Manny Pacquiao, unquestionably one of the best boxers of his generation, says his third meeting with Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 9 will be the final fight of his career. If that's the case, then it's time to assess Pacquiao's place in boxing history.
ESPN asked its panel of boxing experts to rank the top 25 pound-for-pound boxers of the past 25 years. The results will be unveiled over eight days on ESPN.com, Facebook (ESPN Boxing) and Twitter (@ESPNBoxing) and counted down from No. 25 to No. 1, which will be announced on the eve of Pacquiao-Bradley III. Fans can use the hashtag #P4Prank to join the discussion and follow along.
Is Pacquiao the No. 1 P4P boxer since 1991? Here is the fighter ranked at No. 2:
Coming Friday: No. 1
2. Manny Pacquiao
Record: 57-6-2, 38 KOs | Years active: 1995 to present
Weight classes: Junior flyweight, flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight
Titles: 9
Top 3 signature wins: Miguel Cotto, TKO12, 2009; Juan Manuel Marquez, SD12, 2008; Oscar De La Hoya, RTD8, 2008
Stats & Info: Pacquiao has won world titles in eight different divisions, more than any boxer in history.
ESPN's take: The "PacMan" not only defied the odds by moving up in weight so daringly, he was never forced to alter his style along the way. With power in both hands and a smothering attack of combinations from awkward angles, Pacquiao became the only boxer to win world titles in eight divisions. Debuting at 106 pounds in 1995 at the age of 16, the Filipino icon went on to claim a belt as high as junior middleweight. He also won over the hearts of fans around the world to become one of the biggest draws in boxing history. Pacquiao's résumé below 135 pounds likely would have been enough to merit Hall of Fame consideration on its own, with signature victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez. But he cemented his status as a boxing legend by what he accomplished in the higher weight classes. With knockouts of Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao proved that size was no match for speed and fearlessness. He also showcased his evolution into a complete fighter under HOF trainer Freddie Roach. -- Brian Campbell