There have been few better pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history than Manny Pacquiao.It wouldn't be incorrect to suggest that the Filipino is the best P4P fighter of all time, with the 40-year-old having won world championships in eight different weight divisions.Pac-Man has also defeated 22 world champions throughout his career, with his latest victory coming over the highly-rated Keith Thurman back in 2019.Former HBO analyst Max Kellerman has argued that Pacquiao is even a better pound-for-pound fighter than fellow boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather.Mayweather claimed victory by a unanimous decision when the pair finally met in the ring back in 2015, but it's argued by connoisseurs of the sport that Pac-Man would have won were he in his pomp.
However, Kellerman has argued that while the Filipino is the P4P king between the pair, Mayweather would beat him every time."You can make the argument - and I do - that he's pound for pound better than Floyd Mayweather," he said on ESPN.
"Yes, Mayweather beat him, and yes, if they fought in their primes, I think Floyd Mayweather would have beaten him.
"But Floyd turned pro at 130. He won his first title at 130 - at junior lightweight.
"Pacquiao is a naturally smaller guy. He won his first title, the lineal flyweight championship, at 112. Moving up from other divisions along the way [and] eventually moving up to junior middleweight.
"If you consider the body of work and where Manny started from, Pacquiao can be considered a better pound for pound - which really means division for division - fighter than Floyd Mayweather."
It's certainly an interesting take. While Mayweather's boxing CV is mighty impressive, the American 'only' won world titles in five different weight divisions.
But in terms of pure boxing ability, it's hard to look past The Money Man. Few fighters - if any - have ever looked as slick and as dominant in the ring against high-profile opposition.
He's the greatest defensive fighter the sport has ever seen and it's difficult to think of anyone that could have beaten him in his prime.