What makes Manny Pacquiao a “greater boxer” than the undefeated and former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

For Ring Magazine’s Michael Rosenthal, it’s the Filipino’s “thrill factor” that he brings each time he trades blows inside the ring.   

It was Rosenthal who compiled the “Bible of Boxing’s” roster of best fighters in boxing history. The list named Pacquiao as the Greatest Boxer in 2000s while Mayweather was only chosen second.

Rosenthal conceded that Mayweather may have been the most naturally gifted of today’s fighters with a perfect record of 39-0.

He, however, said that “skills and winning are only part of the equation of being the “greatest”.

“To me, the greatest fighters aren’t just admirable; they’re part technician and all warrior. They, too, have exceptional skills and win consistently but also take risks, both in terms of who they fight and in the ring,” said Rosenthal in his article.

'It's those thrills'

“That’s what fans pay to see – fights, not dance contests. They want those thrills, the kind that Pacquiao provided in a heaping dose with his one-punch knockout of Ricky Hatton on May 2,” he added.

Rosenthal cited the observations of Mike Silver, an historian and author of The Arc of Boxing, in comparing Pacquiao with Mayweather.

“Let’s just look at the two fights against Hatton,” Silver was quoted as saying. “Mayweather calls Hatton ‘the toughest fighter I ever faced’ and Pacquiao utterly destroyed him. C’mon, if Mayweather has the skills he professes to have, he should’ve dominated a club fighter like Hatton."

“And a prime [Oscar] de la Hoya beats Mayweather. Every time (de la Hoya) threw the left jab, Mayweather had no answer. A great fighter doesn’t react that way to a left jab.”

Better opposition

Rosenthal has also compared the list of fighters Pacquiao faced with those of Mayweather.

He said the Filipino bomber faced “better opposition” in three future hall of famers from Mexico – Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Mayweather also has faced some elite fighters – Genaro Hernandez, Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales, among others -- but has been extremely selective,” said Rosenthal.

Rosenthal said his point will be strengthened should the anticipated match between Pacquiao and Mayweather push through.

“Pacquiao would be the one taking the risk by fighting a bigger man,” he said. “That’s what Pacquiao is all about. And why I believe he’s the greater fighter.”