Do you think the boxing world is unfairly asking too much out of Manny Pacquiao?

great question Jon. I think a lot of fans forget that Pac is a very small welterweight. One thing about being a once in a generation talent like Pacquiao is, is that fans constantly demand that they take on the toughest challenges for them. I think, and most fans, think that there is absolutely no one at 140 and below that could even come close to challenging Pacquiao. Bradley, Alexander, Khan, I don't think any of them pose any type of threat to Pacquiao. He would eat their punches like skittles and his punches, in turn, could be "career threatening" to them. Bradley might be a technically better boxer (as most Mayweather fans would claim) than Pac, but how long can he "outbox" Pac until Pac lands 2-3 punches that get him in trouble? In addition to that, who really has been proven in the lighter weights? I see it as a curse to be as once in a generation fighter, fans are always calling for them to prove themselves more so than just "great" fighters. Pac wouldn't get nearly as much respect KO'ing Bradley, Khan, Alexander, Maidana, than he would if he lost to Mayweather. If he stayed at Jr. Welter and took on the best and left a trail of broken boxers, what would fans say? Who "were" these guys? Not future hall of famers. They would claim they were nobodies ten years from now.

As with Mayweather, fans always want them to take on what they perceive to be the most dangerous, and in all honesty, there is no one that would be considered "dangerous" to Pac at 140 and below, yes I think he is THAT good. I feel THAT is why, fans forget that he is a natural jr. welter/lightweight. Even Marquez, I don't feel would pose a threat to him at this point in their careers at the weight that Pac fights at now. Do fans take what he's done for granted? Absolutely. Even I do. Pac could stay at 135, 140 and clean out the division, but wouldn't him facing Mayweather (a naturally bigger guy) or Berto (again, a naturally bigger guy) do more for his legacy and be more dangerous? Absolutely, and that's what champions do. You made a good point, pointing out against Alexander, Bradley or Khan, he would be a 8-1, 10-1 favorite because no one is as quick as him, no one (at the lower weight) punches as hard as he does, and his chin has held up to much bigger fighters, so when he faces the bigger guys, they at least have a advantage. This is why Pac-May has to happen. Mayweather is the only guy that poses a serious threat because he's just as fast, his defense is inpenetrable and he'll have a natural size advantage. Win or lose, he'll get more credit than beating the smaller guys. That, and you'll always have haters who will always find a way to discredit whoever he's faced.

I am in my 60's and I have never seen a fighter as unique as Pacquaio, not since Sugar Ray Leonard or the Roberto Duran era at least. I think the boxing community is asking Pacquaio something that he does not have to, and that is fight the most dangerous fighters outside Pacquaio's natural weight. When Pacquaio left the Lightweight, he was already automatically the smaller boxer at Junior Welterweight or Welterweight, but he took these challenges because the big fights were above the Lightweight. I still don't consider him a top 20 greatest but he is definitely the best boxer this decade. All his accomplishments are well deserved.

My question for him is: With all the blessings bestowed upon you as a boxer and placed you as one of the boxing history's greatest... "Why do you feel you need to run for a public office? Even if you win the election,don't you think this would affect your reputation and might tarnish your greatness if you failed miserably to perform your duties well as a public servant?" "Do you presently have enough knowledge to meet the requirements,the intellectual independence and the strength to perform the heavy task at hand"? MY REASON for asking him this is: No doubt that Pacman is presently the best boxer in right now...And I am a big fan! But i doubt his ability running for congress in this coming May 2010 election. What triggered him to decide to run for a position in a higher office? Can he really perform the task without MUCH HELP from his "assistants","amuyongs"( or whatever you would call it)? Given,that he has a good heart and a clean intention to serve the public, does he have what it really take to be an effective statesman? Many popular figures believed that you can help and serve the people without necessarily having a seat in the government. I believe that he could be more effective in assisting his fellowmen as a private citizen. It's hassle free! I just think that he should take time to learn more about the field that he is pursuing. I JUST DO NOT WANT A LEGEND TO FALL because of his wrong or prematured decisions. May the Lord Guide him in his pursuit. GOODLUCK PACMAN!!!

The boxing world has not been asking too much from Manny. It is just the Mayweather fans who keep insisting on ridiculous demands in order to make their idol PBF look like the best. He very well might be the best but he still need to prove it by giving Manny the boxing lesson that they keep saying he will. What I have observed though is the silence of the Boxing Commission with regards to the controversy about the blood tests being demanded by the Mayweather camp. Doesn't this seem odd or is it an admission that their testing methods are flawed.

I don't think that the boxing world expects too much from pacquiao. In my opinion pac gets all of the credit he deserve for his victories and his accomplishments. He is a 7 time world champ, number one pound for pound fighter, and the fighter of decade. As a mayweather fan i think he truly deserves all of the awards that he has acheived in his great career, but since pac is an elite fighter and is currently the number one fighter people will never be satify with his acheivements. I guess un fair expectations come hand and hand with being on top of your sport. Lebron james is the MVP of the nba but that is always overlooked because he hasn't won a championship. Pac can go up in weight again and fight martinez to gain his 8 title (which would be historic), but his accomplishment would be slightly discredited, because he didn't fight mayweather. I wouldn't just say that the bocing world is unfair, but sports in general are not fair to the athletes that are currently on top.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I was full aware that Pacquaio is a small guy fighting at a higher division. He is really a lightweight but he is fighting above his normal weight because he wants to improve his legacy. I just don't think catchweights would help it, but if he defeat some of the top welterweights at 147, he would be a much greater fighter. But he is already a great fighter and is absolutely the best pound for pound at the moment. I dont question the rankings, Pacquaio earned what he has accomplished. This is coming from a Cotto fan who was beaten by Pacquaio! See, I don't hate Pacquaio as some called me a Pac Hater.

Good Morning JON, I notice that you're having some friendly sparring here Lol.

We can always said that it is the cruel behavior of a human that's doing these. Remember that human being is just the highest form of animal. Sometimes, someones satisfaction is infinite that no matter what you do, you will never satisfied their craving until the time that you fail them or they see you failed The demands will never ends even in your hardest moment because that is what they want to see, that someone failed.

What Pacquiao have given to the boxing world and to his country, the Philippines will take a very long time to be equaled. No matter what the critics said, history will explain to them the facts that will be written in the history books.

Most of these asking comes from the people who want to see him failed as they were rooting for their own favorite individual. Human endurance comes only to a certain limit that a body can give. Filipinos like him have a physical frame that can not be compared to other race.

The boxing world is definitely asking too much of Pacquaio. I am not even a fan of Pacquaio or Mayweather for that matter but why would people ask him to fight Bradley or Alexander when 99 percent of experts knows he would knock them out. They don't have the resume or the credentials to even deserve a match with Pacquaio.

Pacquiao fought very tough opposition, he is not required to give up 10-20 pounds, he is just doing it because the toughest challenges are in the welterweight division. Pacquaio will not get any credit from many fans who have already made up their minds, but at least the experts have spoken and they are giving Pacquaio the credit of being called an all time great.

Here are a few ways to look at it Jon.

1. The Consumer

No! As a consumer I giver a rats tail about any fighters past achievements (while active) only what they provide me in terms of entertainment value. If any fighter wishes to command a portion of my discretionary spending I want to make damn sure it's a fight were the outcome is in question.

2. As a Fan of the fighter (not so much the sport).

The only desires of these types (in all sports) is the success of their favorite athlete therefore, I wouldn't care who he fought just make sure he/she provides me the emotional spike that victories provide.

3.Fan of the sport

No, because all sports contain an aspect of legacy and I (as others) want to know who is the best of the best. Currently the two obvious candidates are Pacman & Mayweather so I want those two in the ring. If not, I want a fight that maximizes the risk or makes a statement towards dominance in a weight class. So if 147 is too much to ask, what about 140 or 135?

4. As a Fan of promotion

Yes, it is too much to ask. Why should a primary money maker for a promoter have to step into the ring with opponents outside his promotion that pose a high level of risk? Bob Arum's job is to pump up the legacy of his stars while delivering big paydays for the promotion, not to invest years into a guy and have his value drop faster than BP stock because of unnecessary risk. If an arena is sold out at premium pricing and ppv buys are at the million buy mark or greater with a superstar fighting a b or c level fighter what incentive does a promoter have for stepping up the competition?

@ Super Joe- What the heck are you talking about? First off tennis, golf, skiing are not considered sports for the masses in this country so most people don't give a rats *** about those sports. That aside how is that Sharapova has made millions in this country, Federer has made millions in this country, Martina Navratilova not only has made millions, but also became a citizen? Here are a few facts; the PGA Tour World Rankings have 6 non U.S. players in the top 10, 7 out of the 16 (position players only) MLB All-Star starters a freaking foreigners, more people could recognize Pau Gasol (Spaniard) & Dirk Nowitzki (German) a whole lot faster than they could any current U.S. fighter. Heck our olympic track athletes can walk around without anyone thinking stardom, that's just the way it is man. Hey man the facts are this country, in its current state, will only elevate 4 sports to the top tier and guess what soccer will never be one of them! To be honest neither will tennis, cycling or freaking golf. Lack of achievments, no real hero's? What the hell are you smoking/ shooting/snorting that would allow that thought to permeate through your mind? Honestly, if my damn country is so horrible stop purchasing its products or using its damn technology.

He does not need to fight at 147, nobody is forcing him. Everyone knows he is not a 147 fighter. But he has the heart and will to beat bigger fighters because he knows it means more to his career and he will be more respected as a greater fighter if he continues his fights above his natural weight class.