1. TIE: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, KO) / Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO)
I really can?t see it any other way. If these two modern day legends aren?t neck and neck right now, I see no way of separating them. While their feuding fan bases will no doubt argue it to the bitter end, the only way I see this one getting settled is in the ring. The word amazing isn?t strong enough to sum up what Manny Pacquiao has done in the last few years between 130 and 147 pounds. While Mayweather took some time off his two fights since returning have been outright artistic. Both men are at their absolute peak and writing history with each fight. This is the very reason the entire sporting world is salivating at the thought of these two squaring off, and for good reason. It is the only way that one of them is going to definitively surpass the other.
3. Paul Williams (38-1, 27 KO)
Perhaps one of the best literal examples of what the ?pound-for-pound? moniker is all about, Paul ?The Punisher? Williams moves freely between three weight divisions reeking fistic havoc on fighters of all sizes. The freakishly tall welterweight / junior middleweight / middleweight has had no problem moving up in weight to find opponents willing to take him on. His most recent win over Sergio Martinez (now middleweight champion of the world) was regarded by many as one of the best fights of 2009.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO)
A loss after moving up in weight to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his last bout isn?t enough to drop Marquez very far on this list. While the closeness of his battles with Manny Pacquiao serve to illustrate his belonging near the very top of this list, it was back to back KO victories over Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz (two fighters who had never been previously stopped) in his first two fights at lightweight that cement Marquez?s place among boxing?s elite.
5. Chad Dawson (29-0, 17 KO)
At 27 years old Chad Dawson is a veteran of fights against championship caliber fighters in the light heavyweight division. Since taking on the durable Eric Harding as a youngster in his first fight at 175 pounds, Dawson has gone on to defeat both former light heavyweight champions Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver twice. ?Bad? Chad also holds a very attractive win over former cruiserweight champion turned heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek. Dawson?s speed and abilities are on par with the very best in the entire support and the sky is the limit for this bright young champion.
6. Ivan Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KO)
If you?re reading this thinking Ivan is placed too high here? tough. The guy was already fighting bigger men when campaigning at boxing?s minimum limit of 105 pounds. His move up in weight to beat the fearsome Hugo Cazares (who weighed 130 pounds in the ring) illustrates what Ivan Calderon is all about. The fluidity with which the ?Iron boy? moves, dipping in and out of a near squat position to throw quick darting punches while moving in and out of range ? is unparalleled in all of boxing.
7. Nonito Donaire (23-1, 15 KO)
Nonito Donaire is one of the brightest stars in boxing?s lower weight divisions. The 26 year old Donaire has fought in three divisions since turning pro, with his biggest win a violent one-punch knockout over fellow pound-for-pound entrant Vic Darchinyan. Donaire?s height and reach make him a formidable opponent in and around the flyweight division with his adept boxing ability and stiff punching power. Donaire is perhaps one of the best young examples of a boxer/puncher in the sport.
8. Timothy Bradley (25-0, 11 KO)
WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley has been coming on at a torrid pace in the last couple of years, amassing a very impressive run at the top of one of boxing?s hottest divisions. In his last five bouts Bradley has gone undefeated against Junior Witter, Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, and Lamont Peterson. It was the most recent win over Peterson that really underlined Bradley?s emergence as one of the top young fighters in all of boxing.
9. Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO)
The newly crowned middleweight champion of the world is Sergio Martinez, and his twelve round beating of former champion Kelly Pavlik was no fluke. Martinez gave Paul Williams all he could handle in one of the best fights of 2009 and prior to that drew (in a fight many feel he won) against highly regarded junior middleweight Kermit Cintron. Martinez is now the main man in one of boxing?s most illustrious divisions and makes his debut on FightFan.com?s top ten pound-for-pound list as a result.
10. David Haye (24-1, 22 KO)
David ?Haymaker? Haye ran the table unifying the cruiserweight division, and with his recent foray in the heavyweight division it?s easy to forget the his stunning KO?s of Jean Marc Mormeck and Enzo Maccarinelli just two years back. But those feats are no less impressive. Espically when (since that time) Haye has moved up into the heavyweight division and in two fights captured the WBA heavyweight title. Haye obliterated Monte Barrett, lifted the WBA strap from the giant Valuev, and has since battered the normally durable John Ruiz into retirement. Haye?s dominance in unifying cruiserweight coupled with his fast rise at heavyweight has him debuting on our list.
