I know this may be premature for some, with the superfight between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao on the horizon. I really don’t think the outcome is going to change my list much. I mean Cotto could move up a few notches if he were to win. But I really believe the top 5 is already set in stone. So let’s take a look at my opinion of the top 10 boxers this decade, for what it is worth.
10. Miguel Cotto
Big Wins: Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey
Pros: Cotto is a very versatille and a strong fighter. He can box, he can punch, and he has heart. Great win over Shane Mosley in a very close fight says a lot of Cotto’s ability.
Cons: Wears down late in fights, cuts easy, and not an outstanding defensive fighter. Accomplishments started late in the decade.
9. Winky Wright
Big Wins: Shane Mosley(twice), Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey
Pros: Great south-paw fighter with a great jab. Very strong for a Jr. Middleweight. Turtle shell defense.
Cons: Biggest wins came against a smaller Shane Mosley, and past his prime Felix Trinidad. Failed to win the Middleweight crown against Jermain Taylor.
8. Erik Morales
Big Wins: Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Paulie Ayala
Pros: Great boxer puncher. Exciting fighter who was never in a boring fight. Good power and underrated skill. His win over Manny Pacquiao in their first fight will be his greatest fight.
Cons: Ended the decade losing 4 fights in a row. Loss to Zahir Raheem was not a very good effort for a fighter of his caliber.
7. Marco Antonio Barrera
Big Wins: Nassem Hamed, Erik Morales(Twice)
Pros: Very similar to Erik Morales, except was a little more versitille. Great bodypuncher, good boxer, amazing toughness and heart. 2 wins over Morales put him over the top of him.
Cons: Was destroyed by Manny Pacquiao, and he ended the decade on a downturn with back to back losses to Pacquiao again, and Juan Manual Marquez.
6.Juan Manuel Marquez
Big Wins: Marco Antonio Barrera, Joel Casamoyer, Juan Diaz
Pros: Great boxer, excellent counter puncher, and very good power. Had 2 very close fights with Manny Pacquiao. Won titles in 3 divisions.
Cons: Didn’t beat Manny Pacquiao, and he lost to Chris John in a close fight. Finished the decade with a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
5. Sugar Shane Mosley
Big Wins: Oscar De La Hoya (twice) Antonio Margarito
Pros: Complete fighter, can box, can punch and has speed. Beat a prime Oscar De La Hoya legitimately in 2000, and crushed Antonio Margarito earlier this year. Also beat a bigger Fernando Vargas twice.
Cons: 2002 and 2004 were bad years for Mosley. Went 0-4 in those years against bigger skilled fighters. Balco controversy in 2003 after second De La Hoya fight.
4. Joe Calzaghe
Big Wins: Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Mikkel Kessler
Pros: Undefeated. Excellent speed fighter, who used great movement. Wins over 2 future hall of famers, Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins.
Cons: Should have fought Hopkins and Jones in the early part of the decade instead of the latter. If he did that and won, then he would have ranked higher. Suspect opposition in the early part of the decade.
3. Bernard Hopkins
Big Wins: Felix Trinidad, Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik
Pros: Skilled fighter and perhaps the smartest fighter of his era. Never made mistakes. Good power with the right hand, and great chin and defense. A legend.
Cons: No matter how good you think Hopkins is, and I think he is great. You can’t shake his 2 losses to Jermain Taylor. Bernard was the better fighter but he found a way to lose both of those fights.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr
Big Wins: Diego Corrales, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton.
Pros: Best defensive fighter of this era. Great skill who rarely makes mistakes in the ring. Great speed, and excellent footwork. A true ring master. Undefeated.
Cons: Avoided challenges from Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and others. You can’t be the best unless you fight the best. Sorry Floyd, you are great, but you are not the greatest.
1. Manny Pacquiao
Big Wins: Marco Antonio Barrera(twice)Erik Morales(Twice) Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pros: Think about it. His record against the guys 8, 7, and 6 on my list is 5-1-1. Impressive right. And add this on for size. Just this decade he has won titles in every division from 122 to 140 pounds. That makes him my runaway number 1 choice. It doesn’t matter what happens against Miguel Cotto. Manny has already cemented this spot. Speed, power, skill, Manny has it all. If he beats Cotto it will be one for the ages.
Cons: The first fight against Morales and the 2 fights against Marquez showed he wasn’t invincible.
Remember this is for what each fighter accomplished this decade. Not what they did in the 1990’s.
