After the fight: Celebrating the boxing career of Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao may or may not retire after his loss to Yordenis Ugás, but now is as good a time as any to look back and fondly remember a legendary career. 

Saturday, Aug. 21, was bittersweet, regardless of how big a Manny Pacquiao fan you are. Even the most unbiased sports journalist likely felt a stinging sadness at seeing a living legend defeated in the boxing ring for possibly his last professional bout.

In terms of boxing alone, it’s almost impossible not to be a Pacquiao devotee even if he trounced one of your favorite fighters at some point over the last 26 years. He had a certain “it” factor that made every one of his contests a gravitational pull on the eyes.

Every purveyor of the sweet science has at least one Pacquiao vision that stands out from all the others. For me, it was his presence in the ring on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006. That was the day of Pacquiao vs. Morales 2.

In their first fight almost a year prior, Morales outpointed Pacquiao by unanimous decision. Morales came away from that fight more damaged, while Pacquiao gained wisdom and determination.

In their rematch, Pacquiao took his career to the next level, proving that he could adapt and improve his already fierce boxing expertise.

Morales didn’t take it easy on the 28-year-old Pacquiao. Pacquiao stalked Morales relentlessly while eating the occasional Morales’ left hands for the chance to inflict damage. Morales could do nothing to discourage Pacquiao. Pacquiao decided right after their first meeting that he wouldn’t lose the second.

In a confused 2005 where music and culture were still trying to figure out how the 21st century would differ from the 20th, Pacquiao fought like he knew he was destined for greatness and that there was nothing that could stop him, including Morales.

Pacquiao never needed pre-fight antics, bravado, or shtick to sell his fights. In many ways, Pacquiao was an unassuming and unnatural boxing personality. He was, and still is, soft-spoken, polite to opponents, bubbly, all with an air of innocence.

Pacquiao hasn’t always been a choirboy, but he came off as one unless he’s in the ring. That’s what endeared him to fans–his abilities in the ring.

Manny Pacquiao is a rarity in boxing and a once in a generation type of fighter

In the ring before a fight, Pacquiao didn’t look all that intimidating. Against Morales, at 5-foot-5 and 129 pounds, Pacquiao’s bangs and pencil-thin mustache didn’t produce the most frightening image, but when he let his lightning-fast hands go against Morales, nobody in the world wanted to be Morales.

At the MGM Grand in boxing’s capital, Pacquiao punished Morales over 10 thrilling rounds, but the body can only take so much. Pacquiao’s left hand collided with Morales’s skull and sent him spiraling to the canvas for the first time.

Morales was a blood and guts warrior–a true embodiment of machismo who never backed down. While he was down on one knee, the referee Kenny Bayless screamed the count of seven at him in a way to implore Morales back to his feet.

Morales looked back at him in a way that said, “Seriously? Couldn’t you stop the fight?”

Seeing that Bayless wasn’t going to do him any favors, Morales forced himself upright with nothing but pride, knowing that he was going out on his shield. It was inevitable.

Pacquiao decided before the fight that he was going to dedicate his life to boxing in the pursuit of being one of the best boxers of all time. Less than seven seconds later, Morales was doubled over on the canvas for the last time.

That was one distinct moment in a career filled with highlights and accomplishments. What separates it from the others is that it served as a sign of things to come. Pacquiao proved that he wasn’t just a good champion but capable of becoming a once-in-a-lifetime anomaly type of fighter.

He lived up to the potential with every win and bounced back from a loss. It was impossible to kill his spirit, belief in himself, or drive to keep going forward.

Against Yordenis Ugás, Pacquiao was competitive but diminished from where he was after defeating Keith Thurman in 2019. He’s far from shot but further away from who he was against Morales in 2006.

Pacquiao has nothing left to prove or accomplish. He has earned the right to continue fighting if he has the desire, but it seems like he’s wrestling with the reality that he’s further from who he was athletically in 2006 than he would like, as he alluded to ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna after the fight when he said he’s leaning towards retirement.

Pacquiao made his reputation with his fists, skills, and heart in the ring. He didn’t rely on words, flash, or gimmicks—just his performance.

All he had to do was fight to make people love him.

How many boxers can you say that about?

Not many.