What If?: Manny Pacquiao Competed in the 1970’s and 80’s – Part 2 of 3
By Dave “Mythical” Siderski
In Part 1 of this series, we took Manny Pacquiao through the first six years of his mythical, alternate timeline, career. Born in 1953, he started his career in 1970 as a 106 lbs. Flyweight. In December 1972, he lost in a title chance against WBA Flyweight champion Masao Ohba by a 7th round TKO. Pacquiao then moved up to Bantamweight in 1973 and engaged in a series of fights including a spectacular two bout series with future champion Carlos Zarate. Then, late in 1974, he moved up to the Featherweight division. Manny lost in his first title opportunity there to the legendary WBA Featherweight champion Alexis Arguello by a 9th round TKO in August 1975. However, one year later, he won the WBC version of the crown with a convincing first round stoppage over David Kotei.
After 57 fights, Manny is now finally a world champion. Let’s see how he fares as we really elevate his level of competition.
November 6, 1976: The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Danny “Little Red” Lopez: Pacquiao defends his WBC Featherweight title for the first time against Lopez. Manny starts fast dropping “Little Red” twice in the first round. Lopez rallies in the 2nd rocking Pacquiao with a wicked right hand. By the 3rd, both men are trading power punches with impunity. Late in the round, Pacquiao lands a left that sends Lopez to the canvas for the third time in the fight. Lopez doesn’t know where he is at this point as Pacquiao lands 13 unanswered punches, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Pacquiao wins TKO 3
January 8, 1977: The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Rafael “Bazooka” Limon: Pacquiao faces off against Limon in an over the weight non-title matchup. In a shocker, Limon gives him everything he can handle. Bazooka demonstrates an iron chin punishing Manny to the body over the first 8 rounds. The fight is extremely close at this point. Bazooka outworks Pacquiao in the 9th. Manny drops Limon with a right hook in the 10th. However, this is not enough to secure the decision.
Limon wins SD 10
April 1, 1977: Manilla, Philippines
Manny Pacquiao vs Jose Torres: Manny defends his WBC Featherweight title for the second time dismantling Torres over the course of five brutal rounds.
Pacquiao wins TKO 5
June 11, 1977: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Bazooka Limon II: A sharper, more motivated Pacquiao shows up for the rematch with Limon and dominates the first five rounds. However, Limon once again demonstrates an iron chin and works his way back into the fight over the final five rounds. In the end, Manny’s early work is enough to secure a unanimous decision.
Pacquiao wins UD 10
August 13, 1977: Manilla, Philippines
Manny Pacquiao vs Rigoberto Riasco: In a non-title bout against Riasco, Manny overcomes early round lethargy to win by 8th round knockout.
Pacquiao wins TKO 8
October 8, 1977: Tokyo, Japan
Manny Pacquiao vs Flipper Uehara: Pacquiao defends his WBC Featherweight title for the third time an easy stoppage of Uehara.
Pacquiao wins TKO 3
December 16, 1977: The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Bobby Chacon: Manny squares off against the “schoolboy” in a highly anticipated non-title matchup. The first three rounds are even as well as hotly contested. Pacquiao assumes control in the fourth, cleverly attacking Chacon at multiple angles. A wicked left sends Chacon to the deck in the 6th, which leads to a stoppage 30 seconds later. Manny’s record now stands at 58-5-1, 45 KOs
Pacquiao TKO 6
Manny Pacquiao vs Jose De Paula: Pacquiao defends his WBC Featherweight title for the fourth time with another easy victory over De Paula.
Pacquiao wins TKO 4
May 20, 1978: Manilla, Philippines
Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Domingo Malvarez: Pacquiao blows out Malvarez defending the WBC Featherweight championship for the fifth time.
Pacquiao wins TKO 2
June 1978: Manny, now becoming a star in his native country, moves back to the Phillipines while retaining a popular fan base in Southern California.
July 8, 1978: Manilla, Philippines
Manny Pacquiao vs Frankie Baltazar Jr.: Pacquiao takes on 130 pound contender Baltazar in a non-title matchup: Baltazar is completely overmatched as Pacquiao dominates and busts him up. By the middle of the 4th, Baltazar’s face is a sea of red forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Pacquiao wins TKO 4
October 12, 1978: The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Danny “Little Red” Lopez II: The rematch is as exciting and short as the original. Lopez rocks Pacquiao early in the 1st with a left hook and drops him with a right. However, by the end of the second, the much quicker Pacquiao was in complete command. He drops “Little Red” three times in the 3rd, leading to a stoppage. Manny retains his WBC Featherweight title for the 6th time.
Pacquiao wins TKO 3
March 23, 1979: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Manny Pacquiao vs Wilfredo Gomez: As part of an ABC prime time special, Pacquiao defends his WBC Featherweight championship for the 7th time against WBC Super Bantamweight champion Wilfredo Gomez in one of the most anticipated lower weight matchups in some time. Gomez comes into this fight with an undefeated record of 22-0-1, 22 KOs, most recently stopping WBC Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate. Pacquiao comes in with a record of 62-5-1, 49 KOs.
The first three rounds are fairly even as both men look to feel each other out, each wary and respectful of the other’s punching power. Gomez staggers Pacquiao with a hard right in the fourth and drops him with a left hook in the fifth. Manny lands a perfect counter left which sends Gomez to the canvas in the 6th. Pacquiao assumes control over the next two rounds as Gomez is now tiring. Pacquiao floors Gomez in the 9th with a devastating right hook, left cross combination. Gomez doesn’t have a leg under him as he pursues him to the ropes. Manny drops Gomez again with a vicious left to the body. Gomez rises at the count of 8 but has no idea of where he is. The referee steps in and stops the fight. Pacquiao retains the title in spectacular fashion!
Pacquiao wins TKO 9
July 14, 1979: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Manny Pacquiao vs Sammy Serrano: Manny moves up in weight to challenge WBA Jr. Lightweight champion Sammy Serrano. Serrano takes advantage of his height and reach advantage building a points lead over the first four rounds. However, Manny begins to work his way inside and land his power shots over the next several rounds. Pacquiao rocks Serrano with a wicked left late in the 10th and drops him twice in the 11th forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight. Pacquiao wins the WBA Jr. Lightweight Championship!
Pacquiao wins TKO 11
October 13, 1979: Manilla, Philippines
Manny Pacquiao vs Takao Maruki: Pacquiao defends his WBA Jr. Lightweight title in front of a home crowd against Maruki. This fight is short and sweet as Pacquiao puts Maruki to sleep at the 1:43 mark of the first round with a tremendous right hook, left cross combination. Pacquiao improves to 65-5-1, 52 KOs with the victory.
Pacquiao wins KO 1
January 5, 1980: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Jose Luis Ramirez: Pacquiao squares off against Lightweight contender Ramirez in a non-title bout. Pacquiao jumps all over Ramirez early, dropping him four times in the first three rounds. However, Ramirez is game and imposes his size and strength over the next few rounds. In the 8th, Manny drops Ramirez again with a straight left. Twenty seconds later, Manny lands a sizzling three punch combination that sends Ramirez down again. The referee steps in and stops the fight.
Pacquiao wins TKO 8
June 14, 1980: Tokyo, Japan
Manny Pacquiao vs Yasutsune Uehara: Pacquiao defends his WBA Jr. Lightweight title for the 2nd time against Uehara. Manny dominates this one from the start, dropping Uehara three times in the 4th round to secure a stoppage.
Pacquiao wins TKO 4
September 27, 1980: Wembly Arena, London, England
Manny Pacquiao vs Jim Watt: Pacquiao challenges WBC Lightweight champion Jim Watt on the undercard of Hagler-Minter. On a bloody London afternoon, Manny drops Watt with a straight left 90 seconds into the fight and busts him wide open by the end of the 1st round. By the 2nd round, Watt’s face is a river of blood. A three punch combination by Pacquiao closes the show, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight. Manny captures his third world title!
Pacquiao wins TKO 2
December 6, 1980: The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Manny Pacquiao vs Sean O’Grady: Pacquiao defends the WBC Lightweight title against contender Sean O’Grady. This is another bloodbath as Manny’s precision punching leaves O’Grady cut over both eyes by the end of the second round. Pacquiao continues to batter O’Grady over the next two rounds before the referee mercifully steps in and stops the fight. Manny’s record now stands at 69-5-1, 56 KOs.
Pacquiao wins TKO 4
This concludes Part 2 of our 3 part “What if Manny Pacquiao competed in the 1970’s and 80’s series. Next we’ll find out if Manny is able to retain his skills and assert his dominance against the bigger men of the 1980’s. Some great mythical matches still to come. Stay tuned for the 3rd and final installment of this series.
What If?: Manny Pacquiao Competed in the 1970’s and 80’s- Part 1 of 3
[si-contact-form form=’2′]