Who is the world’s best fighter regardless of weight class? See my top 20 below.
And don’t forget to check out the divisional rankings, which are updated weekly.
For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results through April 20.
1 Manny Pacquiao
Welterweight titlist Age: 31 | Record: 51-3-2, 38 KOs
Hits: Pacquiao is the epitome of a superstar. He fights big name after big name, knocks most of them out and has become an icon in the Philippines, his home country. He also has developed into a bankable attraction in the United States, which he proved by drawing almost 51,000 fans to Cowboys Stadium and commanding 700,000 pay-per-view buys for his lopsided March 13 victory over relatively unknown former titleholder Joshua Clottey. The PacMan is the star of boxing stars.
Misses: If Floyd Mayweather Jr. beats Shane Mosley on May 1, don’t you just dread the negotiation for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight? We’ve already seen it go down the tubes once. A second edition would be no easier unless Pacquiao or Mayweather gives in on the drug-testing issue, and that seems unlikely given their public stances.
2 Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Welterweight Age: 33 | Record: 40-0, 25 KOs
Hits: In his sixth year as a welterweight, Mayweather at long last will step into the crucible of a legitimate welterweight fight against an elite opponent who actually has a reasonable chance to win. He’ll meet Shane Mosley on May 1 in the year’s biggest fight so far. It’s all we’ve asked for, and it’s about time.
Misses: Mayweather’s disrespect and contempt for Mosley throughout the promotion is wearing a bit thin. The act is oh-so-old.
3 Shane Mosley
Welterweight champion Age: 38 | Record: 46-5, 39 KOs
Hits: Although Mayweather plays the bad-guy role to the hilt in the promotion for the fight, Mosley is acting as he always has — like the nice guy he is with the goal of continuing to prove himself against the best. Good for him for not allowing Mayweather’s antics to take him out of his game in any way.
Misses: Mosley’s past involvement with taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs when he was a BALCO client in 2003 continues to haunt him as he and Victor Conte continue their legal battle. Mosley should have come clean about everything years ago. If he had, it would not be generating headlines seven years later while he’s in the middle of preparing for a huge fight.
