Pacquiao Rates on New Turf: Ratings and Results Update

By Cliff Rold

With an in depth look at the Welterweight division yet to come this week here at BoxingScene, the sport basks still in the glow of the latest event at 147 lbs.  It was Manny Pacquiao’s second fight at Welterweight (give or take a pound) and even more impressive than the last.  Beating an aged, Jr. Middleweight Oscar De La Hoya was one thing.

Beating a still near-prime Miguel Cotto, a serious Welterweight who hit back, was another.

Pacquiao enters the ratings in his seventh weight class and sixth this decade.  But where?  And where does Miguel Cotto, previously number two behind only Shane Mosley, fall?

This is the BoxingScene Divisional Ratings and Results Update.

Jr. Middleweight (148-154 lbs.)

Notable Recent Results

11/07: #8 Alfredo Angulo (17-1, 14 KO) KO3 Harry Joe Yorgey (22-1-1, 10 KO)

11/14: #10 Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KO) UD12 #3 Daniel Santos vs.

World Jr. Middleweight Champion: Vacant

Top Ten Contenders     

1. Paul Williams (37-1, 27 KO, WBO Interim)

  2. Sergiy Dzinziruk (36-0, 22 KO, WBO, 5 Defenses) 

3. Sergio Martinez (44-1-2, 24 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses) 

4. Cory Spinks (37-5, 11 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses) 

5. Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KO, WBA, 0 Defenses)

6. Verno Phillips (42-11-1, 21 KO) 

7. Kermit Cintron (31-2-1, 27 KO)

8. Alfredo Angulo (17-1, 14 KO)

9. DeAndre Latimore (20-2, 16 KO) 

10. Daniel Santos (32-4-1, 23 KO)

Ratings Notes…After much trepidation, Yuri Foreman-Daniel Santos didn’t stink.  It was actually a decent fight and, matched with the right guys, Foreman could be interesting.  The right guys would never include Spinks…Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez is as good a fight as can be made at 154 if not quite a battle ultimate supremacy.  Dzinziruk has earned a right to be in that conversation…Alfredo Angulo looked devastating against Yorgey and a rematch with Cintron or showdown with veteran Verno Phillips could be great fights…This still isn’t a particularly thrilling division but there are signs of life.

Previous Champion: Ronald "Winky" Wright (2004-05, Vacated)

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Terry Norris (WBC) - 10

Key Upcoming Jr. Middleweight Contests

12/05: #1 Paul Williams vs. #4 Sergio Martinez

Welterweight (141-147 lbs.)

Notable Recent Results

09/19: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO) UD12 World Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBA/WBO)

10/03: #8 Vyacheslav Senchenko (30-0, 20 KO, WBA) UD12 Motoki Sasaki (32-8-1, 20 KO)

11/14: Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2, 10 KO) TD6 #9 Jesus Soto-Karass (24-4-3, 16 KO)

11/14: World Jr. Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) TKO12 #2 Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KO, WBO)

World Welterweight Champion: Vacant

Top Ten Contenders 

1. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO, WBA Super, 0 Defenses) 

2. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses) 

3. Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KO) 

4. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO) 

5. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO) 

6. Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO, WBC, 3 Defenses) 

7. Luis Collazo (30-4, 15 KO) 

8. Issac Hlatshawyo (29-1-1, 10 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)  

9. Vyacheslav Senchenko (30-0, 20 KO, WBA Regular, 1 Defense) 

10. Carlos Quintana (26-2, 20 KO)

Ratings Notes…Manny Pacquiao’s win over Oscar De La Hoya last year wasn’t quite enough to merit a rating at Welterweight.  Oscar hadn’t been at Welter in years and wasn’t rated in the division.  Stopping the number two man in class in Miguel Cotto, even at what was proven an unnecessary catchweight of 145 lbs., changes the equation...Shane Mosley retains the number one spot but has a tougher challenge than most realize in Berto.  If Pacquiao could beat Mosley, he’d claim the vacant lineal Welterweight crown, extending his record of lineal claims from four to five…Cotto slips only to third despite the loss.  He made concessions to make the Pacquiao fight happen and gave Pacquiao one of his roughest nights, at least over the first half.  The top ten still features three men Cotto has defeated, including number one, and his Welterweight resume in terms of quality opposition is the best of anyone since 2006.  No shame in losing to a living legend…Mayweather can easily move up when he gets back to fighting Welterweights and a fight with Pacquiao is the biggest in the division.  His place as the last lineal champion holds him in good standing ratings wise as well…2010 could see money made in this division the likes of which have never been seen in any class.

Previous Champion: Floyd Mayweather (2006-08, Retired)

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Henry Armstrong - 18

Key Upcoming Welterweight Contests

01/30: #1 Shane Mosley vs. #6 Andre Berto

>>>>>>Click Here To View BoxingScene's Full Divisional Ratings<<<<<<

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com