by Thomas Hauser, Top Rank

Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a four-part series by Hauser examining the May 7th welterweight title fight between champ Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley. The first one is available here.

Throughout its history as a mainstream sport, boxing has been inextricably linked in the public mind to the heavyweight champion of the world.

There were times when he wasn’t even the best fighter in the division. James Braddock was overshadowed by Joe Louis. Sonny Liston lurked ominously during Floyd Patterson’s reign. And in the 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran shared the spotlight with the heavyweights.

But for most of boxing’s history, from the early English pugilists through Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis (who engaged in the last heavyweight title fight that truly mattered), the heavyweight champion has been The Man. Everyone, not just sports fans, knew his name.

Manny Pacquiao is now more important to boxing than the heavyweight champion. He has become the face of boxing.

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