It may have been easy to disregard Bernard Hopkins when he so abruptly pointed out that Manny Pacquiao couldn’t beat an African-American fighter.
But it is certainly hard to fathom that Pacquiao has NEVER fought an African-American.
Not one, not one in a career that began 15 years ago?
True, African-American fighters are hard to find in the real low weight classes that Pacquiao has resided.
Still, not one?
"Floyd Mayweather would beat Manny Pacquiao because the styles that African-American fighters -- and I mean, black fighters from the streets or the inner cities -- would be successful," said Hopkins, according to Fanhouse.com. "I think Floyd Mayweather would pot-shot Pacquiao and bust him up in between the four-to-five punches that Pacquiao throws and then set him up later on down the line."
The comment was met with skepticism, if not a bit of sarcasm. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum responded by stating Hopkins could select Pacquiao’s next opponent.
But to be fair to Pacquiao, quite arguably the world’s most popular athlete, he has run from no one.
A simple breakdown of his opponents proves as much.
Pacquiao, who still needs a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to cement his status as the best of her generation, has been somewhat of a boxing ambassador to the United Nations.
Pacquiao has fought fighters from 15 different nations. He has faced 19 fighters from the Philippines – his first 15 bouts were against fighters from his homeland.
And then there is Mexico. Pacquiao has been a ‘Mexican Assassin.’ He has fought, and defeated, some of the best Mexican fighters of his generation – 13 in all.
Next up is Thailand. Pacquiao has fought 7 fighters from Thailand.
Pacquiao has fought three fighters from South Korea and three from Australia.
Pacquiao has fought only two Americans – Oscar De La Hoya and David Diaz. Pacquiao has also fought two fighters from Japan.
Finally, Pacquiao has fought one fighter from each of the following nations: Ghana, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Colombia, the United Kingdom and even Kazakhstan.
Pacquiao may not have fought any African-American fighters. But Pacquiao has fought just about everyone else.
By the Numbers:
Pacquiao versus the Philippines: 18-1
Pacquiao versus Mexico: 10-1-2
Pacquiao versus Thailand 6-1-0
Pacquiao versus South Korea: 3-0-0
Pacquiao versus Australia: 3-0-0
Pacquiao versus USA (Mexican Americans): 2-0-0
Pacquiao versus Japan: 2-0-0
Pacquiao versus Dominican Republic: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus Ghana: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus South Africa: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus United Kingdom: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus Puerto Rico: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus Indonesia: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus Colombia: 1-0-0
Pacquiao versus Kazakhstan: 1-0-0
Contact me with questions or comments.
Comments
The "African-American fighters" never seem to be around when Pac comes around, lol!!
How does a 39-year-old Mosley fight 2-3 times per year (3 including Shaq)....and a 33-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight only ONCE per year? Floyd "Roid Rage" Mayweather Jr. sure is indicating to everyone that he might be on a PED cycle...someone blood test him ASAP before he assaults another person.
clotteys black...
Hopkins said it himself that he maybe biased and when i came to think about it he really is biased. He is almost saying that black, city-breed, American style of fighting is the best in boxing which really is just a statement, a phrase he put out to back up his ignorance.
city bred black american punks ain't nothing compared to 3rd world.
So You agree.. Bernard is right Pac is scared of African Americans... He only fought two Mexican Americans but that's it. Pacquioa only fights guys who recently got beat up....like Margarito and Cotto and and Hatton all coming off a major beat down when PAC fought them Now he wants to fight Mosley...The Manny show is a joke and a fraud..
Wow. I just watched the Margaritto vs Pacquaio fight. My jaw dropped in the 4th round. I think Manny threw 120 punches. Half of them landed to. I saw a two punch combination and watched it again and realized he threw five punches. What hand speed. Manny is so fun to watch. It is sad some people don't appreciate talent. I know Mayweather is great and deserves his praises. I can appreciate a humble, talented fighter like Pacquaio to.
Hopkins is just jealous of pacquiao cause he's not the man anymore, like how he was so jealous of roy jones cause he could'nt get the spotlight that jones had...hehehe!roy jones left the middleweight division for him to dominate, bernard just cant handle the fact that black fighters do not dominate boxing anymore. You see more European champions nowadays because of their poor upbringing,more determine & hungrier than black fighters in this generation, unlike the black fighters of the 70's,80's & 90's.Bernard is also jealous cause after pacquiao retires, he is going to be rated way higher than him in the GOAT.Getting credit for beating a one dimentional fighter like trinidad (lucky RJJ did'nt get to him first),Beating a small a$$ dela hoya, beating an overrated kelly pavlik (now you know his overrated cause his white).beating antonio"one hit wonder"tarver(his only famous because of RJJ). And how come a slick (more like dirty)African-American fighter like yourself lose to Calzaghe?LOL!
The writer wrote 7-0-0 record for Pacquiao's fight against Thai boxers. Just to put the record straight, I think Pacquiao lost to one Thai boxer in his early years. I think it was in 1999 against Medgoen Singsurat.
You have a keen eye. The correction has been made.
I want to see Pacman versus Mayweather in 2011.
@ Edward Castro,correction on pacquiao fighting only two Americans.Not David Ruiz but David Diaz.
You too have a keen eye. Thanks.
We are tired of waiting, Pacquiao vs Mayweather has to happen in 2011,I've watched mayweather since the olympics and he really has the style to give Pacquiao trouble, but Pacquiao gets better and better every time he fights.Lots of mayweather fans say that pacquiao will never beat floyd,they say it's gonna be like Leonard/Hearns 1 or Ali/Foreman where boxer beats a puncher, but Pacquiao is not just a puncher,he's actually better than Hearns or Foreman. If the fight happens and mayweather beats pacquiao,then more power to him,but until then, Hopkins should just shut his pie hole and tell his slick African-American boxer buddy to grow some b@lls and fight the Pacman!
Wow, a better puncher than Hearns or Foreman! Those are big words
@edward castro- Not better Puncher than Hearns or Foreman, but better in other things like Chin, great punch combinations,movement, stamina, you know..great ring generalship, and on top of that,... exciting fighter!
I agree with some of that. Hearns was a great puncher but had a glass jaw. Foreman had little movement but had dynamite in both hands. Stamina and ring generalship have to go to Pacman.
Defensively, Mayweather has the advantage on pacquiao.
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