The Lightweight Division...

[RozzySean]

I'm very happy that Nate finally made it, and honestly, I think he's the best at 135 right now. Not by much, not in a dominate way, but he's the best by a little. I hope he gets one bigass payday in the next year or two to set up college funds for his pack of kids.

The problem for Nate is that Pac and maybe JMM are coming to 135, and once they get there, both going to be much better than any of the current crop of LW's. Amir Khan may eventually be the class of the division, but Khan probably won't hit his peak until he moves up to 140.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Perhaps Campbell iss the best "by a little" but he's still aging and he needs to hurry on and get his business done.

I don't agree that Pac and JMM will be better, they both started at much higher weights and there is notyhing to say that they won't be too small for lightweight.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

All I have to say about Juan Manuel is that he is a Fantastic fighter. I love watching him fight. But if he's getting knocked down and around by featherweights what's a proper lightweight gonna do to him?

[donnydarkoIRL]

All I have to say about Juan Manuel is that he is a Fantastic fighter. I love watching him fight. But if he's getting knocked down and around by featherweights what's a proper lightweight gonna do to him?

True.

[RozzySean]

Perhaps Campbell iss the best "by a little" but he's still aging and he needs to hurry on and get his business done.

I don't agree that Pac and JMM will be better, they both started at much higher weights and there is notyhing to say that they won't be too small for lightweight.

I think Pac will be plenty big at 135. JMM, maybe not.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Perhaps he will, howver, the style he uses is one which could be exploited by bigger stronger fighters easily. He can't go up forever.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Pac would do OK. He has a nice wide frame that can support weight... But it is true that he would get exploited... He would slow so his swarming style might get him in some trouble at LW.

[donnydarkoIRL]

But he's targeting the one guy at the top he should beat to test himself. Thats clever.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

But he's targeting the one guy at the top he should beat to test himself. Thats clever.

Pac is one of the most tremendous athletes in the sport right now. I was extremely impressed at the wat Marquez fought as well. Marquez is great and will be remembered for these fights and others for a long time.

[RozzySean]

Perhaps he will, howver, the style he uses is one which could be exploited by bigger stronger fighters easily. He can't go up forever.

I think 135 is as high as Pac can go and still be a force. I wouldn't be surprised to see him fight Hatton at some point at 140, but that would be too big for him to fight.

One reason I think Pac will do well at LW is that the division is thin right now. It's an interesting division, because there is a lot of B-grade talent and it makes for nice matchups. I'm not sure Pac could handle a really great true lightweight, but there aren't any of those around right now.

Donny makes a great point that he's targeting a beltholder who can essentially be a warmup/test fight for him. I can't imagine him lossing to David Diaz, but he struggles too much with him, it will be telling.

The only top LW who can both punch and box is Campbell. That's probably the most dangerous fight for him at that weight. Kats can crack, but Manny can outbox Kats, and for that matter,Baby Bull. Casa can't punch, but Manny would overwhelm him, me thinks. Nate has skill AND he can crack a little, esp to a guy coming up. As long as Nate doesn't stick his chin out at Manny...that would be a bad move.

[donnydarkoIRL]

For Pacquiao I feel he should target guys like David Diaz and Casamayor.

Campbell, Diaz and Katsidis are very physical guys and as Manny is undeniably smaller using a physical style those are the guys who could see him beaten.

[p4pking]

I don't think Pac would like Nate Campbells body attack at all, that's the one fighter at LW I would pick over him I think.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

For Pacquiao I feel he should target guys like David Diaz and Casamayor.

Campbell, Diaz and Katsidis are very physical guys and as Manny is undeniably smaller using a physical style those are the guys who could see him beaten.

This is true

[CutMeMick]

I think Nates gonna end up fighting the winner of Julio Diaz vs. Ganoy (Don Kings choice)
I could also see Nate fighting Terron or Cherry.

But something tells me he'll fight Santa Cruz.

[RozzySean]

For Pacquiao I feel he should target guys like David Diaz and Casamayor.

Campbell, Diaz and Katsidis are very physical guys and as Manny is undeniably smaller using a physical style those are the guys who could see him beaten.

You are right about him matching up better against Casa and D.Diaz, but Pac hits harder than Juan Diaz, even though Diaz might be physically stronger, and he's a more skilled fighter. He's got more skill than Kats as well. Those guys do present more difficult matchups, but if he uses his skill and speed, he can outbox them and still have the power to hurt them, even if he can't KO him. We saw how much Juan Diaz's workrate got reduced when he got in with a guy who could hurt him.

That being said, it he got into a pure war with Kats or Bull, he those guys would have a chance to beat him. still, I think Freddy can come up a with a gameplan to beat Bull or Kats, and if Manny can stick to it, he would win.