by James Riddick

Created on: January 11, 2009

For the purposes of this review, I will concentrate, primarily, on 2008 and Pacquaio's epic trilogy of fights against Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya.

The reason for limiting the scope of this article is that this year, in my opinion encompasses the best of the Filipino, and contains what I believe to be some career defining fights.

Pacquaio entered 2008 as a Super Featherweight and would leave it a Welterweight, a jump of 15lbs, between his fight weight against Marquez and the weigh in against De La Hoya.

What Pacquiao achieved in 2008 is nothing short of astonishing, especially when you consider his relatively small size, at only 5'61/2" and the epic contests he had already endured at Super Featherweight against the likes of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, in their first fight. Moving up in weight as he did and the opponents he chose make this the year for Manny Pacquiao.

Undeterred from these wars, Pacquaio began 2008 by facing Juan Manuel Marquez, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Coming into these fights Marquez was undefeated in his last four, whilst Pacquaio hadn't lost since a unanimous decision against Erik Morales in 2005, some five bouts ago.

The first Marquez v Pacquiao fight had ended in a controversial draw in 2004 with Marquez recovering from three knock-downs in the first round and having much the better of the later rounds of the fight.

Pacquiao would ultimately win this rematch, by split decision although Marquez remains aggrieved at both these decisions and is seeking a rematch, possibly after Pacquaio faces Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas this May.

This was a truly great fight, and bar far the closest of Pacquiao's epic 2008 trilogy. After this would come WBC Lightweight champion David Diaz, again Las Vegas, and again Pacquiao would win, however, it was the manner of the victory that was so impressive.

Even if you ignore the step up in weight, Pacquiao was devastating on route to his ninth round TKO, however considering he had moved up weight divisions as well, makes this acheivement all the more impressive.

Diaz had no answer to Pacquaio's speed, combinations and work rate and the fight could, and possibly should have been stopped before it was towards the end of round nine.

Yet, it was his December clash with Oscar De La Hoya that made all the headlines, and rightly so. As impressive as Pacquaio had been previously, no one really gave him a shout against the Golden Boy, particularly given the size

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