TRIUMPH OF THE CLEAN AND THE MEEK

Clearly, Ricky Hatton intended to clinch, hold and roughhouse all night long had he not been flattened early.

If indeed there was a new and improved Hatton he and his trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. crowed about, there was not even a glimpse of it. What we saw was a confused and crude brawler who would sneak a right shot to the belly while his left arm seized Pacquiao’s neck or right arm.

Against Pacquiao, Hatton was clearly the glorified club fighter some critics derided him to be. In fact, he certainly looked much more respectable against the slippery Pretty Boy Floyd whom he could not manhandle the way he did Jose Luis Castillo. It was with the latter on whom Hatton had probably the greatest success with his formula of wrestling, pushing, holding and banging away. Rattled very early by Pacquaio’s bombs, the Mancunian brawler could not show any of the improvements he and his trainer claimed he has acquired in camp. Abundantly fed illusions by his trainer that he “can beat this guy everyday of the week”, he seemed unaware of the fact known to millions: if Pacquiao were a warplane, one could say he has flown the most dangerous sorties dropping hundreds of smart bombs right on target.

Confronting such lethal precision, Hatton couldn’t fight dirty as much as he wanted using mixed martial arts techniques of pushing, wrestling and holding which are part of his dubious arsenal. To the eternal credit of referee Kenny Bayless, Hatton’s dirty tricks department was on check, forcing him ,most of the time, to observe the standard of clean fighting set by the Filipino pound for pound king. Stripped of his dirty tricks long passed on as boxing skills, his severe limitations were exposed. He walked directly into the line of fire, had a porous defense and had no Plan B. These are limitations which a rowdy, boisterous hordes of beer guzzling supporters cannot compensate for.

Publicly, unlike his cocky trainer, Hatton showed respect towards Pacquiao and the Filipinos. The disrespect, however, was reserved in the ring because it was part of the battle plan and because he knew of no other way to fight despite professing to be a “new fighter who can box and will shock the world” or words to that effect.

True enough, as Freddie Roach proclaimed, it would be too late to change Ricky Hatton. After he gets hit, the sober minded Freddie would say, Hatton would inevitably revert to his old habit of brawling, pushing, wrestling. Against the clean fighting Filipino, the Briton’s roughhousing tactics became pretty obvious albeit controlled.

Fortunately, the fans didn’t have to endure seeing these tactics for more than six minutes. Unfortunately, though, the fans had to endure Mayweather Sr.’s inane poetry, sheer arrogance and insensitivity for weeks. His crazy antics continued even after the fight, putting all the blame on his fighter and insisting he is a better than “joke coach Roach”.

Fittingly, the clean (Pacquiao) and the meek (Roach) triumphed in this fight to inherit the earth – even if it is just the fleeting world of fame, fortune and now, bigger prizes. Not very bad, isn’t it?

By Sid Bañez
PhilBoxing.com

May 8 a national day in honor of Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — Malacaňang has declared May 8 a national day of celebration to honor boxing champion Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao, whose May 3 demolition of Ricky Hatton has elevated him to the ranks of the world’s greatest punchers.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III explained, though, that that May 8 is not a holiday or non-working day

Proclamation No. 1764 directs the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to lead the celebration in Metro Manila, while the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will coordinate activities in other parts of the country.

All government agencies were directed to assist the MMDA and DILG in conducting a successful celebration of Pacquiao's victory against Britain's much-vaunted “Hitman."

Pacquiao is expected to return to Manila on Wednesday via the NAIA Centennial Terminal.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in crafting Proclamation 1764, said Pacquiao's “spectacular victories show the world the best in the Filipino and that his determination and love of God and country exemplify the indomitable Filipino spirit ... and inspires the Filipinos to have resiliency and dedication to triumph against all odds."

Ermita said Pacquiao's victories also highlighted his “highly primed physical and mental slate as a result of his dedicated and Spartan-like training" and his admirable inner qualities.

He said Pacquiao starts every fight with a fervent prayer while on his knees and expresses sincere concern for his fallen foes and love for his family, supporters, and the Filipino people.

“As a nation's expression of gratitude for bringing worldwide acclaim for the country, it is befitting that a national day of celebration is held to honor him," he said.

Bello said May 8 will be highlighted by a motorcade, which is being arranged by Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr., and a lunch with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Pacquiao's entourage.

He appealed to politicians not to ride on Pacquiao's popularity and let him have his moment of glory. “Siya naman ang nambugbog at nagpabugbog kaya siya dapat ang makinabang," he said.

However, he admitted that politicians cannot be stopped from taking advantage of Pacquiao's celebrity status. “Let's just give them the benefit of the doubt," he said. - GMANews.TV

Manny Pacquiao could have the boxing market cornered

Reporting from Las Vegas -- Manny Pacquiao prides himself as a smart businessman who knows how to play poker. Let future opponents beware: He walked out of the MGM Grand casino-hotel this weekend with a stack of chips. A record-tying world title in a sixth division. A fourth consecutive victory in a different weight class. And a one-sided performance in a major fight that, compared to the Tyson-Spinks mauling and George Foreman's "Down goes Frazier!" triumph, has given Pacquiao unprecedented power in mapping his immediate fighting future.

The best pound-for-pound fighter in the world coming off a second-round knockout victory like that in a lucrative junior-welterweight championship bout against Ricky Hatton? That creates perks.

After the first major bout of the post- Oscar De La Hoya era, Pacquiao is now the man. He is empowered to pick who he wants to fight, when he wants to fight them, and at what weight.

The handful of opponents before him includes Pomona's world welterweight champion Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, unbeaten lightweight champion Edwin Valero, Mexico's popular Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and unbeaten and recently unretired Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The problem with Mayweather is that he signed Friday to fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18. The move surprised the Pacquiao camp, who say they are unlikely to rest until the super-fight. "A busy fighter is a good fighter, we're not going to wait around," Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "Mayweather just had to wait one day and this fight could've happened. I think he's scared of Manny." Privately, the Pacquiao camp said Mayweather Jr. harmed his leverage in future Pacquiao negotiations -- perhaps for a bout early next year -- by agreeing to fight Marquez in a bout expected to struggle for pay-per-view buys. Meanwhile, the buzz around Pacquiao (49-3-2, 36 knockouts) intensified after he knocked down Hatton three times, including a highlight-reel left hook that flattened Hatton with one second left in the second round. Pacquiao, 30, is in peak shape, showcasing ring smarts that have caught up to his speed and punching power. He's better than even those closest to him think. Pacquiao business manager Michael Koncz said before the fight that he bet at the sports book that his fighter would knock out Hatton in three to six rounds. Roach, for the second consecutive fight, ended the night urging a Pacquiao victim to retire. De La Hoya did, and Hatton should, too, Roach said. "He had a great career, but knockouts like that aren't good for people." Hatton advisor Gareth Williams said, "It's Ricky's call." Meanwhile, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said, "I have something special in history here, an athlete who's improving every fight. He's like a grand painting." The next stroke, Arum said, is to have Pacquiao film a movie in the Philippines, then travel to New York in June to pick up his 2008 fighter-of-the-year award and watch Cotto's welterweight title defense against Joshua Clottey. The Pacquiao camp will then huddle to select a new foe. "Manny will fight anybody. He says, 'Whoever, whatever, no problem, I just do what my coach [Roach] wants me to do,' " Arum's matchmaker Bruce Trampler said. "Freddie knows. He thinks about this stuff all the time." So it's noteworthy that Roach first mentioned Mosley's name as a future opponent. "As a fan, that's the fight I'd most want to see," Roach said. Mosley congratulated Pacquiao late Saturday, then quickly lobbied to get that fight while knowing Top Rank could be tempted business-wise to match Pacquiao against Cotto, a Top Rank fighter. Trampler said assuredly there's no such conspiracy theory in play. "Let's get it done," Mosley said. "I don't see a reason they'd want to fight Cotto when I'm the champion who beat [Antonio] Margarito, who beat Cotto. It'd be a classic fight [against Pacquiao]. We both have good hand speed and power and I think that fans want to see the best fight the best." Team Pacquiao, however, doesn't want to fight either Mosley or Cotto at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, and would demand that either move down to a catch-weight bout of 143 pounds, said Roach. "We can talk," Mosley said. First, it'll be up to Team Pacquiao to make the call. - By Lance Pugmire

Manny’s best still to come, Arum says RP icon greatest ever

LAS VEGAS—THE WORLD hasn’t seen the best of Manny Pacquiao yet.

Bob Arum made this observation Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) a few hours after Pacquiao’s systematic two-round demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Arena.

“You’re seeing something that is developing,” said Arum.

“Pacquiao learns every training session and keeps getting better and better every single fight.”

Moments after the swift, decisive ending, Arum declared in a TV interview that the Filipino ring icon is “the greatest fighter that ever lived.”

“I really believe that when the full story is written, this man will be considered the greatest fighter that ever lived. That’s a wild thing to say. Not the greatest fighter of the year but the greatest fighter that ever lived,” Arum said.

Astounding development

Arum, who always refers to Pacquiao as a young man although the champ is now 30- years-old, said the Filipino’s development as a figher is astounding.

“His defense is tremendous, his reflexes tremendous,” said Arum. “I’d never ever seen any fighter combine the speed and the explosive power that he does.”

The 78-year-old Arum, who’s been involved with boxing for more than 40 years, noted that while there a lot of hard-hitting fighters, Pacquiao does it differently.

“If you have the speed and the power that explodes it amounts to a stronger punch. That combination (speed and power) makes him doubly devastating.

Arum noted that Hatton was beaten because he couldn’t cope with the speed and power punching from Paccquiao, who delivered it in better angles.

Explosive power of Ali

He even compared Pacquiao’s explosive power to that of the great Muhammad Ali in his prime.

“While Ali has the speed, he doesn’t have the explosive power.”

Commenting on Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return from retirement, Arum said the former pound-for-pound king shouldn’t be fighting Marquez at a catch weight of 143 lb.

Mayweather should fight Pacquiao, instead, he said.

“If he wants a piece of the little Filipino (Pacquiao), be my guest,” said Arum.

Meanwhile, Fernando Beltran, also of Top Rank bared that he had received an offer to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who’s fighting at 154 lb. With a report from Dennis Principe

With one ferocious blow by Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton's amazing career is laid to rest

Ricky Hatton will not fight again. Not the one the fans remember. Even if a shredded remnant of the fighter who thrilled them for a decade contemplates doing so when he recovers from the shocking ­knockout Manny Pacquiao inflicted on him at the MGM Grand, the real Ricky ­Hatton started preparing for retirement soon after ­enduring a similar experience in the same ring 17 months ago.

The left hook with which Floyd Mayweather Jr repelled Hatton's crude ­challenge in the 10th round of their welter­weight title fight in December 2007 was the punch that instigated the Mancunian's slow exit from boxing. Until then, he was unbeaten, unfazed, the shiny young champion of his people. He was to grow old quickly. "He can't take a quality shot any more," a close friend said later on Saturday night, "and I think he knows it."

Mayweather's punch did not have the concussive finality of Pacquiao's wicked left, but the two blows will forever be linked. Pacquiao's arrived in the final second of round two, the third knockdown blow the Filipino had to throw to claim Hatton's IBO and Ring Magazine light-welterweight titles, and if Hatton heeds the wishes of family and friends the last one he will ever take.

Pacquiao put Hatton down in the first round with a right hook he admitted to his corner he never saw, and again with a short left before the bell. From that point on, it was clear we were in for a short night. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told later how they had worked on that right hook for weeks. "Ricky cocks his punches before he throws 'em. Every time he left an opening, Pacquiao's so quick, I knew the inside hook would work every time."

This was an echo of the strategic naivety Hatton showed against Mayweather, when he was out-thought and knocked down by a punch devised by the American's uncle and trainer, Roger.

Hatton seemed to have collected his thoughts when they resumed but was again afflicted by the "red mist" he blames for his wild, swinging ways and walked into more pinpoint shots from the smaller man. When the end came, it was as if we were all sharing the same, slow nightmare, so lightly did Hatton float to the floor. When he landed, he could barely open his eyes, but you could see the pain in them as he lay motionless, the referee, Ken Bayless, not needing to count him out.

Hatton did not just lose a fight and his titles at that moment. He lost all connection with the rest of us in the arena, the power drained from a body he had taken three months to whip into shape.

But the appearance of those rippling muscles could not disguise the damage he has done over the years with a hard-drinking lifestyle taken from some northern manual on male behaviour. It has been this, above all other follies, that has undermined his career, although he will not admit to it because he is a prisoner of his own making, a super-lad among lads.

By the time Hatton had recovered in the Valley hospital off Las Vegas Boulevard in the early hours of yesterday morning, he had Pacquiao's fists, not pints of Guinness, to thank for his headache, and he was greeted immediately by a mixed chorus of advice. Roach, the mastermind of his downfall, cautioned against carrying on. "He's had some mega-fights," he said. "He's had a great career. So, why? He doesn't need it. He has a family, he has a son. With commitments like that, he's got to think about retiring."

It will not be easy, but he will almost certainly walk away, having earned more than £30m in 12 years of largely exhilarating success, spoiled only towards the end by losing to two of the modern greats in Mayweather and Pacquiao. That fact will be the cornerstone of his justification for retiring now, the centrepiece of his ­nightclub act when he regains his self-esteem and goes back before his public.

That is the only consolation Hatton can take from the defeat. He lost to a fighter who Roach says is on his way to a special kind of greatness, a fighter who is now the hottest property in boxing. Mayweather, officially unretired, will want a piece of him, although Pacquiao now holds all the aces. "We're in no hurry," Roach says.

No amount of considered reflection will change the facts for Hatton, meanwhile: even if he wants to fight again, there is nobody for him to fight. What Pacquiao exposed was the last piece of evidence in a case that has been building steadily for a couple of years. Hatton's punch resistance has fallen to a dangerously low level. "The likes of Timothy Bradley and Kendall Holt would knock him out," a friend of Hatton's said. "Amir Khan would knock him out."

Juan Lazcano nearly stopped him in his comeback fight last year and even the light-hitting Paulie Malignaggi inconvenienced him a couple of times before Pacquiao got to him. The weeks, days and moments before this fight were fraught.

There were rows between his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr, and his assistant, Lee Beard. There was speculation – since confirmed – that Roach had been asked to take over his training in the future. And there was a grim mood in the dressing room immediately before the fight.

"He was very nervous in the dressing room before the fight," a friend said. "I don't think he thought he was going to win, even then. I think he suspected he didn't have it anymore, but you can't admit that, not even to yourself."

For weeks, Hatton had railed against those who said that he was going to lose to the best fighter in the world. He sounded then as if he were trying to convince himself but, when it came to proving it, Hatton was in no position to argue the case. He was unconscious and lying flat on his back in the middle of the ring, as former a fighter as it is possible to be.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, MANNY

This late in the day, everybody has an opinion on how the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton on Saturday, May 2 (Sunday morning Philippine time), will end. Needless to say, nearly 10 in 10 in the Philippines believe it is Manny’s hands that will be raised at the end of the fight.

There are many reasons why Manny should win this one.

First of all, he is the embodiment of hope for his country and his people. Whatever the difficulties and sufferings the Filipino is going through, Manny gives him the desire to go on. Just more than two decades ago, Manny was dirt poor like most Filipinos. Today, he is a cut above the rest. If it can be done, there is no reason why the Filipinos won’t be able to do the rest.

Secondly, Manny is aware of the load that he carries on his shoulder. The Philippines is a country divided against itself. Admiringly however, Filipinos unite whenever Manny fights in the ring. Manny knows this and has carried this load with grace and confidence. Instead of being a heavy load that weighs on his mind each time he goes to battle, Manny makes this his inspiration to go for victory.

Thirdly, Manny is willing to pay the price for success. To say that he trains very hard is an understatement. In more ways than one, Manny over-trains. He punishes his body because this is what the sport is all about. The more punishment a boxer can absorb and inflict on his opponent, the better the chances to score a win.

While experts have every reason to compare fighting styles and techniques, it is doubtful if the two warriors are miles apart from each other. They are where they are now because they possess not just the strength, power and skill of a mighty warrior but also the heart and mind that elevates them from the rest.

All things being equal, it is the intangibles that come into play. Manny has an x-factor going for him. He knows that so much more is needed than the power in his fists and the muscles on his arm. He knows that a fighter has to draw deep in the heart and mind to be able to score against and, when the situation presents itself, hurt enough to batter the opponent into submission.

Most of all, Manny never fails to give God the credit. More than just paying lip service to God, Manny is sincere in his appreciation for God’s providence. Manny has become an ambassador for God, one who knows he is merely a creation and a messenger.

The Philippines, and the world for this matter, see a rare spectacle in Manny Pacquiao. He is the stuff legends are made of, an icon that comes once in a rare while. He is more than just a symbol and a role model.

If there is one person that has captured the heart and imagination of the Filipino, one who has given the Philippines enough reason to be proud of and to celebrate, without a doubt it is Manny Pacquiao.

By Atty. Dan Neri Lim
PhilBoxing.com

Pacquiao chases sixth title, history

LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, stands on the precipice of history. In his way stands junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton.

But if Pacquiao, fighting for the first time as a junior welterweight, can defeat Hatton, the long-reigning champion who has never lost at 140 pounds, in their much-anticipated showdown at the MGM Grand on Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET), the Filipino icon will enter rare air.

• A Pacquiao victory would give him a world title in a record-tying sixth weight division -- flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight.

Yes, there was a time when there were only eight weight classes with one champion per division, and now there are 17 divisions with four sanctioning organizations handing out the most recognizable titles. But if it were easy to win titles in six divisions, everyone would be doing it. So far, only one man has: Oscar De La Hoya, who won belts from junior lightweight to middleweight before Pacquiao sent him into retirement by handing him a beating in a nontitle welterweight bout in December.

High Five

Manny Pacquiao goes for a world title in a record-tying sixth division on Saturday night against junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. A look at his five division championships:

Date	Weight	Opponent	Outcome
Dec. 4, 1998	112	Chatchai Sasakul	KO8
June 23, 2001	122	Lehlo Ledwaba	TKO 6
Nov. 15, 2003	126	Marco Antonio Barrera	TKO11
March 15, 2008	130	Juan Manuel Marquez	W12
June 28, 2008	135	David Diaz	TKO9

• If Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), the betting favorite, dethrones England's Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), he will accomplish something no fighter in boxing history has ever done, which is to claim the lineal championship in a fourth division. Lineal, as in the man who beat the man, who beat the man, who beat the man, etc. In other words, he'll be considered the "real" champion in a fourth division, not just a mere titleholder, the way he was when he claimed his junior featherweight belt and lightweight title.

"Pacquiao goes down as one of the greats if he can accomplish a junior welterweight championship to go along with his other hardware," said boxing historian and occasional ESPN.com contributor Bert Sugar. "Reason being -- it's not only difficult to leapfrog this many weight classes, but because you have equaled and passed greats like a Henry Armstrong, greats like Alexis Arguello. The way he has done it, we still don't know his true fighting weight. Even with all the belts, he's still the lineal champion in so many weight classes. I make him out to be the greatest Asian fighter of all time and conceivably one of the greatest fighters of all time if he can carry this off.

"Now, we have a lot more titles, but it still does not dim or in any way minimize what Manny Pacquiao has done."

Already a five-division titleholder, Pacquiao is in impressive company. The only others to get one for the thumb? Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The four-division titleholders in boxing history are Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones Jr. and the not-so-well-known Leo Gamez.

Pacquiao is reserved about the historical implications of a win Saturday, but he is certainly aware of what is at stake.

"It is very important for me to win [titles] in six different divisions for the people of my country," said Pacquiao, who has always dedicated his accomplishments to the Philippines. "Being a six-division champion, if that happens, people will want to put my name in boxing history, and that will be my legacy."

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, admitted that he is surprised that Pacquiao has been able to keep moving up the scale with such success.

"I never thought this would ever happen. When I started with Manny because he was just 122-pound champ," said Roach, who took over Pacquiao's training after he had already been flyweight champion. "He's just been getting bigger and stronger. He's a lot happier when he's not making weight. He's healthier, he gets to eat what he wants, and I feel when I have a happy fighter that's not struggling to make weight, it's a good thing. And his powers come up with him. Manny Pacquiao, he's a machine. He is the hardest worker I've ever seen in my life, and that's why he's the best fighter in the world today."

De La Hoya was considered the lineal champion in three of the weight divisions he won titles in, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight.

As the only six-division titleholder, he can appreciate what Pacquiao is gunning for.

"He's in a position now where he can make history," De La Hoya said. "It's not easy to jump six weight classes. It's not easy at all. It's probably the most difficult task that any fighter can have. I've always said it was more difficult than just being world champion for 10 years at one weight class."

Even Hatton, who has dominated at junior welterweight for years, although he did claim a belt at welterweight before returning to his natural division, is somewhat in awe of Pacquiao's climb up the scale.

He's with De La Hoya in believing that it's more of an achievement to win titles in multiple divisions than it is to stay in one weight class and systematically clean it out.

"It's a phenomenal achievement what Manny's done. He [turned pro] at 106 pounds. So that's incredible, a man fighting at the weight he's fighting at now," Hatton said. "But I think it's a lot easier to move up through the weights the lighter weight you are because, obviously, the weights are a lot closer together. From where Manny started off when he won his first world title [at 112 pounds] to when he won his last world title [at 135 pounds], you would have to say it's more impressive. Even though the weights are very, very close together, it's absolutely such a massive achievement."

Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, knows a thing or two about fighters moving up in weight. He promoted De La Hoya for virtually all of his career, and he also promoted many of Leonard's biggest fights. He said Pacquiao's background could be a reason why he's been able to start off in such small divisions and steadily move up with success.

"He came from a background where it very hard to gauge his true weight because when he fought early on at flyweight, was it because of the lack of nutrition or was he a naturally smaller guy?" Arum said, noting that Pacquiao grew up in poverty without much food. "Then as he became more affluent and could feed and take care of his body, the fact that he has put on weight and seems to be better with the added weight is not surprising. The conventional wisdom is when a fighter moves up in weight he loses his speed and his power. With Manny just the opposite seems to have happened. His speed is now better, and his power is certainly better.

"Manny is a very unique fighter, and he has a great set of skills that translates itself to going up and down the divisions. It's as simple as that. He outspeeds everybody, and he outpunches everybody. And he never gets tired."

If Pacquiao does make history by beating Hatton, more could be on the way. A title fight at welterweight is certainly not out of the question.

"I don't put it past him to look really good [Saturday] and maybe beat some of the top welterweights," Arum said. "There are welterweights out there that he can compete with, like [Miguel] Cotto or [Floyd] Mayweather [Jr.], that would make very interesting fights in the years ahead. So I am not concerned with his smaller frame. He matches up really well with some of the top welterweights. I really believe that Manny's body of work at this particular time establishes him as one of the great fighters in the history of boxing. I really believe that there is a lot more to come which will cement that legacy."

Pacquiao is game.

"Fighting at 140 pounds is my regular weight, and I am very comfortable at that weight," he said. "But I can fight at other positions. It's about discipline. I have disciplined myself, so that is why I can fight at heavier weights. If the fight is at 147, I can fight at 147. Right now, the fight is at 140, so I have to fight at 140 pounds."

Sugar also wouldn't put it past Pacquiao to beat Hatton and move on to even greater glory.

"What Manny has done sort of defies all reason," Sugar said. "We don't yet know where he will hit that wall. What is the weight at which he can't? We have come to the point where we are watching a phenomenon. I don't know if we will appreciate it now or it will take us years to appreciate it."

Here's what's scary: Pacquiao may not even be at his best yet.

"I believe that I am improving," Pacquiao said. "And everybody knows and can see that by my last few performances."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.