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Here it is, the top twenty pound for pound list according to Boxingtalk publisher G. Leon. There's been a ton of movement since our last update. Who's in? Who's out? Read on and see for yourself. Last Update: April 13, 2009
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| Pacquiao boasts a 6-1-1 record in eight fights with future hall of famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya, which is the primary reason Pacman is regarded as the best fighter in the world. Pacquiao is the only fighter in boxing who can bring Floyd Mayweather Jr out of retirement. His May 2 bout with Ricky Hatton will be a huge event and I don't expect Pacquaio to disappoint. | | |
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| The living legend continues to put stamp on his hall of fame career. He first thoroughly dominating former three time light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, took a decision over Winky Wright, lost a split decision to Joe Calzaghe and then as a 4-1 underdog, straight up schools Previously undefeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, what can you say about the man? Love him or hate him as a fighter, he's one of the greatest of all time. PERIOD. Funny how the more things change the more they stay the same. After this weekend, the talk of boxing could be the rematch with Roy Jones Jr, the man Hopkins last feels he suffered a legitimate loss to. | | |
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| The best Mexican fighter in the world continues to climb this list as he enhances his hall of fame credentials. After losing a controversial split decision to Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel moved up in weight and handed former lightweight champions Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz their first stoppage losses. Marquez is still looking for a third fight with Pacquiao, but until that happens Marquez will rule the lightweight division with an iron-fist. | | |
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| Paul Williams showed everybody how to erase an upset loss as he disposed of Carlos Quintana in Roy Jones-Montell Griffien like fashion. His huge win over Margarito, the nature in which he avenged his lone loss, coupled with dominating victories over Verno Phillips and the never before dominated Winky Wright places the Punisher inside the top 5. Frankly, I believe he's a serious problem for ANYBODY in boxing. Fights with Pavlik and Abraham MUST happen. It should be interesting to see which one of them (if either of them) is first to step up to the plate. | | |
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| The boxing world need not question the heart and will of Israel Vazquez, as severe cuts above both eyes weren't enough to prevent him from he avenging his earlier loss to Rafael Marquez via sixth round stoppage, creating boxing's need great rivalry, which Vazquez is winnING (not won) following his second straight victory over Rafael Marquez. The Marquez rubbermatch came down to the twelfth round, Vazquez dominated and ultimately dropped Rafael, which was the difference on the judges scorecards. | | |
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| He failed to get the decision against the younger, stronger Miguel Cotto, but future hall of famer "Sugar" Shane Mosley proved he has quite a bit left in his tank. The nature in which he dominated and knocked out Antonio Margarito makes it impossible for me to pick Cotto in a rematch over Mosley. who finds himself closer to the top of this list than he's been in the last seven years. | | |
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| Very few fighters would maintain a spot in my top ten following two straight losses. Rafael Marquez is one of my marines and his status as one of the best in the world should not be altered following his thrilogy with Israel Vazquez. Who wouldn't love to see Marquez fight Ponce De Leon or Caballero? What better way to set up a fourth Vazquez fight than having Rafa secure another title first? | | |
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| The Pride of Puerto Rico finds himself back in the top ten primarily due to the shadow of doubt that has been "cast" on his lone loss to Margarito. Holds wins over Zab Judah and Sugar Shane Mosley. Returned with an easy stoppage win to take the WBA trinket from Michael Jennings and now looks towards the tough as nails Ghanan Joshua Clottey in a welterweight unification bout. | | | NEXT: | HBO JUNE 13 VS. JOSHUA CLOTTEY |
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| What can be said about Kelly Pavlik that he hasn't shown us already? He's got power, heart, will and most importanly, he is the best middleweight on the planet. Jose Luis Zertuche, Edison Miranda and previously unbeaten champion Jermain Taylor can attest to that. Although Pavlik's knockout streak came to an end against Taylor, and he was completely mastered by living legend Bernard Hopkins, most expect Pavlik to return to 160, where he rules with an iron fist. Pavlik's level of opposition MUST improve because boxing fans can only take so many Marco Antonio Rubio's and Sergio Mora's. Pavlik needs to fight Abraham, Sturm or Williams later this year to make up for the easy fights that he's been taking. | | | NEXT: | HBO VS. SERGIO MORA |
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| The undefeated IBO and IBF light heavyweight champion vacated his WBC strap and nearly shut out Antonio Tarver in what proved to be his career defining performance. The young Dawson still has much to learn, but he's a difficult out for anybody at light heavyweight. It's a shame that Glen Johnson, the man whom many, including myself, feel got the better of him will most likely never get the rematch he and boxing fans deserve. Dawson cannpt be punished too heavily for looking to become the first man to defeat Antonio Tarver in a rematch, besides nobody else but Glen Johnson really wants to fight him. | | | NEXT: | HBO MAY 9 VS. ANTONIO TARVER |
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| Followed up his career best performance against Tszyu with a solid stoppage victory over Carlos Maussa, who unexpectedly captured the WBA title from Vivian Harris, a title Hatton vacated title after WBA appointed M'baye as its latest mismandatory. Although he was awarded the WBA welterweight title, saying his title winning effort was less than stellar is being kind to the most popular boxer in the UK, but to his credit Hatton moved back down to his natural weight class and after a workmanlike performance over Juan Urango, "The Hitman" lived up to his name as he blasted out perennial pound for pounder Jose Luis Castillo in four rounds. After calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr and getting the whooping he asked for, Hatton again returns to 140 where he has been much more successful. With Golden Boy Promotions guiding him, Hatton's next few fights are sure to be meaningful. Thoroughly dominated the always game Paul Malignaggi in his Vegas return and looks to be in line to face the winner of the De La Hoya-Pacquiao mega fight. As expected Hatton got the winner and he will face Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in the biggest fight of 09 until further notice. Kudos to Hatton for consistently facing the best opposition. | | | NEXT: | HBO PPV MAY 2 VS. MANNY PACQUIAO |
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| The best damn little fighter in the world makes a way late debut on Boxingtalk's top 20 pound for pound. Now that he's here I'm sure all of my boricua brothers will be telling me it's about time. I just hope the time comes where Calderon scarfs down enough Pollo Gusiado con arroz y habichuelas to face Vic Darchinyan at 115. | | |
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| The Winkster finds himself outside of my top ten for the first time since he first defeated Sugar Shane Mosley. After he lost a close to fight to Bernard Hopkins, Wright was, for some reason out of action for nearly two years before he was fed to Paul Williams. Was it great Williams and horrendous Wright that lead to such a one-sided outcome? I think it was a bit of both, however it will be extremely difficult for Wright to return to the HBO marquee as the A player. | | |
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| The undisputed 115 pound champion makes his debut on Boxingtalk's pound for pound list. I'd never thought I'd reluctantly place an undisputed champion on my list, but until Darchinyan, actually, until his promoter allows him to face Nonito Donaire again, it'll be tough for Darchinyan to find himself ranked where he belongs, in the top 7. The unification bout with the African champion who fights every other year that nobody has heard of, is fine, but nobody would rather see that than the Donaire rematch. Disloyal people should be knocked out, not avoided. Hopefully my dear friends at GSP figure that out soon. | | |
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| Jermain Taylor finds himself outside of my top ten for the first time since he decisioned living legend Bernard Hopkins. Taylor's less than stellar title reign came to a crashing halt at the hands of Kelly Pavlik. To Taylor's credit, the Pavlik fight was more entertaining than his title winning effort and previous defenses combined. Although Taylor took back to back L's I still want to see him fight as much as I ever. Taylor defeated fellow Olypian Jeff Lacy in his last fight and will now face Carl Froch in his first super middleweight title challenge. | | | NEXT: | SHOWTIME APRIL 25 VS. CARL FROCH |
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| Why is he still on the list? Because he makes legends out of champions and superstars out of solid fighters. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of boxing only true superstar. I would love to see Oscar get a win under his belt and then look to make a fight with one of the future hall of famers he hasn't fought like Vernon Forrest or Winky Wright. | | |
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| File this one under better late than never. Former super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler made his debut on Boxingtalk's pound for pound list last time around and now climbs one spot following his "all I've got to give" kind of effort against the great Joe Calzaghe. The super middleweight division could be Kessler's to rule now that Calzaghe will campaign at light heavyweight. | | |
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| Saying he shocked the world, might be a bit much. But beating Juan Diaz at his own game to become the WBO/IBF/WBA lightweight champion certainly surprised a few and certainly Mr. Diaz. If Campbell enters the ring with the same attitude and edge he displayed during the Diaz fight, nobody at 135 or 140 pounds will beat him. | | |
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| Righted his wrong against Sergio Mora emphatically to reclaim his status as the king of the junior middles. Forrest must make a marqiee fight in 2009 to stay on the list, but I'm expecting big things from V-mizzle and I wouldnt be shocked if he fought Kelly Pavlik some time this year. | | | NEXT: | SHOWTIME APRIL 24 VS. A TUNE-UP |
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| This spot could have went to Arthur Abraham, Celestino Caballero, Joshua Clottey, Nonito Donaire or Chris John, who happen to round off my next five, but after watching his fight with Chad Dawson six times and not seeing him lose once, it's tough for me to keep somebody I feel is the best light heavyweight in the world off the list. | | |
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