Manny Pacquiao’s five favorite fights

Manny Pacquiao, 37, is training for his Nov. 5 bout in Las Vegas against World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas. It will be Pacquiao’s first fight since being elected to the Senate in his native Philippines.

In his long career, Pacquiao has held championships in a record eight weight classes. Last year, he gave The Times’ Lance Pugmire a list of his five favorite fights:

1. Oscar De La Hoya, 2008

Moving up two weight classes to meet the then-pay-per-view king from East Los Angeles was seen as a long shot, but Pacquiao’s speed and power bridged the weight divide. Pacquiao exploited De La Hoya’s slipping skills lost to age and produced the upset, with De La Hoya quitting on his stool after eight rounds.

2. Ricky Hatton, May 2009

“There’s only one Ricky Hatton!” as the song goes, but Hatton said it looked like Pacquiao was swinging two hands at once as the Brit failed to survive a monstrous second-round left to the chin that floored Hatton and quickly halted the fight.

3. Miguel Cotto, November 2009

A former flyweight, Pacquiao proved himself as a bona fide welterweight by knocking down Cotto twice before finishing him by technical knockout in the 12th. Pacquiao’s punching speed and rapid movement avoided Cotto’s attempts to pound the body. The lopsided win amplified calls for a bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

4. Antonio Margarito, 2010

Pacquiao came to Jerry Jones’ AT&T Stadium and conquered Mexico’s Margarito before an estimated 50,000 to win a junior-middleweight belt. Margarito suffered a serious eye injury during the punishment, and Pacquiao mercifully retreated from inflicting more damage in the late-going.

5. Marco Antonio Barrera I, 2003

While Pacquiao’s trilogy against Erik Morales and his four bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez (two Pacquiao victories, a draw and a knockout loss) were classics, this dominant triumph against Barrera, a true warrior, put Pacquiao on the map. He displayed flurries and speed that would define his signature ring style for a decade.

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Twitter: @latimespugmire