Manny Pacquiao

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After Pacquiao became the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions in November 2009, veteran promoter Bob Arum stated that the Filipino was the “greatest boxer [he’d] ever seen”.

His journey to the summit of boxing accelerated rapidly in 2003 following the eye-catching defeat of Marco Antonio Barrera. That said, post-Barrera there were some bumps in the road. A draw against veteran Juan Manuel Marquez preceded a defeat to Erik Morales.

Pacquiao exacted quick revenge by becoming the first man to knock out Morales during their 2006 rematch, before defeating the Mexican again later that year in the deciding bout of three.

After that match, the Filipino’s star continued to rise inexorably. Oscar De La Hoya retired after losing Pacquiao in December 2008, just as Ricky Hatton put away his gloves following defeat to ‘Pac-Man’ the following year.

And then he continued to re-write the record books by claiming a world title in an incredible eighth weight class, defeating Antonio Margarito for the WBO light-middleweight title before stepping down to welterweight and crushing Shane Mosley.

Just when it seemed Pacquiao was unstoppable, in November 2011 he scraped a highly controversial points win in his third meeting against Marquez, with many seasoned observers feeling Pacquiao lost the fight.

However, eight months later, Pacquiao was on the wrong end of a questionable call from the judges as Timothy Bradley took his WBO welterweight strap.

There was to be no doubt about the result of his fourth showdown with Marquez in December 2012. After being on the wrong end of two tough decision in their previous three bouts, the Mexican landed an emphatic right cross as Pacquiao, who had the upper hand in the fight, lunged forward in the sixth round, leaving him laid out face down on the canvas.

Career high: A second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the IBO light welterweight title.

Career low: The brutal knockout blow delivered by Marquez in the sixth round of their fourth bout in December 2012.

Quotes: David Diaz on why he lost his WBC lightweight title to Pacquiao in 2008: “It was his speed. It was all his speed. I could see the punches perfectly, but he was just too fast.”

Trivia: Pacquiao has said he will enter politics after he ends his boxing career.