THE THREE KINGS: Pacquiao, Donaire, Nietes dominate Phl boxing
While Pacquiao’s eight world titles remain unprecedented, the titles Donaire and Nietes had won during that span are not to be scoffed at.
Daily TribuneWhile Pacquiao’s eight world titles remain unprecedented, the titles Donaire and Nietes had won during that span are not to be scoffed at.
MANNY Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame career is defined by his four fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.
AGENCE france-presse
Philippine boxing in the last 26 years has been dominated largely by one guy: Manny Pacquiao.
But the supporting cast — composed of Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes — pretty much make the Top 3 Filipino boxers from 2000 until 2026 a solid list.
NONITO Donaire’s savage stoppage of Fernando Montiel remains one of boxing’s most frightening endings.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of ETHAN MILLER
While Pacquiao’s eight world titles remain unprecedented, the titles Donaire and Nietes had won during that span are not to be scoffed at.
Donaire and Nietes won a combined eight titles — four each — making them legends in the sport.
But Donaire’s resume shines brighter than Nietes simply because his list of victims and the manner by which he got the job done is far more impressive.
DONNIE Nietes was a force to be reckoned with at light-fly for many years.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of TAPOLOGY
But first, Pacquiao’s reign of terror stays on top.
By the time he stopped Lehlo Ledwaba in his United States debut in June 2021 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao had already been a world champion at flyweight nearly three years before.
Pacquiao briefly held the World Boxing Council (WBC) 112-pound title, reigning from December 1998 until September 1989, and his six-round beatdown of the South African at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas netted him the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantam jewels.
Pacquiao would go on to dominate 122 pounds until he got tapped to challenge Marco Antonio Barrera, earning him a landmark victory at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2003.
From 2004 until 2008, Pacquiao would be held to a draw by Juan Manuel Marquez and get defeated by Erik Morales in 2005 but he would storm back by getting back at Morales and punctuate the rivalry with another slambang win.
He would cap 2008 with a victory over Oscar De La Hoya and followed it up with a string of wins, most notably against Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito before slamming against Marquez in the fourth fight in December 2012.
Many thought that the last-second, one-punch sixth-round knockout by Marquez would send Pacquiao into retirement but the Filipino legend would bounce back and string up a number of wins and a few heartbreaks from 2013 until 2017.
In 2019, almost at age 41, Pacquiao came to beat a much younger foe in Keith Thurman to win the World Boxing Association welter title in Las Vegas.
Six months prior, he defeated Adrien Broner.
Covid then entered the scene and when Pacquiao returned to the ring in August 2021, he got stunned by last-minute replacement Yordenis Ugas.
About a year ago, he shocked the boxing world anew by nearly upsetting another young tiger in Mario Barrios, who was held to a split draw.
If Pacquiao didn’t exist at all, Donaire would have been the country’s premier puncher.
The Bohol-born Donaire won four world titles in four different weight classes in a career that kicked off in 2001.
He could have been a five-division titlist bit his win at super-fly was only for an interim belt.
But still, his credentials are Hall of Fame material.
After brutally knocking out Vic Darchinyan in 2007, Donaire would rack up a long list of quality fights that were mostly explosive in the end.
He left hook was a man-stopper and his knockout of Fernando Montiel of Mexico remains one of boxing’s scariest ever.
Although he hasn’t announced his retirement even after two straight losses, Donaire’s place in Canastota is already secured.
He was the first fighter to bring Naoya Inoue to deep waters when they rumbled in 2019 in Saitama.
Holding a 43-10-0 slate with 28 knockouts, Donaire is the most accomplished Filipino boxer after Pacquiao.
His best fights were held in America where he was considered a marquee name.
Like Donaire, Nietes won world championships in four different weight classes and had an extensive winning streak once upon a time.
The Negros-born and Cebu-based technician bagged titles at minimumweight, light-fly, fly and super-fly.
He was at his finest at light-fly (108 pounds) where he made nine defenses.
He didn’t formally retire and he unofficially logged out holding a 44-3-6 mark with 23 knockouts.