Once Upon A Time: Manny Pacquiao Tore Through Four Weight Divisions In 14 Months

Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly one of the best boxers ever.

The Filipino icon is the sport’s only eight-division world champion and has faced some of the biggest names that the sport has seen.

Pacquiao has shared the ring with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosely, Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, and many others.

In his prime, Pacquiao was unstoppable.

A testament to his excellence inside the ring was a stretch in his career wherein he competed in an astonishing four weight classes in just a span of 14 months.

Beat Juan Manuel Marquez For WBC And The Ring Super Featherweight Championships - March 15, 2008

Coming into 2008, Pacquiao was already a three-division world champion, having held world titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight.

Pacquiao had a shot at becoming a four-division champion in 2005 but came up short against Morales for the IBA super featherweight championship.

Following the loss to Morales, Pacquiao reeled off six-straight wins at 130 pounds, including wins over Morales (twice), Oscar Larios and Marco Antonio Barrera.

The streak earned Pacquiao a shot against Marquez, and the Pinoy would defeat the Mexican star by way of split decision to capture the WBC and The Ring super featherweight belts and finally become a four-division titleholder.

Beat David Diaz For WBC Lightweight Championship - June 28, 2008

Just a little over three months later, Pacquiao jumped up in weight to challenge David Diaz for the WBC lightweight championship.

At the time, Diaz was unbeaten in his last nine bouts, including a win over Morales. Pacquiao would dismantle the Mexican-American en route to a ninth-round TKO to snatch the WBC’s 135-pound title and become a five-division champion.

Beat Oscar De La Hoya At Welterweight - December 6, 2008

Pacquiao capped off a spectacular 2008 by facing the legendary De La Hoya in a bout that was seen as somewhat a changing of the guard.

De La Hoya was a six-division world champion, but he was obviously at the tail-end of his decorated career.

The two met in a 147-pound encounter, where Pacquiao battered De La Hoya into retirement in the eighth round. It would be the final bout in the latter’s professional career.

Beat Ricky Hatton For IBO And The Ring Light Welterweight Championship - May 2, 2009

Pacquiao put a bow on his stellar 14-month run by authoring possibly the most iconic knockout of his career, putting Ricky Hatton to sleep in just two rounds.

The Filipino southpaw caught Hatton with a perfectly-placed hook that landed on the jaw and put the Englishman out in the middle of the ring.

The win gave Pacquiao the IBO and The Ring light welterweight titles, his sixth world championship in as many weight divisions.

Pacquiao would go on to win two more world championships in the welterweight and super welterweight divisions.

Currently, Pacquiao is still one of the most sought-after names in the 147-pound weight class and was the reigning WBA "Super" welterweight champion until being relegated to "Champion in Recess" status due to his inactivity.