6 of the best boxing PPV performances since 2000
2. Manny Pacquiao UD12 Antonio Margarito
November 13, 2010
In the 1970s, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder had perfect runs, dropping numerous classic albums one after the other that would leave a lasting impression on music for generations to come.
In 2008, Manny Pacquiao began a series of perfect performances on PPV that lasted through 2009. It started with a lightweight title win over David Diaz in the Summer of 2008. Then Pacquiao was given a chance to take on boxing's cash cow, Oscar De La Hoya, at welterweight, where he once again dominated.
For those that doubted the victory over De La Hoya, Pacquiao followed up with wins over Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. The second-round knockout over Hatton and the beatdown of Cotto took Pacquiao to another stratosphere from great to all-time great. Any of his fights in 2008 and 2009 could have easily made this list.
For those that have followed Pacquiao's career from the beginning, either when he first made his debut in the United States in 2001 or his flyweight title days, the bout with Margarito is the final time he truly performed at his peak.
There would be other flashes of greatness that followed. Pacquiao's classic fourth bout with rival Juan Manuel Marquez is, arguably, the best PPV main event of all time. The avenging win over Timothy Bradley in 2014 and his turning back-the-clock performance over Keith Thurman in 2019 are also notable.
The bout with Margarito would be for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title with a catchweight of 150 pounds. Margarito, a former three-time welterweight champion, was returning from a year-long suspension due to a hand-wrapping controversy before his match with Shane Mosley in January 2009.
He was one of the more controversial figures in the sport; however, the intrigue in the fight with Pacquiao was the size difference. With Margarito standing at 5'11 and, on the night of the fight, reportedly weighing in at 165 pounds to Pacquiao's 147, the storyline became one of David vs. Goliath.
Pacquiao exhibited his entire skillset against Margarito. The speed and combination punching was awe-inspiring and left an impression on the entire combat sports world. The fight almost plays out as a highlight reel for Pacquiao. He landed over 400 power punches at a 58 percent connect rate, administering a beating that should have led to the fight being stopped.
Pacquiao would win the bout via unanimous decision to cement his legacy as boxing's only eight-division world champion.
Since Pacquiao first headlined a PPV in 2005 against Erik Morales to his final showing against Yordenis Ugas in 2021, he has provided unforgettable moments and some of the best fights the sport has seen.
With the number of stellar fights, win or lose, on PPV, Pacquiao could be considered the most exciting PPV performer of all time.