THE “VERY BEST” IN THE GAME
Boxing (HBO style) is off until late August (in terms of big fights) and really doesn’t have a home run untill HBO PPV features Marco Antonio Barrera-Robbie Peden, and HBO Championship Boxing brings us Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao against Zahir Rahemm and Hector Velazquez in September. A lot has happen since my last “supreme” list was published. Kostya Tszyu didn’t come out for the final round against Ricky Hatton (later diagnosed as having “bruised brain.”) and Jermain Taylor is the new undisputed middleweight champion. And between those two big events, Floyd Mayweather became a PPV fighter by defeating Arturo Gatti. There isn’t one dominate fighter in the “pound for pound” ranks; just a bunch of great fighters, actually willing to fight each other. One can compare this list to parody in the National Football League. With a big win, a fighter can jump from tenth position to the number one fighter in the world. Here are the best ten fighters in the world, so says “The Pinoy.”
1. Ronald “Winky” Wright, #1 Middleweight Contender, 49-3, (25 KO’s). There is a reason why the top fighters avoided this southpaw for as long as they have, he’s never an easy fight. Truly a world class fighter to the word because he?€™s fought in England, France, South Africa, and Argentina in his fifteen year career. Fighting in opponent backyards most of his career, he finally got the chance of a lifetime facing superstar Shane Mosley. During both encounters, he boxed and frustrated Mosley, winning two fights against the ex-lightweight great. Rising to boxing supremacy, Wright pitched a near-perfect game against Tito Trinidad this past May 14. The “Winky” Wright, who faught Trinidad, would’ve easily beaten either Taylor or Hopkins.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr., WBC Jr. Welterweight Champion, 34-0, (23 KO’s). The “Boy Wonder” of boxing, Mayweather has won titles in two divisions and is one of the last top undefeated boxers in the game. Fighting the best opposition available, “Pretty Boy” defeated both “fight of the year” participants Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo at 135 Stepping up to jr. welterweight (140) he defeated Arturo Gatti, arguably boxing’s poster boy for guts and heart. Mayweather, who mixes speed, power, and accuracy, he holds the future of boxing in his hands.
3. Marco Antonio Barrera, World Jr. Lightweight, WBC Champion, 60-4-1NC, (42 KO’s). Beginning his career in 1989, Barrera has achieved greatness, winning three world titles in as many divisions. He’s also shown no fear, fighting some of the biggest names in his division. The only man to defeat Erik Morales and Prince Naseem Hamed; he and Morales are the best Mexico currently has to offer. Coming off a huge comeback win against Morales in November 2004, and a blow out win over Mzonke Fana a few months ago, Barrera now hopes to unify 2/3 of the championship against IBF kingpin Robbie Peden September 17.
4. Ricky Hatton, World Jr. Welterweight, IBF/RING Champion, 39-0, (29 KO’s). One of the biggest stars in England and Europe, the ?€œHitman?€? stopped long time champion Kostya Tszyu. Hatton is now at the top of a division, which includes Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Hatton who has a never say die attitude in the ring, steamrolled through all 39 opponents. The “Hitman” wants to bring his show to the states!
5-6. Jermain Taylor, World Middleweight Champion, 24-0, (17 KO’s). Dubbed the “heir apparent,” Jermain Taylor is now the king of the middleweight division. With only a GED in professional boxing, the kid entered Bernard Hopkins’ domain and earned his degree the hard way. Hopkins wasn’t going to give up his title so easily, as he dominated down the stretch, but couldn’t finish him. Taylor showed youthfulness and good boxing skills and he avoided getting stopped by a proud champion. However, because of the lack of quality wins against other top middleweights and the controversy of his victory over Hopkins, Taylor enters the list at number five-six.
5-6. Bernard Hopkins, #1 Middleweight Contender, 46-3-1, (32 KO’s). Undefeated for 12 years, Hopkins shows little signs of slowing down, or getting old. The 40 year-old veteran has cleaned out a division, unified and maintained all the major belts, and defeated two future “Hall of Fame” boxers. Consistency describes Hopkins the best because of the record 20 defenses. Other fighters were considered the best, but have fallen. Not this man, as even though he lost a close split decision to youngster Jermain Taylor, the decorated professor of pugilism may still have enough to regain the title in a rematch.
7. Erik Morales, #1 Jr. Lightweight Contender, 47-2, (34 KO’s). If there is ever a fighter who has proven the masses wrong, it’s Erik Morales. After losing a war to Marco Antonio Barrera last November, he was the betting underdog against Barrera conqueror Manny Pacquiao. Taking the fight only three and a half months after Barrera, Morales proved that he can hang and beat the top fighters in his division. Besides Barrera, Morales has constantly faced tough opposition and the Pacquiao victory dismissed any doubts he’s over the hill. Wars seem to come easy for the favorite son of Tijuana, Mexico. He plans to fight 1996 Olympian Zahir Raheem on September 10 in Los Angeles. Should he win, a rematch with Pacquiao is slated to happen three months later on December 10.
8. Manny Pacquiao, #2 Jr. Lightweight Contender, 39-3-2, (31 KO’s). Always in a good fight, Manny Pacquiao’s aggressive style and power has won over many a die-hard fan. A superstar beyond reason in his homeland of the Philippines, Pacquiao has faced the three top featherweights in the past decade, and in less than two! A draw with Marquez, beating Barrera, and losing Morales is quite an acheivement for the 26-year old. Starting out at 108 lbs., Pacquiao has risen from a wild bull with limited skills, to a fast fearless puncher who has given every opponent hell. He’ll face and beat rugged Mexican Hector Velazquez September 10 in Los Angeles. Should Morales win too, the highly anticipated rematch will happen in December.
9. Diego Corrales, World Lightweight, WBC/WBO Champion, 40-2, (33 KO’s). Losing to Mayweather in ten, Corrales was within weeks of being an extended penal guest of the state of California. Coming back defeating Acelino Freitas in ten, Corrales endured an unimaginable toe-to-toe slugfest against grizzled veteran Jose Luis Castillo. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, Corrales, who was dropped twice prior, knocked Castillo out vertically (on his feet) in the tenth, thrilling fans for years to come. He may go down, but this fighter will never surrender, defeating Joel Casamayor, Freitas, and Castillo in succession. Now, he plans to enter hell once again by fighting Castillo this October in the sequel to boxing’s best fight of 2005.
10. Juan Manuel Marquez, World IBF/WBA World Champion, 44-2-1, (33 KO’s). Dubbed as the “Avoided One,” Marquez similar to “Winky” Wright pre-Mosley, he has yet to display to the boxing world his true skills and talent in the ring. His comeback against Pacquiao, this after being dropped a number of times early, that performance proved that he belongs in the upper-echelon of boxing. If given a opportunity to fight Barrera or Morales, Marquez may prove once and for all that he’s “numero uno” in Mexico.
QUICK JABS Watching the middleweight championship fight live at the MGM Grand Arena, I scored the fight 115-113 for Taylor, with Jermain winning seven of the first nine rounds. However, watching the replay (on High Definition, which makes a difference), I had it even at 114-114, giving the 7th round to Hopkins, which I previously had given to Taylor. It was definitely a close fight and neither fighter dominated the other. Usually in close fights, the benefit goes to the champion. Had it been a draw, Hopkins would still be the champion. However, if Hopkins did retain the titles, the question becomes whether he would’ve granted Taylor a deserved rematch. In the end, boxing fans can agree that it was a close fight that could’ve gone either way and a rematch is necessary…EA CURSE STRIKES AGAIN! Fight Night: Round 2 cover boy Bernard Hopkins was “another” victim of the wrath of the EA Sports jinx. Released after his win against Howard Eastman, Hopkins’ 20 defense streak ended via split decision. He’s added to the long list of football players and boxers alike who graced the cover of their respective games and quickly fell. Remember, the first cover boy was Roy Jones who suffered two consecutive and devastating knockouts. Can’t wait to see who’s on Fight Night Round 3?..WHO’S PACQUIAO’S PROMOTER? Finally freed from his contract with promoter Murad Muhammad, Manny Pacquiao has two HBO dates. The first will be September 10, and the second December 10. As of right now, there is no word on who Manny’s new promoter will be. If Manny doesn’t have one, it may be a smart move because the two date pact is done. Similar to Roy Jones Jr., who had no permanent promoter, Pacquiao, with the help of his management team led by Shelly Finkel, they can pick and choose their opponents. The obvious drawback is the security of guaranteed minimum purses for fights.
Jason Aniel
“The Pinoy” can be reached at [email protected]
