Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing icon who announced his retirement on Wednesday after 72 fights, was involved in some spectacular bouts during his sparkling career.
AFP Sport highlights five of the best involving the boxing legend.
De La Hoya destroyed
Opponent: Oscar De La Hoya, December 6, 2008, Las Vegas
FILE – Manny Pacquiao (R) hits Oscar De La Hoya in the fifth round of their welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Pacquiao bulked up to step up to the welterweight class and utterly punished Oscar De La Hoya, the lightning-quick Filipino leaving the face of the golden boy of American boxing disfigured with ugly swelling.
By the seventh round it was a one-way affair, and after one more round, De La Hoya’s corner signaled to the referee that he wanted no more of it.
Hatton humbled
Ricky Hatton, May 2, 2009, Las Vegas
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. AFP PHOTO/GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS
The plucky Briton charged into Pacquiao from the opening bell, in the process walking into an ambush that led to two knockdowns in the first round alone of the International Boxing Organization super lightweight title showdown.
Late in the second, a Pacquiao left hook rocked Hatton’s chin and sent him straight into dreamland in what was arguably the most spectacular of the Filipino’s 39 wins ended in knockout.
Cotto cut down
Miguel Cotto, November 14, 2009, Las Vegas
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) punches Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico during their WBO welterweight title fight on November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS
Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hook in the third and the bigger Puerto Rican would hit the canvas again in the fourth, but was saved by the bell.
By the ninth round of the welterweight world title bout, blood spurted from Cotto’s face. The referee stopped the contest early in the 12th round to save Cotto from more punishment.
Mangled Margarito
Antonio Margarito, November 13, 2010, Arlington, Texas
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) and Antonio Margarito of Mexico in action in their WBC World Super Welterweight title fight, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on November 13, 2010. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck
The US-born Mexican towered over the Filipino but was utterly destroyed over 12 lopsided rounds in the fight for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight crown.
In the end, his face bruised and bloodied, Margarito was taken to hospital and later had surgery for a broken right orbital bone.
Magical Marquez
Juan Manuel Marquez, December 8, 2012, Las Vegas
Referee Kenny Bayless (C) holds back Juan Manuel Marquez (R) as Manny Pacquiao (L) lies face down on the mat after being knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP PHOTO / John Gurzinski
The fourth and final showdown against his great Mexican rival was a brutal slugfest that ended with Pacquiao falling like a log face-first onto the canvas just before the end of the sixth round.
Knocked down in the third round, Pacquiao had come back in the fifth, breaking the Mexican’s nose and sending him to the canvas in what was probably the best round of the Filipino’s career.
But the bloodied Marquez had the last laugh with a sixth-round sucker punch to send Pacquiao to a stunning, second loss in a row.
RELATE