As the third and final opinions on the recent pound for pound debate came in, it became very obvious that it is a topic that will forever be undecided until both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally set foot inside of the ring. There isn?t a whole lot more you could ask for from either man as far as skill and ability in the ring but yet their styles and lives in general are drastically different.
What had initially been holding back a possible fight between the two men was their disagreement on the terms that would come with Mayweather?s proposed Olympic style drug testing. Recently Pacquiao went on the record in claiming he would be open to testing up to 14 days before the fight, again breathing life into the possible mega fight coming about.
But until these two men do finally meet all we can do is speculate about who is truly deserving of boxing?s number one spot. Read below for the final set of opinions from insiders in the sport and their thoughts on the recent pound for pound discussion?
Prenice Brewer – Undefeated Jr. Welterweight last seen winning a decision over journeyman Chris Fernandez on ESPN?s airwaves this past March? ?I think to be the best pound 4 pound you got to fight the best out there. Records shouldn?t matter if your fighting the best and winning. If you pick and choose people to fight and you have 0 losses that shouldnt make you pound 4 pound the best. Back in the day they fought each and every one. It?s not like that anymore but yea to be pound for pound the best I think you got to fight the best period.
I think Pacquiao is the best out there. He fights anyone and he fights his heart out every time he steps n the ring. He might not have the skills of floyd but he never duck and dodge any one he fights people if there in there prime or not. He?s not afraid to lose and he tests himself.
I would say floyd is the best but let?s be honest he fights people that are smaller then him or ether old men. I dont respect that. He should be fightin Paul Williams, Cotto, and everyone to prove he?s the best, that?s my oppinion. I mean he did fight Zab who I think would of beat him if he was in top shape at the time but hey that?s jus me. He by far got the best skills but to me its not about that it?s about fighting the best out there not picking and choosing.?
David Mayo, sports columnist for the Grand Rapids Press… ?Pound-for-pound is a relatively simple concept that only gets complex when people overthink it. The most misguided people are the ones who believe a fighter only loses his pound-for-pound mantle — or gains it — by virtue of wins or losses. A pound-for-pound title is on the line every time its holder competes, and the quality of a win may not be good enough to allow him to retain the title. Pacquiao didn’t automatically deserve to keep it just because he beat Clottey decisively, any more than Mayweather automatically deserved to regain it just because he came back from his “retirement.”
The Mayweather-or-Pacquiao debate has drawn pound-for-pound into a brighter light for two reasons: One, there is no other reasonable choice; two, they fight at the same weight and have had difficulty in putting together a head-to-head matchup which would clarify the debate.
Pound-for-pound reduces, simply, to whose best attributes are most suited to overcoming his own worst weaknesses, and whose entire skill set translates best to winning. Mayweather isn’t a huge banger but can get knockouts through accumulation, break down great fighters with his persistence, and rarely take punishment while doing it. Pacquiao isn’t a great defensive fighter and has been knocked down and hurt several times, but his enormous punching power, speed, angles, and whirlwind style usually overcome his defensive deficiencies.
I voted Pacquiao No. 1, ahead of Mayweather, for several months. I changed my vote after the Mosley fight, after seeing Mayweather handle getting hurt, then win the last 30 seconds of that same round, and all of the 10 subsequent rounds. So the one clear advantage Pacquiao has over Mayweather, Mayweather proved capable of overcoming against Mosley. Does that mean he could do the same against Pacquiao? No. Will Pacquiao hurt Mayweather, which rarely happens, just because Mosley did? Not necessarily.
That made my vote easier than it had been in months. Mayweather has the more complete skill set and answered a question we all wanted answered. In my opinion, the result of a fight between him and Pacquiao became clearer that night than it ever had been.?
Ryan Maquinana, www.MaxBoxing.com correspondent… ?I think defining “pound for pound” is very subjective, and there are a variety of ways to do it. One school of thought is purely skill-based, but I feel there are inherent problems with that, because a guy like Zab Judah has more physical tools than Ricky Hatton, but it was Hatton who was in The Ring’s top ten four straight years. Then you have people who claim pure head-to-head, but I think that’s flawed on some level. Just because you think one fighter would hypothetically beat another one in a bigger weight class, he can’t be “pound for pound” the best if he chooses NOT to take those challenges on and instead picks easy, winnable fights. Keep in mind that BELIEVING Fighter A can beat Fighter B and seeing it actually HAPPEN are two different things. A third group of people like to point to an undefeated record, but look at Joe Calzaghe. For years, he was undefeated, but he was punished by the boxing world for avoiding elite fighters at 175 until he finally took some risks later in his career. Finally you have a fourth party who see quality of competition faced and beaten as a benchmark. However, if you solely look at that, active fighters like Roy Jones and Marco Antonio Barrera have longer resumes than most of the current consensus top ten, but they haven’t beaten any elite fighters lately. Recent performance is important. With all of those schools of thought considered, I think you have to weigh ALL of these factors together to define “pound for pound”.
Based on weighing the criteria above, I have Manny Pacquiao at the top of the list right now. First, his offensive repertoire, stamina, and workrate is endless. While he still gets hit from time to time, his defense has improved as well. His chin is underrated; he has not been officially floored since coming to America aside from an actual slip in his first fight with Barrera, and that was seven years and four weight classes ago. Second, up to this point he has taken almost every challenge with the highest of risks as he has moved up in weight.
That’s not to discredit Floyd Mayweather’s accomplishments. I think he’s arguably more complete as far as skill sets are concerned because of his immaculate defense. He was deservedly “pound for pound” the best when Hopkins lost to Taylor, especially since at the time he had cleaned out 130 pounds by dominating Genaro Hernandez and Corrales, and after struggling against Castillo in his first fight at 135, beat him easily in the rematch and took on the best available there. What he did at those two weight classes was emblematic of “pound for pound”, and had he continued a similar pattern the last six years, he would have been the clearcut No. 1 in my book.?
Jorge Teron, Lightweight contender… ?What makes a fighter the best “pound for pound” fighter in the world differs depending on who you ask. In my opinion it has to be a fighter who’s skills transcend his own weight class. Also this fighter must have multiple wins over opposition that’s considered above average if not also “pound for pound”. The #1 “pound for pound” boxer in the world today has to be Floyd Mayweather Jr. Manny Pacquiao would be 1a on my list. Both of these guys have the skills and the r?sum? to claim that they’re the best fighter around which is boxing fans everywhere want to see them fight.?
Bret Newton, photographer whose work can be found at www.Pound4Pound.com… ?To me, a p4p fighter fights the best in his division, and surrounding divisions once that is complete. beating other p4p ranked fighters is a huge plus.
Right now, Pacquiao is the number 1 p4p fighter, but Mayweather has a strong case. the only thing that seperates them is the quality of opposition. Pacquiao has faced more top fighters in their prime than floyd has, as well as p4p ranked fighters. JMM and Cotto have always been p4p top 10 fighters in their prime and while Pacquiao fought them. While Mosley has been on and off the top 10 list, I dont think his win over Margarito deserved a top 3 position, so the win for Floyd isnt as great as some may think. I just look at each opponents both have fought and ask myself how they truly ranked at the time they fought them. Morales was at the top of his game when he fought Pacquiao 3 times. As was Barrera and JMM. That’s unheard of fighting those 3 legends and beating them more than once each. Mayweather hasnt done that. At the time he fought and put the first loss on Hatton’s record, Cotto and Margarito were ranked higher.?
Percy Crawford, www.FightHype.com correspondent… ?I base my pound for pound criteria on skill set and skill set alone. Personally I don’t think Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins and a lot of other pound for pound #1 guys fought great competition when they were considered the best in the sport, but their skill set was ahead of the pack and for that reason they stood in a class alone.
That’s why Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds that crown for me. I think Floyd’s skill set would allow him to fight in any weight class and have some type of success. Now I’m not saying Mayweather would have a shot at the Klitschkos, but his speed, reflexes, defensive wizardry and counter punching ability would allow him to hold his own in any (makeable) and respectable weight class. Pacquiao is a phenom right now, but I just don’t think his style holds up against a Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams type of fighter. The damage done to his face by the little punches Joshua Clottey threw is all I needed to see to argue that fact. Hey, has Pacquiao won is more spectacular fashion? Sure! But skill for skill in my humble opinion Pacquiao isn’t in the same league; although he is 2nd on my list.?
Brandon Estrict, www.DogHouseBoxing.com feature writer… ?What makes a pound for pound fighter the best in the world? You can ask 100 people and get 200 different answers, so the subject is very much open to interpretation. I’m sure I could come up with 8 different takes on the criteria, but for your sake I’ll try and pick the most pertinent one!
I feel that skills make up any pound-for-pound champion. Ring IQ and diversity come before physical attributes. Intangibles play a big part as well. Things as simple as conditioning and one’s ‘fighting spirit’ or mental make-up are important. A guy like Jermain Taylor, nothing against him, had all the physical tools in the world but without those other things, it’s irrelevant.
Can said fighter whether adversity? Can he make adjustments necessary to win a fight?
The central meaning of pound-for pound, to me, is ‘who would win a fight if everything was on equal ground?’ If Paul Williams and Fernando Montiel were both 6’1″ with an 82 inch reach, or both 5’4″ with a 66 1/2″ reach, who would win? If Andre Berto and Yuriorkis Gamboa were naturally the same size man (or at least comparable), who’d get the better of a head-to-head matchup?
At the top of the heap in boxing today, I go with Floyd Mayweather. You couldn’t go wrong with Manny Pacquiao either, but Floyd is the more skilled fighter and can win in many different ways, as he reminded us all by walking down and punishing the bigger and supposedly stronger Shane Mosley.
Even if you were to go by accomplishments, Floyd would have to remain the number fighter in boxing. Pacquiao’s run has been nothing short of historic, considering the fashion in which he’s won his fights, but the only reason he was elevated to the top was because Mayweather retired.
During that period, Pacquiao beat two guys, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, that Mayweather had already bested. Since Floyd has returned to the sport, Pacquiao has beaten Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey while Floyd has won 23 of 24 rounds from the number 2 and 3 pound-for-pound fighters at the time, Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez. Freddie Roach didn’t want Manny fighting Mosley, and Marquez gave Pacquiao hell in two fights; many think he won one of them, if not both.
Once could argue that Marquez was a smaller man and Mosley is an aging warrior, but then you’d have to hold a magnifying glass to Pacquiao’s wins as well. The version of Oscar he beat was drained and wasn’t nearly as good as the one Floyd moved up to fight, and Hatton was severely depleted by time Pacquiao got to him. Cotto was his best win, but even then, he forced him down 2 pounds below the welterweight limit and Cotto hadn’t been the same since being pummeled by a possibly loaded (figuratively and literally) Antonio Margarito. Joshua Clottey, to my view, didn’t belong in the ring (which he proved) with Pacquiao as he hadn’t earned that right.
At the end of the day, all things being equal, I feel Floyd Mayweather is the most skilled fighter in the sport and don’t see anyone beating him at 147, or possibly even 154. I think he’d handle the Pac-man much easier than you’d think, and the only opponents who may eventually trouble him are Mother Nature and Father Time.?
Danny ?Swift? Garcia, undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect? ?In your opinion what makes a fighter ‘pound for pound’ best? has to win titles in 3 different weight classes in dominant fashion against top champions.
In your eyes who is the best fighter in the world today and why? floyd mayweather i dont see nobody beating him hes to smart hes a boxing technition.?
Kofi Jantuah, former Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight title contender from Ghana? ?In my point of view pound for pound the best is a fighter who is well rounded and who is able to beat and dominate the highest level of opposition out there….I think pound for pound the best right now is between Manny and Floyd,but i will say it?s Manny and I am basing it on the most recent fights of both fighters. Manny has been more dominant in his wins against orscar,Hatton, Cotto,and Clottey, as compare to Floyd’s wins over Orscar, Marquez, Hatton,and Shane.?
Armando Alvarez, www.MaxBoxing.com correspondent from Miami, Florida… ?What makes a fighter the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is big wins over big opponents, overall skill, and dominance in the sport. That’s why to me Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to be the best in the business. He’s one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. He is the definition of what boxing is. It’s a sport where the objective is to hit and avoid being hit. Mayweather does both. I’ve always been big on defense in boxing; reason why I also ranked Pernell Whitaker the best when he was in his prime.?
Elie Seckbach, Embedded Correspondent for www.FanHouse.com… ?Best p4p would have to go by skill level and weight class. You can’t expect a bantamweight superstar to takeout a Heavyweight superstar.
Best and most popular fighter today is Manny Pacquiao. He destryos folks in the ring, has a following like a rap star and is great for boxing. I will add that the best American fighter is Floyd Mayweather. And I can’t wait for the Pacquiao – Mayweather clash.?
Stephen Jones, www.BraggingRightsCorner.com contributor from London with a vast knowledge of the sport, particularly the Heavyweight division? ?In my humble Opinion, the pound for pound best boxer in the world label belongs to the one individule who would be considered head and shoulders above all others on most aspects of the game if everyone were on a level playing field… All same weight poundage, just skills and determination etc .. and god given talent to be the only advantage… ie.. If KLitschko were same weight as Pac and had to fight him with the advantages that he has over many heavyweights skill wise etc as Pac has in his Jr Welterweight or whatever division he currently reigns in. Weight or size having no part to play …
The finest fighter Universally in my eyes has to be lil Floyd jr.. He is the closest thing to a man who was literally born to lace gloves on.. His Father and uncles were all class fighters.. and it just paved the way for him to become what he is.. You can like him or loath him, but you can’t deny that he is the largest talent out there, Manny Pacquiao comes in a close second in my opinion only because he has shown flaws in his makeup on occasion.. but the fight between the two would be a treat to watch?
Moses Verded, writer for Boxing Digest Magazine? ?For me the way you judge best “pound-for-Pound” is body of work, qulaity of opposition, and accomplishments ( multiple division Champion). But mainly its who you have fought who you have beaten and how impressive was it.
The best fighter is the world today is Manny. He not only challenges himself by fighting the best, he also does it ina weight that is not natually his. Hes exciting to watch which is important and he looks impressive in dismatiling bigger opponents. Mayweather is phenomional but two things in my book make him number 2 rather than number 1. Quality of opposition has been lacking for years, while manny has fought the best for a long time.
Mayweather has wasted nothing fights with Judah, who lost his previous fight, with mitchell, and with the likes of henry Bruseles. And hes also not the most excity to watch. Thats why for me Manny is number one until if and when Mayweather defeats him.?
Tommy Rainone, Welterweight hopeful from New York getting ready for a June 5th appearance on the Cotto-Foreman undercard? ?Pound for pound in my opinion is a combination of beating the best competition over a period of longevity and the more dominant the performance the better.
Take your pick, it?s either Pacquiao or Mayweather. Pacquiao was on Mayweather?s coattails before Floyd retired and many, even as far back as three years ago, considered Pacquiao #1 and Mayweather #2 behind based on the excitement in Pacquiao?s performances. Floyd retired and Pacquiao moved up to a higher weight to dominate De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto before totally owning Clottey in his last fight so in the court of public opinion most consider Pacquiao the P4P best.
It?s an endless debate that won?t be settled until they meet in the ring and they will meet in the ring.?
John Chavez, Correspondent for www.TheBoxingTruth.com… ?The best “pound for pound” boxer in my eyes is the fighter who shows that he has the physical ability coupled with the skillset to set him apart from the rest of the boxing world. Skillset is more important than physical ability when it comes to the “pound for pound” sense being that it is the original argument of who would beat who if size and strength were relatively equal.
The best fighter in the world today is… Manny Mayweather aka Floyd Pacquiao. Both guys are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. They need to fight to determine who is better as my opinion is useless in this argument as to who is superior.?
Colin Seymour, San Francisco Boxing Examiner… ?Pound-for-Pound ratings are meant to project how certain fighters would fare if they were a different height, and hence a different weight, than they actually are. Thus the pound-for-pound rankings do a good job of giving the smaller guys their due and in some cases projecting their skill sets to be the best in the world if size were not a factor.
What makes these projections worthwhile is the supposition that most fighters compete at the lowest weight they can, and that moving up in weight increases the likelihood that a lesser fighter?s pure muscle and bulk would overpower the more skilled but smaller fighter.
I rate Floyd Mayweather the best fighter pound-for-pound today and surely among the top 10 all time. But he?s only 5-foot-8 and his frame at welterweight looks too big to take on any more bulk successfully. He should think carefully about moving up to middleweight if he wants to continue his risk-averse patterns.
Manny Pacquiao is a close second. His lightening punching ability is sure to give Mayweather the kind of problems Floyd suffered in the second round of his victory over Shane Mosley. But Mayweather?s physical versatility and ring generalship would enable him to dictate the style of fight even against Pacquiao and win a decision, as has been the pattern throughout a career in which Mayweather has not come close to being beaten.?
Lourdes Carrero, Director of Boxing for Warrior?s Boxing… ?I think getting everyone’s perspective on pound for pound is a great idea. Nowadays everybody thinks they know boxing but most people are just groupies. On that note,
Pound for pound to me means a fighter who has fought and beaten everyone in each division and has gradually worked their way up. A fighter who will fight anyone, in any place at any time.
The Pound for pound fighters I would have to say is Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. I can’t choose one yet. Floyd talks a lot but he backs it up in the ring with his skills and his speed as he did by beating Shane Mosley. Manny he is a machine. A freak of nature especially after beating Oscar Dela Hoya. The winner of that fight if and when it happens will be the MAN, will be the reigning P4P in this amazing sport of boxing. I mean this is the only sport that two fighters trash talk each other before the fight, beat each other up in the ring and then hug it out like they have been friends for life. You got love it?
George Elsasser, old school boxing mind whose work can be found regularly at www.BraggingRightsCorner.com… ?In my alleged mind and dating back to a whole different era (circa 1940s) the label “pound for pound” was reserved for the special few. Back then it was Louis, Robinson, Pep. Thinking back on it, I would say pound for pound translated to most dominant. My updated slow moving thinking today process would give the nod to a Ray “Sugar” Robinson via ongoing dominance over superb talent at both welterweight and middleweight.
To quote the truly great yesterday featherweight champ Willie Pep, “There’s boxers and those that fight with their face” – my today choice has to be the unbeaten dominant Floyd Mayweather Jr. Has the throwback schooling that see no other today coming close. Has the punching power to keep the opposition honest – coupled with second to none defense. On that note, Floyd gets my vote for pound per pound best.
I would, however, go with the second coming of “Sugar Ray” in Ray Leonard, over Floyd were he around today, and at prime time.?
Round 3 Tallies Floyd Mayweather 8 Manny Pacquiao 6 Undecided 4
Final Tallies Floyd Mayweather 26 Manny Pacquiao 23 Wladimir Klitschko 1 Undecided 8
