PRO BOXING 10 MOST ELITE FIGHTERS
San Francisco, CA- As is the case every time a pundit puts forth a list of boxing’s best performers ‘pound for pound,’ there will be many who will be quick to jump up and holler because some fighters listed here are not in other people’s compilations. On the flipside, there might be some names here that have you scratching your heads in this is a deep look at the sport of boxing division by division.
MAYWEATHER NOT WORTHY OF #1!
What I’m going to say is that even though Floyd Mayweather (39-0, 24 KOs) is the ?best? boxer in a lot of boxing minds, the fact that he has decided against fighting either Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito hurts that claim. Having watched Roberto Duran, Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Wilfred Benitez, and even ?Pipino Cuevas say, “line ’em up,” Floyd has decided not to. Fighting once in 18 months is another detracting part of a decision over numero uno (#1), at least in my mind. This is especially true when both fights on each end of this 18 month period are “walks.” If this inactivity was brought about by a serious injury or a lack of competition, neither of which have afflicted Mayweather, he might have gotten a pass. As far as I?m concerned, he?s retired.
EXPLANATIONS & THEN THE 10 BEST LIST
ISRAEL VAZQUEZ Not only has he won 2 out of the 3 best fights in recent annals, this against Rafael Marquez, Israel Vasquez, the world 122 lb. champion has skills to match the size of his gigantic stones, his record stands at 43-4, 31 KOs and is 30 years of age. With the exception of the first Marquez encounter when he suffered a nose injury that was a breath suppressant, Israel has not lost in six turns of the calendar, and then only to former ?pound for pound? list member Oscar Larios.
KELLY PAVLIK Besting Jermain Taylor twice in my mind is one hell of an accomplishment. And don?t forget, Kelly stopped Edison Miranda too! For a while I was of the opinion that Pavlik was just a ?creation? of Top Rank?s ?house? manager Cameron Dunkin and matchmaker Bruce Trampler. The Youngstown, OH based Pavlik (31-0, 29 KOs) has a June fight against the UK?s Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs). This looks like a ?lock? of sorts seeing Kelly will most likely send him home early.
CHRISTIAN MIJARES Not a big puncher, but as you?ll see I put a lot of emphasis on momentum and streaks. Current World & WBC/WBA 115 lb. champion Christian Mijares hasn?t lost in 25 fights dating back six years to his preliminary days in Mexico. At 35-3-2 with 14 KOs, he was a winner Saturday in a unification bout with the now deposed WBA champ Alexander Munoz. It looks like the WBA may have been up to some monkey business seeing their ?lone? appointed official Gustavo Padilla of Panama had it 115-113 for Munoz, who was instead easily handled.
MANNY PACQUIAO While I am indeed disappointed that Manny Pacquiao left the 130 lb. weight class in the manner he did, any ‘pound for pound’ list has to have the Pacman on it. At 46-3-2, 35 KOs, Pacquiao, has faced fighters from 107 to 130 lbs. with championship success, he is too on a hell of roll. With the exception of the cut marred close points loss to Erik Morales (when they fought with the big Asian boxing gloves), Pacman hadn’t lost in 22 fights (19 KOs & 2 draws) and since 1999! Although he went the 12-round route in his last two, Marco Antonio Barrera fought to insure he didn?t get hurt, not to win. After the first Pac fight, one can certainly understand that. Juan Manuel Marquez did well against Manny, but the call didn’t go his way in a close win.
HOW ABOUT SENOR MARQUEZ? My problem with Juan Manuel Marquez is that he doesn’t take chances or gamble. One of the best period, “Sugar Ray” Leonard once told me that a fighter “needs to gamble” in order to get exclamation point-like victories instead of pedestrian wins. At 48-4, 35 KOs, his style would tend not to rate high on my list. I like guys that go for it. At 34, Marquez might be running out of time. His ascension to lightweight (135) from 130 is his chasing Pacman. Note this, he has never spewed the name of WBA KO artist Edwin Valero or Joan Guzman for that matter.
MIGUEL COTTO Miguel Cotto has always captivated me with his relaxed look in the ring. Even when he?s hit the canvas in two fights with DeMarcus Coley and Ricardo Torres, he?ll look a bit rattled, but Commander Cotto stays relaxed under fire. At 32-0 with 26 early wins, Cotto has shown tremendous power and a multi-faceted array of punches. Like ?Larry The Lip? Albert, a San Francisco fistic expert says, when “Cotto hits a guy, it stays with him.” The fight with Margarito indicates that Miguel has the stones that Floyd Mayweather doesn’t!
JOE CALZAGHE
Call him a guy that utilizes an amateur style in the professional ranks, and well you wouldn’t be too far off. But Joe Calzaghe hasn’t lost in 45 fights and 15 years! Joe has simply got the job done, can he do the same at 175 with the other light heavyweights? Seeing the best contender looks like Glenn Johnson, who gets ripped off like a blind man taking paper money in a store, is the best guy at 175, followed by WBO guy Zsolt Erdei, Joe doesn?t seem like he?s going to lose anytime soon. The youngest light heavy in the BoxRec.com top 10 is Juergan Braehmer at 29. With Joe at 36, the division is aged.
JOAN GUZMAN This great fighter needs some “signature” fights. At 28-0, 17 KOs, bad hands are said to be his lone drawback. I think he can beat anybody at 130, 135, just like it is for Manny, is a stetch for this Dominican dandy.
NATE CAMPBELL Current lightweight (135) kingpin Nate Campbell was training himself in his garage a few years ago. Having been stopped twice by the ?limited? Robbie Peden, it is indeed debatable as to whether the 32-5-1, 25 KOs deserves a position the list of elitists. Possible future matches won?t help his standing at this point and time, but was beating Juan Diaz make him top ten-er?
ANTONIO MARGARITO People thought the loss to Paul Williams marked the beginning of a downhill trend for Antonio Margarito, I’m of the opinion he just had a bad night vs. the elongated welterweight (147). At 36-5, 26 KOs, Tony is another streaking fighter. He has lost twice, once a bit of a heist in Puerto Rico to Daniel Santos at 154 lbs. and to Williams. The Mexican, he certainly deserves a spot here.
NONITO DONAIRE The 112 lb. World & IBF 112 lb. champion is a Filipino-American in Nonito Donaire. Having watched him since the early days, I tell you that he can fight. At 19-1, 12 KOs, his knockout of Vic Darchinyan (then 28-0 and a member of the p4p list) was a Kodak moment. Looking to be the entire package, possessing the goods, Donaire needs to stay active. But he can beat anybody at flyweight (112) and the 108 lb. guys that wouldn?t dare moving to 112 with Donaire the reigning king.
SHANE MOSLEY Whether or not he is long in the tooth, Shane Mosley utilizes brains, skill and guts. At 44-5, 37 KOs, Shane can rumble almost evenly with the much younger and naturally stronger Cotto. A fight with Zab Judah was called off due to Zab’s being injured. Still one of boxing’s premier performers.
FINALLY THE TOP TEN IN ORDER
1. Joe Calzaghe-longevity! 2. Manny Pacquiao-streaked from 107 to 130 and stayed on top! 3. Kelly Pavlik-Talented, young, and white. 4. Miguel Cotto-Calm Puerto Rican better than Tito Trinidad? 5. Christian Mijares-Hasn?t lost in 25 fights & six years. 6. Antonio Margarito- Mayweather wouldn?t fight him for $8 million four years ago. 7) Israel Vazquez-Got list placement the hard way, he worked for it! 8. Nonito Donaire-May have to go after Mijares at 115 for competition. 9. Shane Mosley-Still enough sucra to make the list. 10. Three way tie! A) Juan Manuel Marquez-Longevity, only loss to Manny and Chris John robbery. B) Joan Guzman-Incredible talent needs ?name? fight. C) Nate Campbell-Beating Juan Diaz significant. Barely makes list, seeing he isn?t working on a great streak.
