Issue #6

It has been a personal hobby of mine to keep a pound-for-pound boxing list to compare with those of others, including those of major publications. Like in the computerized system, I try to put neutrality first and determine who the very best fighters of the world are, independent of weight divisions.

1. Manny Pacquiao (+1) – With Mayweather bowing out, Pacquiao is the king of this list.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez (+1)  - Lost a razor thin decision against Pacquiao who is tops on this list.

3. Joe Calzaghe (+1)  - Calzaghe and Hopkins used each other to prove their worth.  This was a nip/tuck fight where the CompuBox stats meant nothing.  Essentially, it was Calzaghe’s activity against Hopkins’s power punching.  I could see this being scored anywhere from 116-111 Calzaghe, to 115-112 Hopkins.  Given the opportunity to score it after the fact, with the ability to pause and rewind, I scored it for Calzaghe by 1 point.  Having said that, I could see the argument for a Hopkins win.

4. Bernard Hopkins (+1) - In the last three years, Hopkins has had an incredible opposition strength.  He’ll continue this trend when he squares off against Pavlik in a match at 170 pounds.

5. Israel Vazquez (+1)  - Squeaked by Rafael in the third encounter.  Both remain in their respective spots.

6. Kelly Pavlik (+1)  - The Lockett fight didn’t show us a whole lot, but the showdown versus Hopkins could.

7. Rafael Marquez (+1) - Lost the fight to Vazquez in the 12th round, but a split decision won’t drop him down the list.

8. Wladimir Klitschko (+4)  - Yes, I pulled the cardinal sin.  I put a Heavyweight in the Top 10, but to be perfectly honest, there aren’t many strong candidates now that Cotto lost, and Wright is tremendously inactive.  Besides, Klitschko has blasted out some decent competition as of late.

9. Antonio Margarito (NR) – Outlasted the very game and talented Cotto.  He is not overly skilled but exhibits a legendary chin and tremendous willpower.

10. Miguel Cotto (-1) – Let’s hope that the beating he took from Margarito doesn’t ruin him permanently.  After all, the fight was close after 10 rounds.  Had Cotto been able to move around the ring for the last two, he may have stolen the decision.

Rounding out the Top 25

11. Winky Wright (-1)

12. Shane Mosley (-1)

13. Ricky Hatton

14. Cristian Mijares

15. Arthur Abraham (+1)

16. Jermain Taylor (-1)

17. Chris John

18. Oscar De La Hoya

19. Nate Campbell

20. Joan Guzman

21. Juan Diaz

22. Ivan Calderon

23. David Haye

24. Nonito Donaire

25. Ulises Solis

Last Updated: July 29, 2008

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