Hans Themistode
Jul 19, 2025
1 min read
Seldom does Manny Pacquiao talk about himself. If he does, it’s usually to heavily critique one of his performances. Pacquiao, 46, is cut from a humble cloth. Meaning, he doesn’t feel entirely comfortable patting himself on the back. Nevertheless, the ...
Seldom does Manny Pacquiao talk about himself. If he does, it’s usually to heavily critique one of his performances.
Pacquiao, 46, is cut from a humble cloth. Meaning, he doesn’t feel entirely comfortable patting himself on the back. Nevertheless, the Filipino star was recently asked to give his thoughts on one of the oldest debates in the sport of boxing.
Who’s the greatest fighter of all-time?
Pacquiao stopped and thought for a moment. Of course, there’s a ton of names to consider. Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr., Joe Louis, and a handful of others are normally mentioned when this debate comes along.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) considered all of them. And while he believes those fighters and a few others deserve to be in the discussion, when he thinks about who’s the G.O.A.T. he reluctantly gave an answer.
“I’m not trying to toot my horn, but it’s me,” Pacquiao told World Star recently. “I can say it's me.”
Saturday night, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao’s G.O.A.T. claim will receive a boost if he takes care of business. He will end a near four-year retirement when he takes on WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios. But even if he loses, Pacquiao isn’t worried about his legacy taking a ding.
There have been a ton of great fighters over the years. None of them, however, has come close to the long list of accolades he has under his belt.
“To get a belt in eight different weight divisions is not that easy,” Pacquiao said. “It’s very hard. The most difficult accomplishment in boxing.”
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