Monday 31 October 2016 12:38, UK
Ahead of Manny Pacquiao's fight against Jessie Vargas this weekend, we pick out five memorable wins for the 'Pac Man.'
The Filipino star will attempt to claim yet another world title when he challenges Vargas for the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday.
During a 66-fight career, Pacquiao has claimed a variety of belts in eight weight divisions and beaten a number of big names. We've looked back at five of his finest victories...
Miguel Cotto
The fearsome Puerto Rican had just the one defeat on his record, a controversial stoppage by Antonio Margarito, when he was picked for Pacquiao.
Searching for a world or Ring title at a seventh different weight, the Filipino would have to vanquish a foe with a similar appetite for battle and a reputation for brutal body punching. Cotto appeared to edge a cagey opening round, but his confidence quickly ebbed away when he was floored in the third and fourth rounds.
"The talk before the fight that he would out-punch me was wrong."
Although touted as the bigger puncher, Cotto could not put a dent in Pacquiao and wilted steadily in the heat of battle, sporting a bloodied face in the latter rounds.
Pacquiao briefly offered some respite as Cotto back-pedalled through the closing minutes, but referee Kenny Bayless had seen enough and waved it off in the 12th.
Oscar De La Hoya
Even in the latter stages of his career, De La Hoya remained a fearsome opponent for any fighter and plenty of intrigue surrounded his clash with Pacquiao.
De La Hoya dropped down to welterweight as Pacquiao continued his march up the divisions, testing himself against a fellow multi-weight champion, who had pushed Mayweather the previous year. Just as he did against Mayweather, the ‘Golden Boy’ attempted to stamp his authority on the fight with early aggression and Pacquiao was briefly backed up in the opening round.
"I hit him with a lot of punches in the last few rounds."
But the Filipino's blurring hand speed was cutting holes in the defences of the veteran and his left eye was closing by the fifth round.
Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of punches, De La Hoya was offering little in return and he was trapped in the corner in the eighth, with Pacquiao pouring on punches. De La Hoya was mercifully pulled out of the fight at the end of the round and would never fight again following this crushing defeat.
Juan Manuel Marquez II
In the second fight of their thrilling saga, Pacquiao was trying to clear up the controversy that stemmed from their drawn first meeting. The two explosive fighters served up another thrilling encounter that created further argument about the scorecards.
Another back-and-forth battle started in dramatic fashion when Pacquiao was wobbled in the second round by a left hook but he came firing back in the third, knocking Marquez down with a hard left and stunning him again as the bell rang.
"I stopped counterpunching in those last four rounds and attacked him constantly."
Both men were cut as the ferocious battle unfolded, but Pacquiao appeared to be edging ahead when he wobbled Marquez again in the 10th. Refusing to back down, the Mexican warrior launched a final-round assault, leaving the decision again in doubt as the fighters waited nervously for the verdict.
The judges again struggled to separate the two men with both receiving scores of 115-112 in their favour, but the third handed victory to Pacquiao with a razor-thin tally of 114-113.
Marco Antonio Barrera
The Mexican legend headed into the fight as the favourite following a red-hot run of victories. After dishing out a first defeat to Naseem Hamed, Barrera then avenged his loss to bitter rival Erik Morales and was considered a class above his opponent.
Pacquiao’s first appearance on the big stage started in disastrous fashion as he was dropped in the opening round. But he recovered well from this early setback and began to trouble the Guadalajara man with his searing speed and southpaw style.
"He's a good, smart boxer. I'm satisfied with the result. I knew he would have to box me this time around."
A visibly stunned Barrera was floored in the third round and his desperation was summed up by a point deduction for hitting on the break in the ninth.
Worse was to follow for Barrera as he was sent back to the canvas in the 11th and was rescued by cornerman Rudy Perez, who stepped onto the ring apron to signal the end of the fight.
Erik Morales II
Revenge was on the mind of Pacquiao as he attempted to set the record straight following a close points loss to the Mexican in the previous year.
In a thrilling first encounter, ‘Pac Man’ had been hampered by a cut over his right eye and was edged out on the scorecards, despite hurting Morales in the final round.
"Well, this time I didn’t have any distractions. I fought the way I wanted to and I was just better. I think it was the body attack that really hurt him."
Pacquiao had good reason to curse his luck in the rematch with Morales avoiding two early knockdowns, firstly when he clung onto the ropes, and secondly by falling onto referee Bayless. But Pacquiao refused to be denied and gradually chipped away at the defences of ‘El Terrible’ with his whirring punches.
The gritty Morales tried to stand his ground, but was finally knocked off his feet in the 10th and Bayless stepped in when the ruthless Pacquiao decked his dazed foe for a second time.
