By Brent Matteo Alderson

John David Jackson, a former world champion and one of the game’s top trainers thinks that Manny Pacquiao has avoided fighting African American fighters through out his career, “Pacquiao never fights black fighters. Name one good fighter black fighter he’s fought in the last five years.  He’s avoided them like the plague,” commented Jackson. 

The former WBA Middleweight champion and WBO 154 pound champion reiterated, “If you’re pound for pound the best fighter in the world, fight everybody.  You can’t be selective; you have to fight the best.  I don’t know if it’s been his management or his promoters, but he avoids fighting African American fighters.  I’m not trying to be racist, it’s just a fact, he doesn’t fight them.” 

When asked about the talented African American fighters the Philippine legend could have faced over the course of the last few years he stated, “Nate Campbell and Floyd Mayweather.  At 140 and 147 there are a lot of guys he can fight.”   

Favorite Quote: - Marvin Hagler once commented, “If they cut my big bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove.  That’s all I am.  I live it. 

I will be very very surprised if Mayweather fights Juan Manuel Marquez in his comeback fight and really think all this noise surrounding the possible match is the result of Marquez’s people trying to push the fight on the public.  I will say this though, I’d sure like to watch it.  

Brent Matteo Alderson, a graduate of UCLA, has been part of the staff at BoxingScene.com since 2004. Alderson's published work has appeared in publications such as Ring Magazine, KO, World Boxing, Boxing 2008, and Latin Boxing Magazine. Alderson has also been featured on the ESPN Classic television program “Who’s Number One?”  Please e-mail any comments to BoxingAficionado@aol.com