Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. maintained his hold on the top pound-for-pound spot in the latest edition of the WBM Pro Boxing Poll, released Friday.
The Michigan native-turned-Las Vegas resident increased his lead from three to 14 points over second-place Manny Pacquiao, who’d led five straight months before falling behind in the October voting.
Both men will take part in main event pay-per-view bouts this month, with Mayweather fighting WBC welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir Saturday night in Las Vegas, two weeks before Pacquiao meets veteran Erik Morales for the third time, also in Vegas.
Elsewhere in the pound-for-pound voting, former multi-class world champion Oscar De Le Hoya enters the top 12 at No. 7 and unbeaten flyweight sensation Vic Darchinyan is a newcomer at No. 12.
De La Hoya’s rise is perhaps accountable to new hopes for a superfight with Mayweather should “Pretty Boy Floyd” get past Baldomir. Darchinyan, meanwhile, is coming off a successful title defense against Glenn Donaire.
Exiting the top 12 for the month are heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko and junior featherweight Juan Manuel Marquez.
Two individual weight classes have new No. 1s this month.
Unbeaten Englishman Ricky Hatton leapfrogged Miguel Cotto to reassume the top spot back at 140 pounds after announcing intentions to move back to that weight class full time.
At 135, Cuban veteran Joel Casamayor takes over after his 12-round decision win over Diego Corrales in their third bout in October.
You can see all of the voting results at: www.WorldBoxingMedia.com.
The objective of the WBM Pro Boxing Poll is to recognize the achievements of deserving professional boxers by giving voice to boxing journalists around the world.
In its first year of operation, the WBM (World Boxing Media) has voting members from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Panama, Australia and New Zealand. Membership is open to any professional media person covering professional boxing.
