Top 10 pound-for-pound list with our previous rating
1 Manny Pacquiao (5)
Two impressive wins over Erik Morales have the Filipino star looking unbeatable.
2 Winky Wright (1)
Draw versus Jermain Taylor a bad call, but it’s in the official books.
3 Floyd Mayweather (2)
He’s so good. But seriously, his past seven wins: Carlos Baldomir, Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti, Henry Bruseles, DeMarcus Corley, Phillip N’dou.
4 Marco Antonio Barrera (3)
Boring win over Rocky Juarez redeemed draw earlier in the year.
5 Jermain Taylor (7)
After painful effort against Kassim Ouma, he’ll be wanting to avoid a rematch with Wright.
6 Bernard Hopkins (7)
Now that he’s officially unretired, he can get his reward for beating Antonio Tarver.
7 Rafael Marquez
Half of the best brother tandem in history.
8 Joe Calzaghe
Dude, fight someone. Please.
9 Jose Luis Castillo
Put the doughnut down and make a run at the 140 belt.
10 Chuck Liddell
Yeah yeah, we know. But the UFC light heavyweight champ tore his ACL three weeks ago and still pummeled legend Tito Ortiz on Saturday.
Fighter of the year
Manny Pacquiao
The “Pac Man” was universally picked as the 2006 Fighter of the Year for dismantling Mexican legend and likely Hall of Famer Erik Morales twice as well as beating Oscar Larios. He has displaced Winky Wright at No. 2 on most pound-for-pound lists, and a rematch of his 2003 TKO of Marco Antonio Barrera is on everyone’s wish list for 2007.
Runnerup: Carlos Baldomir
He started the year with nine losses but somehow beat Zab Judah and dominated Arturo Gatti to earn a big payday with Floyd Mayweather, which he lost. But what a run.
Fight of the year
Israel Vazquez TKO over Jhonny Gonzalez
Vazquez was floored twice by Gonzalez on Sept. 16 but managed to get back up and power his way to a victory in the 10th round to retain his WBC super bantamweight title.
Runnerup: Somsak Sithchatchawal’s 10th-round TKO of Mayhar Monshipour
Another reason why YouTube might be the best gift to boxing fans ever. No one in America saw this fight live, but thanks to a healthy dose of Internet buzz, it has become a cult favorite. Two guys slugging it out. It ain’t art, but it is fun and worth watching in all four parts.
Upset of the year
Carlos Baldomir over Zab Judah
Judah was already set to fight Floyd Mayweather a few months later in a megamatch. But someone forgot to tell Baldomir, who won a 12-round decision over his heavily favored opponent. The victory took all of the shine off Judah-Mayweather (which will be remembered only for the in-ring brawl).
Runnerup: Omar Nino decision over Brian Viloria
Hawaiian Punch was one of the jewels of the 2000 class. The rematch between these two was a draw though later voided after Nino tested positive for banned substances.
Worst decision of the year
Vernon Forrest over Ike Quartey by unanimous decision
This decision was so bad, Quartey came out of the fight in better shape than had he been declared the winner. He earned more than $1-million to lose to Winky Wright last month in Tampa while Forrest is still looking for his next opponent.
Runnerup: The draw between Wright and Jermain Taylor
Yes, it was close, but just about everyone at ringside saw the fight for Wright. His reputation for not closing strong unfairly hurt him in the judges’ eyes.
Wish list for 2007
1 Winky Wright and Jermain Taylor rematch
Come on, guys. No one really seemed to like either of you in your last fights, so let’s give the fans what they want.
2 Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya
This is already scheduled for May 5. We’re just hoping it comes off. Already the Fight of the Year for 2007 based on hype alone.
3 Wright versus winner of Mayweather-De La Hoya
Wright will drop to 154 to face either, and De La Hoya has been a 10-year itch that St. Petersburg’s best needs to scratch.
4 Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera II
The Golden Boy Promotions-Bob Arum feud might prevent this fight, and that would be a darn shame.
5 A heavyweight tournament
This is an annual wish, which usually leads to annual disappointment. Quite frankly, it might be the only way to make people care about the big fellas again.
6 Earlier start times for fights
Hey guys, while you’re putting on fights at 10:30, 11 p.m. on pay channels, the UFC has a prime-time spot on regular cable. That younger audience? Kiss them goodbye.
7 Keith Thurman, 2008 Olympian
The Olympic trials are in June, and the Clearwater resident looks like the man right now at 152 pounds.
8 A Jeff Lacy comeback
The 2000 Olympian looked good for two rounds against Vitali Tsypko before shredding his left shoulder. Surgery went well, and hopefully, we’ll get another comeback by Left Hook in 2007.
9 Bye-bye Contender contenders
Hopefully, Joe Calzaghe takes out Peter Manfredo and Sergio Mora gets beat. I’m tired of fighters such as Calzaghe and Taylor fighting guys with “names” but not even close to being in their league. It’s bad for boxing.
10 A return to glory
With UFC taking a chunk out of it, good fights not being made, bad scoring decisions, a bad heavyweight division, petty squabbling and fighters who think they deserve millions even after they lose, boxing has a long road back.
John C. Cotey can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 869-6261.
