The ratings are back and there’s been some big shake ups. Find out who the top fighters in the world are for the month of July in this month’s pound for pound ratings.
It’s about that time again to see who the best fighters are in the world pound for pound. It’s been an interesting few weeks and since our June ratings were dubiously missing, we’ve got some catching up to do. With Mayweather’s retirement, he’s obviously no longer a top our ratings and with Pavlik, Cotto and Margarito all fighting recently, there’s been some shake ups in our division so check them out!
1. Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 25 KOs)
Finally, the Pac Man sits atop our ratings once again and this time it looks like he’s staying here for a while. Having recently steamrolled through David Diaz to capture his fifth world title, Manny is in a great place in his career. In a place where he can command any fight and just about any purse he desires, Pacquiao is in total control of his career. The question now is where does Manny go from here? There’s rumors about a possible showdown with Oscar De La Hoya in December, or possibly a battle against Humberto Soto in November. Whichever way Manny goes, the boxing world will be watching.
2. Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs)
It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for Calzaghe who not only decided that he would return to the super middleweight division but also that he would take on Roy Jones Jr. before doing so. Problem is, Calzaghe has just injured his wrist and the fight which was to take place has been canceled or postponed depending on whom you ask. According to Jones though, the fight will likely get rescheduled for sometime in November which seems likely. Here’s hoping Calzaghe recovers quickly.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez (48-4-1, 35 KOs)
Not happy with sitting around waiting for Manny Pacquiao to agree to a third fight, Marquez has too, decided to jump up to the lightweight division. Rather than take a ?gimme’ fight though, Marquez is going right for the gusto so to speak. Marquez will be tangling with Ring Magazine and linear lightweight champion Joel Casamayor on September 13th. According to his trainers, the plan is to win the true lightweight crown and entice Manny into the rubber match since a win would plant Marquez as the #1 ranked lightweight in the world. Sounds like a good plan to us!
4. Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs)
Well Pavlik had quite the easy night when he stepped into the ring with Gary Lockett a few weeks back didn’t he? Pavlik made it look like a walk in the park and he did it in style, dropping Lockett over and over again. Without a big name out there that Pavlik could get matched up with for big money, Top Rank has tapped into Bernard Hopkins. That’s right, B-Hop will get one more big payday against the middleweight champion at a catch-weight of course on October 18th in Atlantic City. Could be a lose-lose for Pavlik but a big opportunity for Hopkins. Pavlik will have to win big if this fight is to do him any good. Word is he isn’t too thrilled about the fight.
5. Bernard Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs)
Just when you thought that his loss to Calzaghe was the end of the road for the sure-fire hall of famer and former light heavyweight and middleweight champion, in comes a big money fight with Kelly Pavlik. a win over Pavlik would be huge for Hopkins and make it a great opportunity to bow out of the sport. We expect either way, he’ll make it a tough fight for Pavlik as he never lets anyone look good.
6. Antonio Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs)
Talk about a monumental rise into the ratings ? Antonio Margarito surely joined a long list of pound for pound lists with his upset win over Miguel Cotto for the WBA welterweight title. Margarito proved to the boxing world that he’s the real deal and silenced the critics along the way. The Tijuana Tornado now sits atop of the 147-pound division and he can call the shots. He wants De La Hoya but that won’t likely happen. A end of the year fight against the winner of the upcoming Judah-Clottey IBF welterweight title match is more likely.
7. Miguel Cotto (33-1, 26 KOs)
Vasquez is no doubt enjoying a little vacation time alter three grueling bouts with Rafael Marquez. We expect Vasquez however to take a fight sometime before the end of the year as to stay active. No word yet from his promoters at Sycuan Promotions about his next bout but I’m sure there’s no rush to get him back in the ring just yet. It’s rumored that preliminary talks had begun a few weeks ago about a fourth fight with Marquez for sometime in early to mid 2009.
9. Ricky Hatton (44-1, 31 KOs)
The Hitman has signed on to face Paulie Malignaggi on November 22nd possibly in Las Vegas, Nevada. Having looked less than stellar in his performance against Juan Lazcano in May, Hatton will want to regroup and train hard to prove to his legions of fans that he can still get it done in the ring. Unfortunately he’ll have to do it without long time trainer Billy Graham who recently announced that he would be retiring.
10. Rafael Marquez (37-5, 33 KOs)
Marquez is getting some much needed rest but word is, that he’s ready to get back into the ring by the end of the year. If he can’t get Vasquez for a fourth fight in early 2009, expect him to take a tune-up fight later this year which appears to be the case according to his trainer. One has to think though that the Marquez camp should be looking at other opponents besides Vasquez; perhaps getting a crack at another title belt within the same division.
