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AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
No matter what happens from this point forward, Manny Pacquiao will be a first ballot inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). The IBHOF member to whom Manny is most often compared to is Henry Armstrong (Class of 1990).
My personal view is that Pacquiao has no interest in the comparison. In fact, there is no real comparison that can or should be made other than who would have won if the two fought.
Manny Pacquiao cannot and will never compare with respect to the number of fights won. According to the IBHOF, Armstrong stepped into the professional ring 181times and stepped out of the ring a winner 151 times. The fight with Miguel Cotto will be number 55 for Manny, and we'll be lucky if we get to see Manny hit the 60 professional fights mark.
Another way the two fighters will always fail to compare is that when Armstrong earned a title he held onto it. At the high water mark of his career, Armstrong owned the welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight titles simultaneously. Pacquiao has been a champion at lightweight and featherweight and has fought at close to the welterweight limit; however, Manny also captured titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, and Ricky Hatton's unrecognized IBO belt at junior welterweight. As such, Pacquiao is not the modern day Henry Armstrong and he never will be.
Conversely, Henry Armstrong was not Manny Pacquiao. Armstrong began his boxing quest as a 120-pounder and ended it as a welterweight. Pacquiao started his journey as a 106-pounder and will fight Miguel Cotto at catch weight of 145 pounds. In other words, Armstrong and Pacquiao wrecked havoc on the some of the same weight divisions, but Manny has had to cover a greater distance on the scales. Manny is not Henry, Henry is not Manny, and both men will eventually arrive at the same place--Canastota, New York.
Boxing fans and commentators have this weird fascination with past meets present scenarios. We simply cannot help ourselves. To compare Manny Pacquiao to Henry Armstrong is fair game because there are some similarities, but to say one must be like the other is unnecessary. Boxing is a different animal today than it was when Armstrong owned the sport. Some will say better, others worse. Regardless, the sport has evolved and will continue to do so.
By way of example, the Rocky Marciano 49-0 record is still a recognizable milestone, but realistically not something that will be achieved again during our lifetime. The simple reason being that boxers do not fight as much today as they did in Marciano's era. Marciano fought seven times within a 13 month span (1951-1952), which included wins over Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott. He fought 6 times in 1950, 13 times in 1949, and 11 times in 1948. Most people don’t realize this, but Marciano fought 49 times from March 1947 to September 1955. By my rudimentary math skills, this is about 5.7647 times per year. I digress.
The bottom line is that what was accomplished in boxing yesterday can be compared to today in realistic terms. The era sets the rules for each fighter. It is more interesting to me to examine what fighters might have been able to do against each other. If we get to the point where we start to speculate Pacquiao v. Armstrong, red corner-blue corner, like we do with Ali v. Marciano, then this means that both men are bigger than the eras that define them, which my friends is the text book definition as to what it takes to be considered among the greatest of all time.
Comments
nice article . . the best boxers leave everything on the hallowed grounds of the ring . . win or loss, punch every punch, blood, cuts, pushing the very limits of fistic glory . . and these two fighters epitomized it. Amen to that.
good unbiased analogy. i like to be contrasted to the greatest but not to be likened to them anyway.
Never ever will Manny Pacquiao be considered by some as even close to Henry Armstrong in terms of their achivement. Many and i mean critics and haters of the Pacman will always have a reason or two to discredit his achievement because of personal greed and hate, just to mention a few. No matter what happen in Manny's last few fight of his career he's already considered by millions, especially by his fellow countrymen as a legend and a hero.
Manny paquiao he is a different fighter compare to the other greatest boxer.
longlive the greatest boxer of all time manny pacquiao! chao chao!
I'm still the best dude out there. Better than Armstrong and Pacman.
I think Pacquiao-Armstrong would be a great fight. But Armstrong looks way to strong for Pac to fend off. Overall it would make every boxing fan's dream come to life.
How about Neil Armstrong vs Manny Pacquaio under the sun? hehehehh!
Nice article. Very solid facts and nice pointing out the subtle overlooked details or normal pacquiao/armstrong comparisons. I personally like the last line "both men are bigger than the eras that define them, which my friends is the text book definition as to what it takes to be considered one of the greatest of all time".
but henry armstrong was defeated by a filipino boxer ceferino garcia, hows that.
nice article..bravo
Bravo eric... the article sure removes myopia from the eyes of many. Hope PBF gets to read it too.
very nice article
Manny P sets a new std for boxers in & out of the ring. Are there articles describing the demeanor of the boxing greats in the past? Manny is full of humility in his victories, w/c made Erwin valero call him a class act in his fight vs david diaz. He always checks the conditions of boxers he knocked out & he even kiss the hands of Morales' dad after he KO'd him in their 2nd fight. He is the cleanest fighter I've seen though dL Hopya won't agree claiming he headbutted Barrera in their 1st fight. But obviously it's the latter who was dirty when he butted & walloped Manny after the bell rang in the 2nd match. It took Manny several minutes to recover from this. For all the wrong did to him by Barera, Agapito Sancez and scores of other dirty fighters, Manny didn't retaliate.A lot of good virtues of Pacquiao can be applied to boxing or any other sports and to one's ordinary life to be successful. There is still a lot of good untold story about the greatest boxer of all time. Long live Manny.
very nice, not enough articles like this in boxing!
..das ryt... but pls. UNCLE BOB Make dis a TITLE FYT... or else send in CAlderon for his title and FANS will buy it.. Guaranteed
One of the best articles ive read in a long time. No bias, no bull. Just the way i like it.
nonetheless, kudos to both of them. they have become an inspiration to many. a warrior inside the ring, and a true gentlemen outside.
Is there any fight this September? "Nobody in the U.S. cares," by B.A.
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hey bob arum, dont make your world narrower and more dangerous by not putting the title in pac-cotto bout.
such a very nice article!
www.pacfans-corner.com
Manny is frequently compared to Henry Armstrong in terms of the number of tittles at differing weight classes they have held simultaneously. But don't forget Manny is a 6 time world champion in 6 weight divisions, and at this department he is to be compared to Oscar Dela Hoya....
Wii game...."boxing hero" manny pacquiao
correct. i'm 100% amenable with your thoughts. good point.
If memory serves, the graphics and almost real-life animation of the Ali-Marciano "dream fight" was made possible by IBM programmers back in the days when computers were as huge as a one-story building. By whatever mathematical calculation the programmers and producers applied in the programmed fight, personal bias played an important factor in the outcome -- Marciano won over Ali.
Same will hold true if some computer nerds and genuises would waste time and create a digitized Armstrong-Pacquiao fight. But given the terra-power of supercomputers nowadays, this Armstrong-Pacman fantasy fight will be graphically more realistic, and the advanced math calculations be more precise thus overriding the personal biases of programmers.
I have yet to watch a video of Armstrong. But as a Pacfan, I'll bet that mathematical calculations would point to the "modern" Pacman to win this fantasy fight.
Then let's fight..
ARUM is one GREEDY, SHREWD BUSINESSMAN
he doesn't want Cotto to stake his belt...no.
why?
because he knows Manny will retire anytime after this fight. If Cotto loses, he won't have milking cow anymore. (MArgaCHEATO used to be his backup cow) A Cotto without a Championship belt? Lowers his stock, my man. Lowers his selling power. Meaning less income for the promoter---ARUM.
more info:
When Oscar De La Hoya fought Hopkins for the Middleweight Championship of the world at a catch weight of 158 lbs, (2lbs less), NOBODY complained why it was at a catchweight, Hopkins still put his belt on the line. So a title fight can still push through even at a catchweight as long as it is within the limit or range of that weight.
how come if Pacquiao fights Cotto at 145, 2 lbs less than 147, some people still think that staking Cotto’s belt is not right????? because it is not at welterweight???
they don't even know what a welterweight is...anything between 141 lbs to 147 lbs is a welte
how dare you SLOAN being you a writer ha? how dare you henry armstrong to compare to the tru greatest fighter of all time MANNY PACMAN PACQUIAO? ha? how dare you? are you american dont know how to count the numbers of simple arethmitic? armstrong did only 3 world titles...pacquiao got 6 divisions...and you americans always a self proclaim...that you a always the only greatest of all...how dare you to compare your countryman...and all you filipinos dont do nothing about this...CEFIRINO GARCIA is the only human being on this planet who eventually BLOCKED henry armstrong to his dream to snatch a middleweight crown, and based on you tube...henry armstrong has no ability like what pacquiao...does...SPEED,AGILITY,BRAVENESS,DURABILITY that armstrong doesnt have...
SHAME ON YOUR SKIN WHITE MONKEY WRITER OF EXAMINER... dont dare to compare your henry armstrong to the greatest fighter of all time...MANNY PACMAN PACQUIAO...
how dare you all, manny has a new house next year and that is house of representative. Manny as a child never dream to be a boxer, the truth he does'nt want to be a boxer. The truth he want to be a basketball player and eat 3 times a day.
hahaha you ugly filipinos short dirty roaches are trash at boxing one good fighter in a billion years is nothing to brag about, and dont ever compare a dog eating third world human in manny pacquaio to the great hank armstrong just because manny beats mexicans except marquez doesnt mean he can beat african americans never that cuz
It's funny how others read this article and doesn't understand it's point.
to pinoy midget; what kind of comment is that, only an idiot and an imbecile can only think of such a comment.
Nice article!!! To those ignoramus who post stupid comments, it would be nice (and informative) if you do some reading/research on the topic before you post comments. Peace!!!
Who will win If Pacquiao will fight Henry Armstrong? Well, Henry was a talented ring fighter but Pacman is an absolute slugger. It's be a perfect pairing what with their contracting styles. The bottom line here is power. If Henry will connects with his best shot I think Pacman can abrorb it. But if Pacman connects, I don't think Henry can survive his punches. Any comments?? :)
TO pinoy midget:
Hey man,I think you are a hollow man...YOU ARE NOT TOUGH on the inside!
you're like your idol marquez...Remember marquez is floored by pacman 4 times already and still he can't accept that he lost...Marquez must knock pacquiao out then i'll believe marquez that he won.
i think it should be a title fight.. cotto must defend his wbo welterweight title against pacman..
www.neodrops.blogspot.com
pacman will knockout cotto at 6th round...
www.neodrops.blogspot.com
The greedy Arum should be burn at stake.
pinoy midget,,
SO WE ARE DOG EATING 3RD COUNTRY,,AND ALSO WE ARE HUMAN EATING STUPID TOO..WE LIKE TO TAKE OUT YOUR HEAD UPON YOUR BODY AND TAKE OUT YOUR STUPID HEART FOR DINUGUAN,,DONT MAKE MESS WITH US..WE ARE DANGER AS YOU SAID SO...BE CAREFUL TO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING.
solid article.. well-thought and well prepared.. very nice.. props to the writer.. thanks man for recognizing Pacquiao for what he truly deserves... keep em up... more power..
You cannot compare Armstrong with Pacquiao, if you base your comparison in the numbers they fought.but you should consider that in Armstrong time the opposition were not as stiff as of now.so they can fight seven or more a year.With the modern ways how to condition an athlete of today,I dont think past legend can defeat easily the very best of today. Boxers of today are more athletic and their diffence are good. Armstrong fought like Valero with lots of power.he didnt display diffensive skills,i think Pacquiao has a shot at him if they ever meet.
I firmly believe that the new is always better than the old, the new is a new version from the old. Pacman is the newer version of Armstrong, therefore, he is always better than him.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that's the opinion of Eric Sloan.
If eric sloan like the style of marquez so be it...like me i like the style of manny so what's the big deal.....
GO PACMAN GO....EAT THEM ALL!!!
I consider Armstrong one of the elite fighters of hes erra.but do some of u remember Pilipino gay name Ceferino Garcia. that he cant knockout.they fight 2x Pacquio have more then a bolo punch.and guys this is modern erra and THE PACMAN is our erra.
great article for pacman. keep up the good writing eric, Mabuhay!
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