SONAHR Sports: September 21, 2014 – Boxing?s pound-for-pound lists tend to be controversial, if not necessarily relevant to anything other than heated debate. The term was first conceived as a means to compare the relative worth of fighters in different weight classes. The legendary Sugar Ray Robinson was the first boxer to be granted the ?pound-for-pound best? accolade. Listings followed over the years, most notably those of The Ring magazine.
It stands to reason that a place in the pound-for-pound ratings constitutes a sterling credential for eventual enshrinement in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, likely on the first ballot of eligibility. But that?s not necessarily the case, as a look at the list in the October 2014 issue of The Ring demonstrates. True, some of the fighters on the list are, indeed, first-ballot locks for plaques in the IBHOF. Others, not so much.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. tops the list, as he has for quite some time now. He remains undefeated over a career that began in 1997. He is also one of the most polarizing personages in boxing history. Those who like him like him a lot, and those who loathe him loathe him a lot. But his transcendental talent is undeniable, and even if he loses the ?0? in his loss column before he hangs up his gloves, his first-ballot ticket to Canastota is as certain as death and taxes.
Andre Ward holds the second slot. Like Mayweather, he is undefeated. Unlike Mayweather, Ward has been virtually invisible since he scored a signature stoppage over Chad Dawson, with only one fight since then, and that one occurring at the end of last year. Injuries and managerial problems have hindered Ward?s career. He?ll make the Hall of Fame eventually. But if his absence from actual appearances in the ring continues, it may take several years of balloting for him to get there.
Wladimir Klitschko is third, which is a high pound-for-pound position for a heavyweight these days. Even if Klitschko loses his bout with Kubrat Pulev in November, he is still certain to be a first-ballot inductee to the IBHOF. Along with his recently-retired brother Vitali (another sure-fire Hall-of-Famer), Wladimir has dominated his division for more than a decade. He also overcame weaknesses ? a stamina problem and a shaky chin ? that would have truncated the careers of fighters with lesser willpower. Given his size, Wladimir will probably need an extra-large plaque in the Hall.
Manny Pacquiao is fourth. Not so long ago, he and Mayweather batted the top spot back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Pacquiao has slipped a little since then, but he?s still a champion, and still one of the best. Whenever he chooses to retire, five years later he will certainly be voted into the IBHOF, and the town of Canastota will be packed with Pac-man supporters.
Timothy Bradley is fifth. At this point, he has only one loss on his ledger ? a decision setback at the hands of Pacquiao, whom Bradley had in turn defeated in an earlier bout in which the decision was hotly disputed. Although Bradley has for the most part overcome the negative fallout from that first fight, it will still likely prevent him from entering the IBHOF in his first year of eligibility. But he?ll still get there, sooner rather than later.
Juan Manuel Marquez is sixth. As the first Mexican fighter to win major titles in four divisions, and as the man who left Pacquiao flat on his face in the fourth fight of their series, Marquez is certain to make the Hall of Fame the first time his name appears on the ballot. Hopefully, if Marquez and Pacquiao are inducted in the same year, they won?t have a fifth bout on the podium.
Guillermo Rigondeaux is seventh. The Cuban Olympic gold-medalist and undefeated professional has sterling credentials for entry into the Hall. But his no-risk defensive style is a turn-off to fans, even though it is also supremely effective. The extent to which his crowd-unfriendly modus operandi also turns off the IBHOF electors will determine how long it will take for Rigondeaux to get the plaque he deserves.
Carl Froch is eighth. Even though he is in the lower echelon of The Ring?s P4P ranks, Froch is still certain to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Over the past several years, he has fought the best in the super-middleweight division, and lost only to Ward and Mikkel Kessler. And he decisively avenged the Kessler loss. The wear-and-tear of Froch?s demanding career is likely to catch up with him before long. But his accomplishments will still get the recognition they deserve, including Canastota.
Roman Gonzalez is ninth. Even though the Nicaraguan?s record stands at a sparkling 39-0, with 33 KOs, he will have to wait a long time before his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The reason is that he fights at flyweight, and IBHOF voters tend to pay less attention to the standouts of the lighter weight divisions ? unless they are superstars like Ricardo Lopez, who fought at strawweight but cast a giant shadow. Unfair, but there it is.
Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez is tenth. Even with his 44-1-1 (31 KOs) record, Canelo is still a work-in progress. At this point in his career, it is premature to speculate on his Hall of Fame bona fides. Actually, it?s a mystery why Alvarez, and not Bernard Hopkins, is on The Ring?s P4P list in the first place. Not only is Hopkins one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today; he?s also, at 49, the best year-for-year fighter of all time, and certain to make the Hall of Fame the first year he?s eligible.
So, making it onto a pound-for-pound ranking does bode well for a boxer?s chances of ultimately making it into the Hall of Fame. But such a listing does not guarantee immediate induction.
