10: Reasons Pacquiao is great

A weekly boxing list compiled by Michael Rosenthal. This week: Ten reasons Manny Pacquiao is great.

1. 5-1-1 against top Mexicans: This cannot be overemphasized. His consistency against Barrera, Morales and Marquez is his greatest achievement.
2. 17-1-2 with Freddie Roach: He joined forces with Roach in 2001 and has been an absolute force ever since against some of the best fighters in the world.
3. Manner in which he wins: He’s not just winning fights; the way he destroys his opponents also leaves viewers in awe.
4. Longevity: He has been ranked among the top few fighters in every weight class in which he has fought for more than 10 years.
5. Opposition in general: He has fought 15 times against current or former world title holders and is 11-2-2. He’s also 7-1-1 against future hall of famers (assuming Hatton gets in).
6. Always improving: There has been no plateau in his career. He’s been a pro for 14 years yet continues to improve dramatically.
7. Maintaining power at heavier weights: He had KO power at 108 pounds and he seems to have the same KO power at 140. Amazing.
8. Maintaining speed at heavier weights: A fighter is supposed to slow down as he gets heavier. Could Pacquiao be getting quicker?
9. Ability to deal with pressure: He has the hopes and dreams of a country on his shoulders yet never seems fazed and almost always gets the job done.
10. The punch: Sometimes a single moment in a fighter’s career stands out above everything else. His KO punch on Saturday might be his moment.

Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com