My Pound For Pound Rankings - By Neil Thompson

My Pound For Pound Rankings

By Neil Thompson - 26TH April 2006 - FLOYD MAYWEATHER – Has now been a ‘world champion’ at super featherweight and lightweight and an alphabet title holder at junior welterweight and welterweight. He has beaten world class fighters like Castillo (twice), Corrales, Judah, Chorley, Gatti and Hernandez. Unfortunately he left the 140 lb division without proving his dominance over the rival champions which will harm his legacy in the future but these fights could still happen as both Cotto and Hatton will move up to 147 within the next couple of years. Mayweather is a defensive genius with incredibly fast hands. His power is also underrated at this weight and although he doesn’t possess one punch knockout power his punches are still very sharp and hurtful.

It appears that Mayweather is just keeping busy and isn’t taking unnecessary risks before he secures a fight with Oscar De La Hoya, which could happen within the nest 12 months. De La Hoya is the fight Mayweather craves more than anything else and a victory for Floyd would do wonders for his legacy. A fight with Ricky Hatton, the true 140 World Champion, is also a mouth watering clash and a legitimate threat to Mayweathers undefeated record. America needs a mainstream star and a victory over De La Hoya could make him one. At the moment his popularity doesn’t come near to matching his talent which is a shame for boxing. Floyd has just turned down a proposed $ 6 million fight with Antonio Margarito which is a surprise. With this in mind it will be interesting to see who Floyd does fight next, if its against a weaker opponent for less money than Margarito was offering, Floyd will get heavily criticised and rightly so.

WINKY WRIGHT – His two victories over Shane Mosley and his dominant performance over Felix Trinadad confirmed Wright place in the elite of boxing. After years of been avoided the big fights finally came for Wright and when they did he took his chance. A fight with Jermain Taylor would be interesting. In my opinion Taylor would be too fast, too strong, too big and too fresh for Winky to deal with but you cannot write Winky off, his incredible tactical boxing brain would be a huge factor for anyone to overcome. He deserves his number 2 ranking and may be around for a while to come. If Wright captures Taylor’s middleweight crown, a possible superfight with Joe Calzaghe for his super middleweight title has been mentioned. A victory over Taylor AND Calzaghe would do wonders for his already impressive legacy. Personally I think both Taylor and Clazaghe would beat the ageing Taylor but one thing I have learnt over the years is never, never under-estimate Ronald Winky Wright. They are few fighters I respect more than this guy. In my country (UK) he gained our respect well before he gained it in his own country.

MANNY PACQUIAO – Knockout victories over Erick Morales and Bererra should guarantee Pacman’s position in the top three. His aggressive non-stop offensive style proving too much for the Mexican greats to deal with. I was tempted to place him second in this list but he was outboxed in his first fight with Morales and Marquez came back from 3 knockdowns in the first round of his fight with Pacquioa to outbox him for the majority of the remaining 11 rounds. Despite his earlier set backs to Marquez and Morales, Pacquioa has fought his way back and looks better than ever. A world class chin, great power, speed and fantastic work ethic makes this warrior very hard to beat. If a Pacquioa v Berrera 2 fight can be made, I feel the outcome will be the same as there first meeting. Pacquioa has Berrera’s number.

MARCO ANTONIO BERERRA – The old Mexican warrior is still going strong but his stoppage loss to Pacquioa still prevents him going any higher than number 4 in my list. A revenge win would go along to increasing Bererra’s already impressive legacy, but until Bererra gains revenge it’s hard to place him above Pacquioa.

RICKY HATTON – After two great victories against Tyszu and Maussa, Ricky Hatton has secured his place as the true World Champ at 140. The sky is the limit for the Manchester fighter now with a number of potential big fights on the horizon. His future could include Cotto, Castillo, Corrales, Witter, Baldomir, Gatti, Mayweather, Mosley etc. Hatton’s incredible fitness, aggression, work rate, speed and chin make him a threat to any elite fighter. Ricky’s style is ideal to cause Mayweather trouble and Floyd is Ricky’s ultimate target. Many fighters with Hatton’s aggressive, high tempo style don’t last long after they’re 30 birthday, so the next 3 or 4 years are essential for Ricky’s career. A victory over the likes of Cotto and Castillo would propel Hatton higher than his number 5 ‘P4P’ ranking. A victory over Mayweather would secure his place at the very top. While Mayweather would be the betting favourite, only a fool would write Hatton off. Ricky’s upcoming US and welterweight debut is only a couple of weeks away. Luis Collazo may not be recognised as an elite fighter but he’s hungry and unknown which is a very dangerous combination. Providing Hatton gets past Collazo, expect the ‘Hitman’ to secure a more meaningful fight next time out.

JOE CALZAGHE – After 8 years as a world champion and 18 title defences of his alphabet title, Joe is finally recognised as the true World Champion at 168. Alternatively

you could claim that Warren has finally delivered Joe the fight his talent has always deserved. His victory over Lacy confirmed Calzaghe’s legacy as the best super middleweight since the heyday of the great Roy Jones. It is good to see Calzaghe finally gain global respect. Joe has just jumped ship from Showtime to HBO and a fight with Librardo Andrade is in the making.

JOSE LUIS CASTILLO – Coming off an impressive 4th round stoppage of Corrales, he deserves his spot. Castillo is the only fighter to give Floyd Mayweather a close fight. Eventhough I thought Floyd won both his fights with Castillo, the Mexican power puncher still kept things close after a total of 24 rounds against the current pound for pound number one fighter. Providing he can still make the lightweight limit he should beat Corrales again and win the trilogy 2 – 1.

ANTONIO TARVER – The true World Champion at Light Heavyweight eventhough he doesn’t hold any of the premier alphabet titles. His loss to Johnson in there first fight has cost him a few places on this list eventhough he won the rematch. Tarver is a top quality boxer with good power and a nice array of shots. However sometimes his work rate is poor and in my opinion he would have beaten Roy Jones the first time if he’d thrown more leather. Although I have a healthy respect for Tarver, I still think his time at the top is coming to the end. I feel Calzaghe would beat him and I believe Hopkins has an outside chance of upsetting him later this year.

JERMAIN TAYLOR – With the exception of Floyd Mayweather, Taylor is America’s only potential new superstar. Taylor failed to shine in both his extremely close contests with Hopkins. A victory over Winky Wright will send Taylor into the top half of this list. Most people seem to believe Taylor will lose to Wright, personally I disagree. In my opinion Taylor is younger, bigger, stronger, faster and more powerful and will take Wright on a close decision.

BERNARD HOPKINS – Although he lost to Taylor twice many people believe he was robbed on both occasions. I don’t agree but I will admit that both fights were extremely close. An upcoming fight with Tarver is scheduled for later this year. This fight should be another boring encounter as both are defensive fighters. I’m well aware that most people will think Hopkins shouldn’t still be ranked in the top ten P4P but I disagree. Hopkins may surprise us yet, as defeating Tarver is not far fetched at all.


AND THE BEST OF THE REST:

Rafael Marquez (needs to move up in weight).

Pongsaklek Wonjongkan (try saying that after a few bears).
Miguel Cotto (Stop holding this guy back – needs a big fight soon).
Antonio Margarito (How can he prove himself if everybody avoids him).
Glen Johnson (Soon to fight Chris Woods).
Chris John (Great win last time out).
Manuel Marquez (Surprise defeat to Chris John last time out).
Roman Karmizin (Under rated fighter).
Mikkel Kessler (Needs a big fight soon – a move to America would do wonders).
Wladimir Klitsckho (Very impressive against Byrd but still question remain).

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Within a year Kessler will be top10 :)

http://www.teampalle.dk/media(2125,1030)/Mikkel24a.jpg

A Calzage-Andrade fight is in the making? Dangerous fight for Joe IMO

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Glen Johnson (Soon to fight Chris Woods).

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clinton woods? now theres a fight id wangt to see. or is chris woods some other bloke?

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Originally Posted by James

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Glen Johnson (Soon to fight Chris Woods).

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clinton woods? now theres a fight id wangt to see. or is chris woods some other bloke?

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Former England Goalkeeper ;)

Good list APART from B-Hop and Tarver being there. Tarver for obvious reasons and B-Hop,well I'm a big big fan but you cannot have 2 losses and still in top 10 P4P otherwise I'd have Morales in there too. I'm still not sure,I think Winky@1,PBF2,but you could argue for MAB@ number 1 too. Rafael Marquez HAS to be there and I would have Arce ahead of all those guys which he listed just outside top 10 and I like his comment on Margarito!! Castillo could go higher,or Chico could enter depending on the outcome and Wright could seal top spot without doubt if he beats JT Or JT could move top 5! And what of MAB if he beats the dangerous Juarez OR if Juarez beats him?!?!? Sooo many possible implications!!!

will there be any blacks on the list in one year?

Good list, pretty close to mine. I would have Castillo higher than Hatton and Calzaghe though, and Coralles instead of Hopkins. Other than that pretty much the same as me.

Tarver deserves to be there, he beat the man 2 times, (possibly 3) and also beat the man that beat the man. I fully expect him to beat Hopkins as well and confirm his place in the top 10.