FREDDIE ROACH guided Manny Pacquiao towards some of the most illustrious wins in recent history.
The Hall of Fame boxing trainer knows that it is not easy to pick the best of the bunch.
Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, Hall of Fame trainer
Roach will always remember PacMan's first meeting in 2001. He knew that he would become the world champion when he saw him on the pads for the first time.
SunSport, with the assistance of the legendary coach breaks down his five favorite Pacquiao wins following the recent retirement of the boxing legend.
Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, June 2001
Pacquiao made an instant sensation when he defeated South African Ledwaba in their first fight.
Roach will always treasure that night.
FR I told Top Rank that they should get their money together so they could bet on Pacquiao.
They said, "Freddie, he's going get killed in the fight, Ledwaba is a killer." I replied, "No Manny, he's a killer, and he's special."
Top Rank was against me. They thought I was crazy for saying Manny would win by knockout.
It happened, and they believed in me.
Marco Antonio Barrera, November 2003
Pacquiao defeated the Mexican legend twice. The first was in 2003, with only one round remaining. He then won the rematch by points four years later.
Roach prefers the original.
FR When he fought Barrera that was my favorite win. He was the best fighter at the time, pound for pound, when we fought in Texas.
Manny fought an excellent fight and knocked him out at the 11th round. I even made some money that fight.
It was an amazing fight even in the rematch. I loved it when these two men got together.
Oscar De La Hoya, December 2008
Pacquiao shocked everyone when he jumped TWO DIVISIONS to fight De La Hoya (who had previously won titles as a middleweight and highweight).
After an eight-round defeat, De La Hoya was forced to retire and PacMan became the new star in the sport.
FRThis was a great win. Oscar was a previous trainer of mine, so I knew how to fight him.
It was a good fight, but Manny dominated the fight from the beginning.
Oscar seemed a bit too ambitious at that time, I thought.
Ricky Hatton, May 2009
After destroying De La Hoya in his next fight, Pacquiao dropped to light-welterweight to Ricky Hatton. He had been knocked out two years earlier by Floyd Mayweather.
PacMan, who was competing with Mayweather in the pound for pound rankings at that time, made light work of Hatton, a British hero.
The Hitman was out of the fight after two previous knockdowns. The second round saw a brutal left-hand that left him out for the count.
FR: Hatton hadn't lost a fight in light welterweight before they met.
Manny actually lost a weight category (after De La Hoya). It was my favorite knockout.
Miguel Cotto November 2009
A remarkable 11-month period was completed when Cotto joined Hatton, De La Hoya and Pacquiao on Pacquiao’s hit-list.
The Filipino put on an impressive performance and won a stoppage in the final two minutes.
This was Pacquiao at his peak and probably one of his best performances.
FR Manny was able to prove that he belonged in the welterweight category and beat a future Hall of Famer at their peak.
Roach would go on to train Cotto.
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