LAS VEGAS ? The days before a big fight are always a good time to discuss past big fights, so before I delve into a very busy reader mailbag, I thought I’d share what I see as the top 10 performances by a boxer since 2000.
Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily my picks for the best fights, but rather for boxers who performed the best in big fights.
After this, I’ll answer your questions about Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton fight at the MGM Grand Garden, as well as various boxing topics.
10. Miguel Cotto TKO6 Kelson Pinto, Sept. 11, 2004: Cotto was so precise and so devastatingly accurate he nearly ended the previously unbeaten Pinto’s career.
9. Shane Mosley W12 Oscar De La Hoya, June 17, 2000: Mosley established himself as one of the game’s elite with a strong second-half performance in this highly hyped bout.
8. Marco Antonio Barrera W12 Naseem Hamed, April 7, 2001: Barrera destroyed the myth of Hamed with this boxing lesson.
7. Antonio Tarver KO2 Roy Jones Jr., May 15, 2004: Tarver not only knocked Jones cold, but he essentially ended Jones’ reputation as a big-time fighter.
6. Manny Pacquiao TKO11 Marco Antonio Barrera, Nov. 15, 2003: Pacquiao boxed smart en route to pulling a significant upset.
5. Kelly Pavlik TKO7 Jermain Taylor, Sept. 29, 2007: Pavlik was knocked down and nearly out in the second, but he retained his composure and went on to an impressive TKO win.
4. Winky Wright W12 Felix Trinidad, May 14, 2005: Wright won nearly every second of every round.
3. Ricky Hatton TKO11 Kostya Tszyu, June 4, 2005: Tszyu was a massive favorite, but was no match for Hatton’s pressure offense.
2. Bernard Hopkins TKO12 Felix Trinidad, Sept. 29, 2001: It’s almost hard to believe now that Trinidad was a solid favorite going into the fight.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. TKO10 Diego Corrales, Jan. 20, 2001: The signature victory of Mayweather’s marvelous career.
With that, it’s on to the mailbag. Remember, my answers are in italics after the questions.
