1. Manny Pacquiao ? Pacquiao battered Antonio Maragrito to the point of reconstrutive plastic surgery. While most may argue that the Shane Mosley bout is a waste of time, it?s fair to say many bouts are for the Pinoy idol unless they are against the man named Mayweather. Except the fact that Pacquiao now a congressman in his native Philippines and can make lots of money fighting individuals who are severe underdogs before his inevitabe retirement in a couple of years time. Easy opponents, easy money and a nice easy retirement. He?s earned it. It?s not that we can accuse him ducking anyone can we?
2. Sergio Martinez – After he delivered a punch to the jaw of Paul Williams that would have knocked out a mule, the Boxing Writers Association of America 2010 Fighter of the Year is facing the awkward but no less dangerous Sergei Dzinziruk. In a year that saw a contested decision loss to Williams followed by a win over Kelly Pavlik the only sour note is that Martinez a man younger than his years bely has few marquee opponents in a division currently devoid of talent that matches the Argentines great skills.
3. Nonito Donaire ? One lightning punch to the jaw of Fernando Montiel resulted in a flash visit to the hospital for the dethroned bantamweight champion. The Filipino Flash now has the world at his feet. A bout against the winner of the bantamweight Super Six competition is in the offing before taking a logical step up to 122 and 126 ponds where the riches of Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa await. All those fights are in-house Top Rank fights and should be no problem to make. Donaire is 28 years old and should be a frightening prospect in the next four weight divisions for years to come.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez ? What should have been a stern test for the veteran three-weight Mexican champion turned out to be a masterclass in counter-punching and the art of throwing combinations. So business as usual, as Michael Katsidis was rthe recipient on this occasion. A scheduled bout with Erik Morales fell through so Marquez is seeking a new opponent to add to his first ballot Hall of Fame resume.
5. Bernard Hopkins ? Bernard Hopkins got up, put his teeth in and then proceeded to woop Jean Pascal around the ring for eight rounds in a majority draw that many though Hopkins deserved to win. Win or not the rematch with Pascal means that Hopkins will be that much older when he enters the ring as favorite later in the year. The man is pushing 50 years old yet pushes his opponents around with a body a thrid of that age. When Hopkins retires he will have been accepted into the Hall of the Fame and forgotten more than most fighters ever knew. Right now though he is still making big money fighting reluctant youngsters.
6. Wladimir Klitschko ? The younger brother of the dynamic Ukrainian heavyweight duo has arguably not lost a round of boxing in half a decade and continues to tenderize his opponents with effortless grace and ease. They cannot be blamed for the quality of opposition put in front of them. The ?quality? opponents run (David Haye take note), while the rest are happy turning up for the right to be pounded for career high pay-days. They fight regularly too. Pretty flawless.
7. Timothy Bradley ? Sure, the bout with Devon Alexander was an anti-claimtic stylistic disaster, but one cannot blame Bradley for that. While Alexander was exposed as a fighter lacking in heart and power, Bradley came in lean, conditioned and determined to win at all costs. He also ensured the that the man Amir Khan will fight next is himself. The winner may likely go on to face Pacquiao. Bradley is a fighter who does nothing great, but does everything pretty darn well.
8. Andre Ward ? Ward came into the Super Six tournament unknown. Now he is favorite to emerge as the number one super-middleweight in the world. He can brawl, fight smart, cleanly and dirty. A versatile super-star in the making. The only man in his way to that is Lucian Bute.
9. Juan Manuel Lopez ? Lopez was first to every punch in his bout with Rafael Marquez. The only thing that everyone wants to see now is how he fairs against the fastest hands in the business today ? the exciting and undoubtedly dangerous Yuriorkis Gamboa. That fight has been stewing a little too long for Boxing Dispatch?s liking.
10. Floyd Mayweather ? This is an honorable mention for the flawed genius that is Floyd Mayweather. When he is in the ring his talents surpass those of anyone he could face, except he is not in the ring. At all. Two fights in the space of three years in not good enough for the fans, the rankings and for himself. If you act like you are retired then say so Floyd, just don?t expect something for nothing.
