Pacquiao on KO drought: Harder to knock out foes at welterweight

Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines looks at Ricky Hatton of England laying on the ring in the second round of their Junior Welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao stopped Hatton in the second round to match a boxing record by taking a title in his sixth different weight class. AFP PHOTO/GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

It has been close to seven years since Manny Pacquiao has knocked someone out in the ring.

Since his impressive stoppage of Miguel Cotto in 2009, which capped an impressive stretch of victories with his vicious power in full display, the Filipino boxing champion has not sent any fighter packing with a KO punch.

Amid doubts whether he still holds that killer instinct and aggressiveness that made him one of the most thrilling fighters to watch, Pacquiao said that it boiled down to fighting at welterweight.

”It is harder to knock out opponents in the 147-pound division,” said Pacquiao to ESPN Deportes as posted in Boxing Scene. “Because, in fact, my natural weight is 140 pounds and if I demand a little more of myself – I can get down to 135.”

In his heart thumping victories over Oscar De La Hoya and Cotto, Pacquiao’s foes had to go down in weight to meet the Filipino at a catchweight.

But against the likes of Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley, Pacquiao’s blinding hand speed and punching power managed to rock—but not floor—the bigger fighters.

There started Pacquiao’s streak of KO-less bouts which has now stretched to 10 –and two of those came against Timothy Bradley, who the boxing legend is set to face in April 9 (April 10 Manila time) at welterweight.

Pacquiao and Bradley is meeting for the third, and what could be a final, time and the eight-division champion could be looking for that knockout he’s been missing for quite some time.