The various Top 10 pound-for-pound lists have been static of late. That could change soon, though.
Eight fighters on the Top 10 lists of RingTV.com Co-Editors Michael Rosenthal and Doug Fischer, submitted as members of voting panel for the Yahoo! Sports monthly poll, are scheduled to fight before the end of the year.
Two of the eight ? Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez, who are on both lists ? are fighting each other on Nov. 20, meaning a shakeup is likely.
So by the first of the year Top 10 lists could look entirely different. Of course, that depends on how the rated fighters do.
Here?s a breakdown of which matchups involving fighters on the lists of Rosenthal and Fischer are most competitive (and are therefore more likely to result in changes), less competitive and least competitive.
MOST COMPETITIVE
Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martinez, Nov. 20, Atlantic City, N.J., HBO: Their first fight, won by Williams, was as close as it gets. There?s no reason to think their second meeting will be any different.
LESS COMPETITIVE
Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez, Nov. 6, Las Vegas, Showtime: We know what we have in Lopez, a young, complete fighter on the rise. The question is whether Marquez still has it at 35.
Andre Ward vs. Sakio Bika, Nov. 27, Oakland, Calif., Showtime: Ward is emerging as a star; Bika is merely a solid replacement opponent. An upset here would be a shock.
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis, Nov. 27, Las Vegas, HBO: Marquez looked strong against Juan Diaz in his first fight after he was embarrassed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Katsid
