiao has defeated Oscar De La Hoya, one of the greatest boxers of his generation. De La Hoya's untarnished records in sports were unquestionable not until he got into the ring with Pacquiao.

De La Hoya has dominated the ring with a series of blows and at the eight-round, De La Hoya could take no more.

5. Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton

In 2009, Pacquiao fought at super-lightweight for the first time against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a fight dubbed "The Battle of the East and West." Pacquiao won the bout after knocking Hatton out. In doing so, Pacquiao became the second man in boxing history to become a six-division world champion.

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Manny Pacquiao Pacman Boxing Sports