Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao is the first man in boxing history to win world championships in eight different weight divisions. It is a marvel that a man who began his career at 108 pounds has been able to compete at an elite level in the upper weight classes against other top-level fighters.
Even with his defeat at the hands of longtime rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao’s standing in boxing is secure. It was an absolutely stunning knockout defeat that might signal the end of a great career.
But there’s no reason to hang your head. There is no shame in losing to a fellow great fighter as long as you stand up to the challenge. And Pacquiao deserves credit for understanding the critics and his place in the sport and choosing to face Marquez four times when most elite-level fighters refused to face him once.