It has been said that in the past decade the sport of boxing is losing its popularity but thanks to the excitement and ferocity of Manny Pacquiao, the sport of boxing is regaining some momentum once again.  After defeating De La Hoya last December, Manny Pacquiao has risen to the top in what was already a surging legendary boxing career.  His name brings pride to the Philippines and all of Asia and has now prompted a new question. Is Manny Pacquiao the best Asian boxer ever?  There are a few names that will definitely battle Manny Pacquiao for that title, including his own countrymen Pancho Villa and Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.     

    You can say that Pancho Villa, or his given name Francisco Guilledo was the first ever great Asian boxer because of his explosive and unrelenting will in the ring during the early 1920’s.  Pancho Villa , at only 5 feet 1 inches was no slouch when came to hammering his opponents and rose to fame by winning the World Flyweight Championship in 1923 in New York City.  Pancho was a very passionate and charismatic fighter and was never knockout in his boxing career.  Sadly, Villa had an untimely death due to complications from a tooth extraction that prematurely ended his rising career.  To this day, in many quarters he is considered the best Asian boxer ever.

    Another great Filipino would storm into the boxing limelight a few decades after the death of Villa and his name is Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. Flash Elorde as he is known was born on March 25th 1935 in Bogo, Cebu.  Long before the acclamations that Manny Pacquiao now receives in the Philippines, Flash Elorde was already a cultural and sport icon to the people of the Philippines.  The beloved boxer was a masterful fighter that won the World Super Featherweight title in 1960 and went on to defend his title 10 times until June 15, 1967 when he lost a majority decision to Yoshiaki Numata.  He held his junior lightweight title longer than any boxer (seven years and three months) and was named as the first Asian boxer into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993 and later enshrined in the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Elorde was however a heavy chain smoker and died of lung cancer in 1985.

    Japan can enter this argument because of the accomplishments of former champion Masahiko Harada, better known as Fighting Harada. Harada is arguably Japan’s greatest boxer ever who’s popularity reached international status after becoming the WBA world flyweight champion on October 10, 1962 after knocking out Pone Kingpetch in the first round in Tokyo.  Harada was such an international star that even former champion, the great Puerto Rican boxer Wilfredo Gomez said that Harada was an idol to him as a child. One of Harada’s spectacular battles was against Eder Jofre, another former champion that has lost only two fights in his career, both at the hands of Harada.  Still famous in Japan to this day, Harada is currently the president of the Japanese Boxing Commission.
    
    The last but certainly not the least person who can battle Manny Pacquiao for the title of best Asian boxer of all time would be none other than the great Thai fighter Khaosai Galaxy.  Galaxy’s impressive boxing career numbers and records alone spoke for itself, with 49 wins, 43 by KO’s, and only 1 loss.  He is not only widely considered one the greatest Asian boxer ever but one of the greatest boxers of all time, period.  This hard punching former champion at the super flyweight division was a beast in the ring who was also a master Muay thai kick boxer as well.  Galaxy who was born Sura Saenkham on May 15, 1959 started his fighting career in Muay Thai, but when his trainer noticed his immense punching power suggested that he switch to western boxing instead. Khaosai Galaxy’s transformation to western boxing proved to be a deadly decision for all of his opponents.  Galaxy never had the skills and techniques like most other boxer but his sheer punching power and toughness made him a fearsome knockout king that would earn him his super flyweight WBA championship in 1984.  Galaxy was largely unknown in the states because he fought most of his fights in his native Thailand and had very little real fighters that would challenge his prowess.  Galaxy’s knockout propensity would later give him the nickname The Thai Tyson.  Any die hard boxing fans would tell you that Khaosai Galaxy through all of boxing’s history will forever be an eternal champion.  

    So with such great names that came before Manny Pacquiao, can Pac Man close out his career with a few more memorable victories to earn him the greatest Asian boxer of all time, only time will tell.  There is no doubt that Manny Pacquiao has already accomplished a huge feat by winning titles in four different divisions. Pacquiao also is already an international megastar in the world. If he wins the super lightweight title against Ricky Hatton as well, then there will be no doubt about his legacy. The current pound for pound king is blazing down a path of great historical significance to possibly earning him the title of “The Greatest Asian Boxer” of all time.