A lot has happened since my last top ten “pound for pound” list was published. Jermain Taylor retained his newly won undisputed middleweight championship. Antonio Tarver proved he wasn’t a one-punch wonder, by defeating Roy Jones Jr. a second time, and cementing his legacy in the light heavyweight division. Jose Luis Castillo extracted a little revenge (although tainted due to his weight issues) with a one-punch knockout of Diego Corrales. Between those big events, Zahir Raheem quite easily upset Erik Morales. There isn’t one dominant fighter in the p4p ranks; just a bunch of pretty good, if not yet great fighters, who are actually fighting each other. Here are the top ten fighters in boxing.
1. Winky Wright, Middleweight, #1 Contender, 50-3, (25 KO’s). There is a reason why the top fighters avoided this southpaw for as long as they did, because he’s no easy fight. Truly a world-class fighter to the word he has fought in England, France, South Africa, and Argentina in his 15-year career. Fighting in opponent’s backyards most of his career, he finally got the chance of a lifetime, facing a superstar in Shane Mosley. During both encounters he out-boxed and frustrated Mosley, winning both fights against the ex-lightweight great. Rising to boxing supremacy, Wright pitched a near-perfect game against power punching Tito Trinidad May 14, 2005. He finished the year with an entertaining unanimous decision against the awkward Sam Solimon.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jr. Welterweight/Welterweight, WBC Jr. Welterweight Champion 35-0, (24 KO’s). The “Boy Wonder” of boxing is now 28. Mayweather has won titles in two weight divisions, and is one of the last undefeated boxers in the upper echelon of the game. Fighting the best opposition available, “Pretty Boy” defeated both fight of the year boxers, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. Stepping up to jr. welterweight, he defeated Arturo Gatti, arguably boxing’s poster boy for guts and heart. He finished the year with a meaningless win over the semi-retired Sharmba Mitchell. Mayweather, who mixes speed, power, and accuracy, holds the future of boxing in his hands. A win in an upcoming match-up with Zab Judah, set for early April, would propel Mayweather to the top of the list.
3. Ricky Hatton Jr. Welterweight, RING/IBF/WBA World Champion, 40-0, (30 KO’s). One of the biggest stars in Manchester, England, the “Hitman” stopped long time world champion, Kostya Tszyu. Hatton is now at the top of a division, which includes Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and has now become a must-see fighter in the U.S. Hatton, who has a relentless never say die attitude in the ring, steamrolled through all 40 of his opponents. He recently battered the tough WBA title holder, Carlos Maussa, in a farewell to England fight, as the “The Hitman,” wants to take his show to the States, and is looking for nothing but big fights.
4. Marco Antonio Barrera, Jr. Lightweight, WBC/IBF World Champion, 61-4-1NC, (42 KO’s). Beginning his career in 1989, Barrera has achieved greatness, winning three world titles in three weight 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 of 2004 he had a blow out win over Mzonke Fana and a lopsided win against Robbie Peden. Barrera now plans to move up and challenge for the lightweight crown against IBF guy, Jesus Chavez, with HBO airing in March.
5. Jermain Taylor, Middleweight, Undisputed World Champion, 25-0, (17KO’s). Dubbed the “heir apparent”, Jermain is now the king of the middleweight division. With only a GED in professional boxing, the kid from Little Rock, entered professor Bernard Hopkins’ class/ring, and earned his degree the hard way. Taylor displayed youthfulness, good boxing skills, and more importantly, the star potential the sport needs. He followed up his win in July with another close victory over Hopkins in December.
6. Manny Pacquiao, Jr. Lightweight, #2 Contender, 40-3-2, (32 KO’s). Always in a good fight, never boring, Manny’s aggressive style and supreme punching power has won over many die-hard fans. A superstar beyond reason in his homeland of the Philippines, Pacquiao has faced the three top featherweights in the past ten years, in less than two. Going 1-1-1 against Juan Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales, is an achievement worthy of grand recognition, for the 26-year old bomber. Starting out at 108 lbs., Pacquiao has risen from a wild bull with limited skills, to a fast fearless puncher, who has given Hell to every opponent he’s fought. He stopped Hector Velazquez in six rounds last September, and will fight his fourth marquee fight in a little over two years, facing Morales again January 21st.
7. Jose Luis Castillo, Lightweight #1 Contender, 53-7-1, (47 KO’s). A 14-year veteran of the sport Castillo will fight anyone, and against top opposition he’s fared well. Remember, even before his loss to Diego Corrales in May, be had three straight wins against a top contender, and two former world champions (Juan Lazcano, Joel Casamayor, and Julio Diaz). Let’s not forget he gave Floyd Mayweather the toughest fight of his career, and he holds a win over Stevie Johnston. Castillo will always be remembered for the magnificent battle he had the first time with Corrales. A one-punch knockout in the return match proved he still has a lot left in the tank. A rubber match this February against Corrales will finally settle the score between the two rivals.
8. Antonio Tarver, Light Heavyweight, RING World Champion, 24-3, (18 KO’s). The king of the rematches, Tarver has won two big fights against the two best light heavyweights in 2005. He extracted some revenge, out pointing the tough road warrior Glenn Johnson, and followed up that win finally proving he was, and always will be, a better fighter than Roy Jones Jr. He plans to move up to the heavyweight division and provide some star power in a division that lacks it. A fight against Mike Tyson has been rumored, but that is not as big an event as Tarver thinks it is.
9. Zab Judah, Welterweight, Undisputed Champion of the World, 34-2, (25 KO’s). After a crushing and embarrassing defeat to Kostya Tszyu, and a disappointing loss to Cory Spinks, Zab Judah finally controlled his talent and became a dominant fighter at welterweight. With blazing hand speed and good power, this southpaw ran Spinks out of his hometown last February with a TKO stoppage, winning the undisputed championship. A mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. this April can turn the former bad boy into boxing’s best fighter p4p.
10. Juan Manuel Marquez, Featherweight, IBF WBA World Champion, 44-2-1, (33 KO’s). Rightfully dubbed the “Avoided One,” Marquez, similar to Winky Wright at one time, has yet to display to the boxing world his true skills and talent. His comeback against Pacquiao proved that he belongs in the upper echelon of boxing. If given an opportunity to fight Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales, Marquez may prove once and for all he’s the number one boxer in Mexico.
“QUICK JABS”
“BOOM-BOOM” SUFFERS SCARE: Last Friday, Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, 19-0 (14 KOs), was knocked down in the second round by journeyman Gerardo Espinoza, 28-10 (26 KOs) after a quick start. He settled down afterwards, dominating the rest of the fight, and winning an eight round decision. Although very young, 19, Bautista can only improve from this performance. I predict in 2006, more tough fights against Espinoza caliber opposition, with a big fight at the end of the year, maybe against Erik’s brother, Diego Morales. Post your thoughts in the comments section. TARVER FIGHTER OF THE YEAR? Although most of the media is picking Ricky Hatton as the fighter of the year, Tarver should also be heavily considered in receiving the honor. Although Hatton defeated Kostya Tszyu and Carlos Maussa, those fights flew under the radar for the most part; the Maussa fight was only shown on PPV, and not on HBO or Showtime. However, Tarver won a bout with Johnson, one of the top fighters in the world, and he dominated Roy Jones, who claimed he took this fight seriously and was “up” for it. Who do you think should be fighter of the year? 2006: MAKE OR BREAK YEAR FOR PINOY BOXING? 2005 was a breakout year of the Philippine boxing scene as a wave of good Filipino boxers appeared on the world stage. However, there is only one Filipino champion, Brian Viloria (a Filipino-American jr. flyweight champion). Fighters like Gerry Penalosa, Malcom Tunacao, and Rodel Mayol are solid contenders for world title next year. ESPINOSA RETIRED BY COMMISSION & WILL APPEAL: A continued hearing set for January 30, 2006, may determine Luisito Espinosa’s plans for a comeback. Don’t forget Manny Pacquiao’s must-win fight against Erik Morales in the first month of the year. By the end of 2006, the Philippines may very well be one of the top producers of boxing talent in the world.
