MANILA, Philippines – Seven-division world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has been credited by Yahoo! Sports for his significant contributions to boxing.

According to the list “Boxing’s most influential” done by Yahoo! Sports writer Kevin Iole, Pacquiao is the 25th most influential person in boxing.

Iole explained that the fighter-turned-congressman is “one of the elite active boxers whose passionate Asian following has helped make him an international superstar and fodder for non-traditional boxing media such as CNN, Time Magazine and GQ.”

Pacquiao was ranked higher than Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who was at No. 70.

The undefeated American was described as “one of the finest boxers of his era.” He holds the 2.45 million pay-per-view (PPV) record with No. 37 Oscar de la Hoya for their May 5, 2007 fight.

De la Hoya was recognized for being the biggest PPV star, one of the greatest boxers of his time, and an elite promoter as founder and president of Golden Boy Promotions.

Boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis emerged on top of the list. Ali was No. 1 for his tremendous impact on the sport.

“His style, with his hands at his side, circling the ring and flicking out jabs, has influenced generations of fighters. His ability to promote an event and give one a reason to watch has been unmatched,” Iole wrote.

Louis, who came in second to Ali, was cited for being a civil rights pioneer.

“Louis was an American hero at a time when African Americans were decades away from achieving civil rights.”

Aside from boxers, the Yahoo! Sports “most influential” list included promoters, managers, trainers, broadcasters, television executives, journalists, authors and politicians who have contributed to the sport.

Arum in Top 5

Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank, Inc. CEO Bob Arum, was named the No. 4 most influential person in boxing.

He was regarded as “one of, if not the, top promoters in boxing for nearly 50 years.”

He has promoted many boxing superstars such as Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard (No. 12), George Foreman (No. 31), de la Hoya, Mayweather, Roberto Duran.

Iole also noted that Arum was the first promoter to regularly utilize boxing on cable television with his “Top Rank Boxing” series on ESPN.

Two other promoters rounded up the Top 5 “most influential” list with Tex Rickard at No. 3 and Don King at No. 5.

Other boxers who made it to the list include Sugar Ray Robinson (No. 6), Jack Dempsey (No. 7), Jack Johnson (No. 8), Henry Armstrong (No. 11), Rocky Marciano (No. 15), Mike Tyson (No. 16), Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. (No. 27), Joe Frazier (No. 40), Evander Holyfield (No. 68), Roy Jones, Jr. (No. 77), Bernard Hopkins (No. 78), Ray Mancini (No. 91), Lennox Lewis (No. 94) and Felix Trinidad (No. 97).

Angelo Dundee, who trained Ali, Leonard as well as Foreman during his comeback, was at No. 19. – With a report from Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports