Proving the best pound for pound boxer is more difficult than eating soup with a fork. It’s made more challenging because in many instances the fighters haven’t faced each other. If anything, it’s a subjective exercise.
In the long and glorious history of the ring, the one man most believe to be the best pound for pound was Sugar Ray Robinson, and that includes the boxing historian and scholar Bert Randolph Sugar, and the recently departed sportswriter W.C. Heinz.
In a career that spanned 25 years, and a record of 173-19-6 with 108 knockouts, Robinson combined power, grace, hand and foot speed, and along the way collected belts in multiple weight classes.
The title today would sit on the head of undefeated welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he’s called it quits at age 31. Too bad. His ring record (39-0-0 with 25 KO’s) stands as a testament to his genius. But for now, Mayweather Jr. is content to be with his family and embark on business ventures.
That said, the best fighter in the world is Filipino Manny Pacquiao, who just defeated David Diaz for the World Boxing Council lightweight title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Pacquiao (47-3-2 and 35 KO’s) is a natural southpaw, but has thunder in each hand and is willing to take a punch. Pacquiao showed off his amazing hand speed against the over-matched Diaz.
When the fight was stopped in the ninth round, Diaz admitted that he saw the punches, but was helpless to stop them. The bout was one-sided from the opening bell.
Since late 2003, Pacquiao has faced Erik Morales three times, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez twice each. His record is 6-1 against these skilled warriors.
Pacquiao’s only setback came at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in March, 2005, when Morales earned a unanimous decision and took the vacant WBC International and International Boxing Association featherweight titles.
The thing about the “Pac Man” is that he’s only 29, and should have many memorable fights left.
Middleweight Kelly Pavlik is undefeated in 34 matches, and has only been challenged a few times.
In his last bout against Gary Lockett in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Youngstown, Ohio, native made easy work of the challenger, registering a technical knockout in the third round, and retained his WBC and World Boxing Organization crowns.
Pavlik is 6-2 1/2 with a 75-inch reach, but is more than height. Thirty of his fights have ended with a knockout.
Earlier this year at the MGM, Pavlik won a unanimous decision over Jermain Taylor. The fight was action-packed, but only in spurts. Pavlik faced Taylor in Atlantic City in the fall of 2007, and claimed the WBC and WBO middleweight belts when the bout was halted in the seventh round.
Sometimes called dull, Welshman Joe Calzaghe, also has an unblemished mark, and deserves the No. 3 ranking.
Calzaghe was scheduled to meet Roy Jones Jr. at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in September, but injured his hand and the fight was postponed. In a bout that was highly anticipated, but hardly lived up to its billing, Calzaghe defeated legendary middleweight Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas & Mack Arena in April. After getting knocked down in the first round, Calzaghe (45-0-0 with 32 KO’s) showed his mettle and stormed home with a split decision. England’s Ricky Hatton is a pint-sized marvel. Standing at just under 5-8 and with a 65-inch reach, Hatton has explosive punching power along with superior hand and foot quickness.
In his only loss, that to Mayweather Jr. last December in Las Vegas, Hatton was caught with a solid shot in the 10th round, and the bout came to a close. That fight sometimes resembled a wrestling match, and referee Joe Cortez was loudly criticized for allowing the rough play to get out of hand.
The 29-year-old Hatton (44-1-0 and 31 KO’s) is scheduled to meet the slick Paul Malignaggi in November, and that should be another brawl.
Hatton’s battle with Kostya Tszyu in 2005 for the International Boxing Federation’s lightweight title also looked like it could have been sanctioned by the World Wrestling Association. The fight was called in the 11th round.
Forget that light middleweight Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most popular and successful fighters ever, he’s also one of the greatest. Even at 35, he should be ranked No. 5.
De La Hoya only fights once a year now, but his ring wars are legendary. How’s this? De La Hoya’s losses came at the hands of Mayweather Jr., Hopkins, Felix Trinidad, and Shane Mosley twice. That’s a who’s who.
More businessman than pugilist, De La Hoya (39-5-0 and 30 KO’s) still brings in fans and the media.
In his last fight against Steve Forbes, he sold out the Home Depot Center as 27,000 supporters turned up at the soccer stadium. Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez comes in at No. 6, and will meet Joel Casamayor in September in Las Vegas.
Aftre dropping his initial decision to Javier Duran in May, 1993, Marquez spun off 29 straight victories before losing to Freddie Norwood in the fall of 1999, and the World Boxing Association featherweight title in the process.
The 34-year-old Marquez (48-4-1 with 35 KO’s) is tough, classy and always puts on a show.
Twice Marquez lost to Pacquiao, and Barrera carved out a unanimous decision over him at the Mandalay Bay. But that’s been it. Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler is slated at No. 7, and has only one defeat in 41 fights. The loss was administered by Calzaghe in November, 2007, with three middleweight belts on the line.
With Antonio Margarito’s recent and stunning 11th round upset win over former undefeated champ Miguel Cotto, he vaults to No. 8. Margarito now owns the WBA welterweight belt.
The hard-punching and relentless Margarito has five losses in 42 bouts, and dropped a unanimous decision to undefeated Paul Williams in July, 2007. One of the best ring masters ever, Hopkins – even at 43 – can still rock and roll when necessary, and is the No. 9 fighter in the world.
In October, Hopkins will face Pavlik in New Jersey, and is looking for the upset. Hopkins (48-5-1 with 32 KO’s) has been plying his trade since 1988, and is enormously clever, and will need to be against the 26-year-old Pavlik.
The No. 10 boxer is British cruiserweight David Haye, who has the WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
With one loss in 22 fights, Haye has a solid punch, having knocked out 20 opponents. For Haye, the sky’s the limit.
Cotto (32-1-0 with 26 KO’s) was No. 6, but slipped to No. 11. Cotto will have better days. He’d be wise to stay away from Margarito.
