Well, here we are, at the end of another year. Actually, that’s not quite true in the great sport of boxing, because there are unusually good fights still to come over the next three weeks. Also, there’s Wladimir Klitschko versus Jean Marc Mormeck. Zing!
But I kid Big Wlad. Since our power rankings come out at the beginning of every month, this is the last set of them for 2011. And there’s a new man atop the mountain in the form of super middleweight co-king Lucian Bute. His relatively easy victory over Glen Johnson and Nonito Donaire losing one win from the rolling three-month ranking period was enough to boost The Charmer (hate that nickname, by the way) to the number one spot.
I suspect he may have some trouble staying there in 2012, because he’s almost guaranteed to face some tougher competition. That’s good for us, the fight fans of the world, as it means some quality bouts ahead at 168 pounds.
That’s next year, though. For now, go grab a refresher on how these scores work if you need one, and enjoy the last list for 2011:
1. Lucian Bute – 20.89 – A fading Johnson was really no match for Bute, though as usual he gave it his all. Logic suggests that he’ll be taking on the Super Six winner (Andre Ward or Carl Froch), but an all-Canadian meeting with Jean Pascal or a catchweight contest with Sergio Martinez would also be pretty sweet.
2. Nonito Donaire – 18.43 – The Filipino Flash slips one spot as one of his 2008 victories fades from the ranking period. Despite his talent, Donaire seems like he needs a spectacular first outing in 2012 to regain some of his momentum from earlier in 2011.
