Manny Pacquiao knew his all-action style sold tickets and thrilled fans, but as he moved up the weight divisions, the risks only grew.
Starting in December 1998 with a WBC flyweight title win, Pacquiao embarked on an extraordinary 21-year journey of world title fights, capturing honours in a staggering eight divisions.
Along the way, he dismantled names such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. But in 2010, ‘Pac-Man’ faced someone he later described as the hardest puncher he ever encountered.
After defending his WBO welterweight title against Joshua Clottey, the Filipino icon moved up another seven pounds to face relentless Mexican Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Trainer Freddie Roach wanted Pacquiao to box and move against the six-inch taller Margarito, who also held a six-pound weight advantage — 150lbs to Pacquiao’s 144.6.
Despite the size difference, Pacquiao cruised to victory, winning a world title in an eighth weight class and cementing his place in boxing history. Yet the punches of Margarito remain vivid in his memory. Speaking to The Ring, Pacquiao recalled:
“Big and strong is an understatement. His body shots hurt me several times throughout the fight. His punch is different. It was surprising that I survived that fight. I could take the punches, I could take the blows, but after the fight I could feel something — it was too much for me.”
In the eighth round, Margarito looked to stage a comeback, connecting to the body after being on the receiving end of a largely one-sided beating.
Pacquiao escaped trouble, reversed the momentum, and continued exchanging shots — a testament to his toughness. Years later, he would add another super-welterweight crown to his collection, defeating Keith Thurman for the WBA title in July 2019.
