Manny Pacquiao Hits Boxing Record for Winning 7 World Titles in 7 Weight Divisions

World champion in seven weight divisions, lineal champion in five different weight classes, popular brand endorser, actor, singer and a national hero…

The Philippine’s pride Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao snatched the WBO Welterweight title from Puerto Rico’s Miguel Angel Cotto Vazquez in a showdown held on November 14, 2009 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas making him the only fighter in the world to win titles in seven different weight class/divisions – Flyweight, Junior Featherweight, Featherweight, Junior Lightweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight and Welterweight. Relatively new to the welterweight (147 lbs) division, Pacquiao pressed on with Firepower to defeat Cotto until the 12th round – adding another huge accomplishment in his already successful career. 

It can still be remembered that Manny also won against the America’s favorite Oscar “The Golden Boy” De La Hoya in a non-title Dream Match at the 147-pound weight limit on 6th December 2008. Manny dominated the ring within 9 rounds until he finished De La Hoya by TKO.

On May 2, 2009, Manny Pacquiao knocked out Britain’s Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton by way of knock-out just before the end of second round of the Junior Welterweight ( 140 lbs) clash. He gained the IBO and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight titles in The Battle of East and West held also at the MGM Grand.

Pacquiao also claimed the WBC Lightweight(135 lbs) championship belt from the Mexican-American boxer David “Dangerous” Diaz via 9th round knock out in a Lethal Combination battle on June 28, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Although he initially failed to grab the Featherweight title from Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez on 2004, the Pacman defeated the Mexican fighter in a rematch on March 15, 2008 called Unfinished Business. This hard-fought battle gave Manny the WBC and The Ring Super Featherweight belts in the 130-pound (Junior Lightweight) category – making him the first Filipino to win three world titles in three different weight divisions.

His first attempt for the Super Featherweight title led him to a loss against Erik Morales way back from 2005. But he managed to gain the WBC International Super Featherweight belt from Hector Velasquez and later defended from top rank opponents including Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis, Marco Antonio Barrera and twice from Erik Morales himself.

Manny acquired the Ring Magazine Featherweight (126 lbs) title on November 15, 2003 in a bout against Marco Antoni Barrera at hostile Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Although this fight was not recognized as a title fight by any of the four sanctioning bodies, Pacquiao was recognized as world champion by Ring Magazine after his victory.

During his early career, Pacquiao earned his first international title of WBC Flyweight (112 lbs) title over Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998 but later loss to Medgoen Singsurat.  Following this loss, Pacquiao gained weight anew and went up to the Super Bantamweight or 122-pound Junior Featherweight division where he picked up the WBC International Super Bantamweight title versus fellow Filipino Reynante Jamili. He defended the title five times before his chance for a world title fight came and then history came to foretold his many victories which we are currently celebrating.

However, some people tried to diminish the accomplishments of Manny Pacquiao saying he only have 5 major world titles as recognized by the four sanctioning bodies namely World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (WBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO). They belittle his fight with Hatton under the Junior Welterweight division because it was just from a minor group – the  International Boxing Organization (IBO) and they discredit his battle with Barrera in the Featherweight dividion as it was just from The Ring Magazine.

But Daniel Castellano wrote in his Critique of Lineal Boxing Championships, “In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can only win the lineal championship by defeating the reigning lineal champion in the ring. The lineal champion is described as ‘the man who beats the man who beats the man’”. Also check how Proboxing-fans.com has Compared Pacquiao’s Title Collection to the All-Time Greats such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, and Floyd Mayweather.

So whether it’s 5, 6 or 7 world titles, I hope everyone will agree that Manny Pacquiao’s accomplishment is nothing short of legendary. He is indeed one of the greatest boxing fighters in the whole world and a hero to every Filipinos. This is another milestone for Pacquiao’s career which all Pinoys should take pride in. He surely is the true people’s champ.

Proud To Be Pinoy together with all Filipinos globally congratulates Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao for another won battle and wishes him more success to come.

Other Recognitions

• 50 Wins (38 TKO, 12 Decision), 3 Defeats, 2 Draws
• 2009 TIME 100 World’s Most Influential People (Heroes & Icons Category)
• 2009 Forbes Magazine Celebrity 100 (ranked 57th)
• 2009 ESPY Awards Best Fighter
• 2009 Sports Illustrated 2009 Sportsman of the Year (Nominee)
• 2009 The Ring Magazine #1 Pound For Pound
• 2008 ESPN Star’s Champion of Champions
• 2008 Yahoo Sports Fighter of the Year
• 2008 WBC Boxer of the Year
• 2008 TheSweetScience.com Boxer of the Year
• 2008 SecondsOut.com Fighter of the Year
• 2008 Sports Illustrated Boxer of the Year
• 2008 BoxingScene.com Fighter of the Year
• 2008 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Honorary Award for Sports Excellence
• 2006 & 2008 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
• 2006 & 2008 Boxing Writers Association Of America Fighter of the Year
• 5-Time PSA Sportsman of the Year
• WBC Emeritus Champion

You can check the detailed achievements of Manny Pacquiao in Wikipedia

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