2008: YEAR OF THE PAC

Chinese astrologers will have you believe that 2008 was the 'Year of the Rat', but fight fans the world over know better.

This was, unquestionably, the 'Year of the 'Pac'. No if's or but's about it; this was the year Filipino buzz-saw Manny Pacquiao established himself as the premier 'pound-for-pound' talent on the planet.

Britain's Joe Calzaghe enjoyed a stellar year himself by travelling to America and beating golden oldies Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr in impressive fashion.

However, Pacquiao's achievements dwarf even those of the Welshman. Manny started the year by punching out a decision win over old rival (and fellow pound-for-pounder) Juan Manuel Marquez. It was a split-decision verdict and after their contentious draw in 2004 there is no doubt that those two have unfinished business.

However, Pacquiao then went on to become the first Asian boxer to win world titles in four weight classes as he took apart a game but outgunned David Diaz in Las Vegas. People were impressed that his speed and power had travelled with him up to lightweight after he stopped Diaz in round nine with a picture-perfect left hook that took everything out of his opponent.

However if they were impressed by his exploits at 135lbs, his next move was audacity personified.

Pacquiao agreed to go all the way up to welterweight to take on modern great Oscar De La Hoya.

The critics, mindful that a good big 'un always beats a good little 'un, lambasted the decision to chase the money against De La Hoya and there were genuine fears for Manny's health against a multi-weight world champion who had campaigned as high as middleweight.

But Pacquiao confounded the critics, De La Hoya and just about everybody else on an unforgettable night at the MGM Grand earlier this month as he pulled off a stunning victory over the 'Golden Boy'.

A force of nature on the night, Pacquiao was relentless against De La Hoya, using his speed and ring smarts to utterly befuddle one of the best fighters of his generation.

What became apparent watching that fight was just how much more accomplished Pacquiao now is as a fighter. Once upon a time he was too heavily reliant on his left hand and that incredible speed. However, under the watchful eye of Freddie Roach Pacquiao is now a master of distance and timing in the ring. A whirlwind with a plan who can box at breathtaking pace for three minutes of every round and who can set things up with a fine jab. He has become almost the complete fighter and while a bout between him and former 'pound-for-pound' top dog Floyd Mayweather Jr would have been dismissed as a mismatch 12 to 18 months ago, if the 'Pretty Boy' does decide to come out of retirement I can't see the odds men being overwhelmed by people desperate to back Mayweather.

Pacquiao was the star turn in 2008 but there were plenty of other notable performances from his 'pound-for-pound' peers.

Hopkins lost a close one to Calzaghe but then shook up to world by putting on a masterclass against Kelly Pavlik to re-establish himself at the business end of 'P4P' proceedings at the venerable age of 43.

Elsewhere Antonio Margarito gatecrashed the 'pound-for-pound' party with a sensational win over the heralded Miguel Cotto in a fight that had everything.

It was feted as 'The Battle' and there was a war-like quality to the way these two went at each other. Cotto showed his class early on but Margarito was simply too relentless in the end as he smashed his Puerto Rican rival into submission after just over half an hour of guerrilla warfare. To the victor the spoils then and as well as securing a career best pay-day and setting up another big-money match against Shane Mosley (set for January), the 'Tijuana Tornado' also gained recognition at last as one of the best boxers of his era.

Cotto can hopefully come again but even if he doesn't Puerto Rican fight fans have another star in their midst in the shape of KO king Juan Manuel Lopez.

The super-bantamweight, from the same Caguas city as Cotto, is currently 24-0 and cultivating a reputation as one of the purest punchers in the sport.

In four fights this year he boxed less than six rounds and his last three world-title fights have all ended in the first.

JuanMa burst onto the scene when he separated Mexican banger Daniel Ponce de Leon from his senses back in June and earlier this month he smashed Sergio Medina to defeat inside 98 seconds on the big De La Hoya-Pacquiao bill.

Sandwiched in between all that he halted Mexican veteran Cesar Figueroa in a round and if he can secure a fight with our current 'pound-for-pound' number seven Israel Vazquez or Panamanian puncher Celestino Caballero next year and put in the sort of shifts he has been doing lately then he could end up being the star of 2009.

Sportinglife.com pound-for-pound world top 10:

1 - Manny Pacquiao

2 - Joe Calzaghe

3 - Juan Manuel Marquez

4 - Bernard Hopkins

5 - Antonio Margarito

6 - Miguel Cotto

7 - Israel Vazquez

8 - Ricky Hatton

9 - Chad Dawson

10 - Paul Williams

By Derek Bilton