World Boxing Council International superfeatherweight champion Manny Pacquiao was voted the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, results of the latest World Boxing Media (WBM) Pro Boxing Poll revealed.
Pacquiao replaced Floyd Mayweather Jr., the reigning International Boxing Federation welterweight champion, as the world’s best fighter on the WBM Pro Boxing Poll website as of July 7, 2006.
The poll aimed to recognize the achievements of deserving professional boxers based on votes by boxing journalists all over the world.
Pacquiao, who beat two-time world champion Oscar Larios on July 2, relegated Mayweather to the number two spot.
Mexican champion Marco Antonio Barrera, the reigning WBC superfeatherweight champion whom Pacquiao dealt a shameful loss almost three years ago, placed sixth on the list.
Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao also defeated in January, was not included in the top 12.
The WBM has over forty voting members from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Panama, Australia and New Zealand. Membership is open to any professional media person covering professional boxing whether they are from print, television, radio or the Internet.
