Pacquiao's last fight was in 2021 when he lost to Yordenis Ugas. Now, he's in Los Angeles, training hard with his long-time coach Freddie Roach. The media can't get enough of the comeback story of the man who's won championships in eight divisions, six of which are recognized by major boxing organizations.
While discussing his career with the Fighthype channel, Pacquiao talked about his toughest opponents. Interestingly, he didn't mention Floyd Mayweather. When asked about this, Pacquiao said:
"I'm sorry for the fans because the fight was boring. That's not what they expect from us as fighters. As a fan, I want to see an exciting fight, not a fashion show. You want action."
He added that Mayweather "ran the 12 rounds, but won the fight."
Pacquiao named Erik Morales as one of his toughest opponents. They fought three times, with Morales winning the first bout and Pacquiao taking the next two. Boxing fans consider their trilogy one of the greatest in the sport's history.
Juan Manuel Marquez might be Pacquiao's toughest rival. They fought four times, with Pacquiao winning three close fights. But in their fourth meeting, Marquez knocked out Pacquiao in a moment that's now part of boxing lore.
Oscar de la Hoya posed a challenge because of his quality and size. Pacquiao won that fight when de la Hoya retired in the 8th round. Pacquiao had to box intensely to make up for the size difference.
Marco Antonio Barrera faced Pacquiao twice. In 2003, Pacquiao won by knockout in the 11th round. They met again in 2007 in Las Vegas, where Pacquiao won by decision.
Miguel Cotto gave Pacquiao a tough fight. Pacquiao knocked Cotto down in the 3rd and 4th rounds before finishing him off in the 12th.
Antonio Margarito was dangerous because of his size. They fought for the super welterweight championship. Pacquiao dominated the fight and won the title, but he noticed Margarito's punches were particularly hard.
As Pacquiao prepares for his comeback, fans are eager to see if he can recapture the magic that made him one of boxing's biggest stars.