By Jake Donovan

Part four of this ongoing series examines the champions and the recognized best in the lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight divisions.

Perhaps more important, will any of the four still be in position to offer stability – or land the type of fights that can threaten such reigns and present a changing of the guard? 

To recap, the writers gracious enough to participate are (in alphabetical order):

Adam Abramowitz, Founder/Editor-In-Chief, SaturdayNightBoxing.com
Ryan Bivins, Feature Writer, BadLeftHook.com
Jake Donovan, Managing Editor, BoxingScene.com
David P. Greisman, Senior Writer, BoxingScene.com
Steve Kim, News Editor, BoxingScene.com
Takahiro Onaga, Founder/Editor-In-Chief, AsianBoxing.info
Dan Rafael, Senior Writer, ESPN.com
Cliff Rold, Feature Writer/Ratings Chairman, BoxingScene.com
Lem Satterfield, Reporter, RingTV.com
Alexey Sukachev, Eastern European Editor, BoxingScene.com

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 135 lb.)

Who’s the champ?
Terence Crawford presented the division with its first true lineal champ since Juan Manuel Marquez officially abandoned the weight class in April ’12 (although his last fight at 135 came in Nov. ’10). The unbeaten fighting pride of Nebraska gained recognition by BoxingScene.com and Transnational Ratings Board (TBRB) as the World lightweight champion following his 12-round boxing clinic of veteran #2 rated Raymundo Beltran over the Thanksgiving weekend in Omaha, Nebraska.

Who’s the best?
At the time of the voting, Terence Crawford (10 votes) was “just” the number one contender, and thus one of three non-lineal champions to receive all 10 votes in his weight class. Thanks to his Nov. 29 win over Beltran, he is now one of six lineal champs to have enjoyed a clean sweep among the voting panel.

Any way you slice it, Crawford is universally regarded as the best lightweight on the planet.

The feat is remarkable considering he was still a prospect-turned-contender heading into 2014. The year has become a breakthrough performance for the unbeaten rising star, with wins over Ricky Burns, previously unbeaten Yuriorkis Gamboa and now Beltran to propel to the top and further distance himself from the rest of the field.

What can change?
So with the best and the champ one and the same, and without peer, the lightweight division is in good hands. Right?

As fast as Crawford’s win over Beltran filled the void at the championship level, it’s about to once again become vacant most likely by the time of his next fight. The 27-year old has been a lightweight since his teenage years in the amateurs, and declared that the win over Beltran would be his last ever at the weight.

Richar Abril returned to the ring in September following a forced 18-month hiatus due to fights falling through and general avoidance due to his crafty style. A title defense slated for late January was recently scratched following the horrific injuries suffered by Anthony Crolla, who is still lucky to be alive after being assaulted while chasing down burglars fleeing from a neighbor’s backyard.

While the boxing world wishes Crolla a speedy recovery, Abril still needs someone to step to the dance floor sooner rather than later if he doesn’t want to spend another year and change on the sidelines.

Abril’s last fight took place in Finland, and the canceled showdown with Crolla was due to take place in England. Clearly, the Cuban boxer is willing to travel and take on all comers, which means perhaps BoxingScene.com #2 lightweight Dejan Zlaticanin – from Montenegro - can coax the lightweight titlist into a fight. Such a fight would kill two birds with one stone – establishing the best lightweight in the world and also crowning a new king, assuming Crawford is in fact done with the division. 

Mickey Bey and Miguel Vazquez are also threats to any other lightweight in the world, although most boxing fans hope they don’t threaten to fight each other once again. Their alphabet title fight this past September was mind-numbingly dull, so bad that the crappy decision which followed was hardly met with outrage from anyone outside of Vazquez’ camp.

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 140 lb.)

Who’s the champ?
All debates in the division were finally settled when Danny Garcia dropped and outpointed fire-breathing Lucas Matthysse in their highly anticipated Sept. ’13 showdown. The win solidified Garcia’s place atop the division, thus filling the vacancy left behind after Manny Pacquiao immediately fled 140 following his 2nd round knockout of then lineal champ Ricky Hatton in May ’09. 

Who’s the best?
That would once again be Danny Garcia (10 votes), the fourth of six World lineal champs (and one of eight overall fighters) to receive all ten votes for his weight class.

That stance could greatly change in the next 12 months, considering the 2014 campaign he led. Wins over Mauricio Herrera and Rod Salka were hardly in line with what led the unbeaten Philadelphian to the division’s top spot.

That said, his style is never going to make him a runaway favorite over any top fighter, but to date he continues to find ways to win. Given who’s he beaten – legitimately or otherwise – he remains the best in the world in a division that never runs short of top talent.

What can change?
It depends on which direction Garcia next heads, or whether or not adviser Al Haymon will actually allow him to take a risk in 2015.

The past 12 months saw the unbeaten Philly boxer screw the pooch, as he was fed intended tune-ups versus Herrera and Salka.

Garcia’s championship defense versus Herrera nearly proved disastrous, as he was considered fortunate to escape Puerto Rico with his title and undefeated record still in tact. There was no such danger in his gross mismatch with Salka, knocking out the career 130 lb. pug in the 2nd round of their non-title fight that came at a catchweight of 142 lb.

The next 12 months suggest a return to the level of competition that allowed Garcia to establish his dominance in the super lightweight division.

However, it could mean a showdown with current beltholder Lamont Peterson, a potential rematch with Matthysse or a move up the scale for a lucrative showdown with Floyd Mayweather. The latter option may or may not be accompanied by a full abandonment of the 140 lb. division, as he has hinted in recent months that making weight is becoming a bit tougher these days.

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 147 lb.)

Who’s the champ?
Depending on whom you ask, the answer is either Floyd Mayweather… or the winner of a Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao showdown.

Because you’re asking the folks at BoxingScene.com, the answer is Mayweather, who gained recognition following his May ’10 win over Shane Mosley. The reign is his second at the weight, with his first – which began with a Nov. ’06 shutout over Carlos Baldomir – ending in faux retirement, when he severed all ties from the sport months after his Dec. ’07 knockout win over Ricky Hatton. 

Who’s the best?
They may be #1 and #2 in the majority of pound-for-pound ratings, but until they actually fight, there’s no disputing that Floyd Mayweather (10 votes) is superior to Manny Pacquiao in ranking the world’s best welterweights.

In 10 career welterweight bouts, the closest Mayweather has ever come to losing was in his first fight with Marcos Maidana this past May. The bout was arguably his most thrilling in years, and Maidana’s relentless pressure certainly won over a lot of fans.

In the end, the majority decision only added to the drama as most had Mayweather a close-but-clear winner in the fight. The rematch wasn’t nearly as competitive or exciting—and if anything, only further accentuating Mayweather’s dominance in the division, and the sport in general.

Once upon a time, Pacquiao could provide a stronger argument. The renowned superstar reestablished his presence as the world’s second best welterweight following his win over Tim Bradley in April, avenging a highly controversial split decision loss in June ’12.

The outcome of that fight remains debated to this day—or at least discussed as a horrible verdict—but there was no disputing the end to his epic fourth fight with longtime rival Juan Manuel Marquez. The bout ended with Pacquiao knocked out cold, giving him his first ever two-fight losing streak  and also marking the only time in his incredible career—approaching 20 years in service come January— in which he failed to register a single official win in a calendar year.

What can change?
A win by Pacquiao, plain and simple.

We’re supposed to pretend that boxing’s dream fight from five years ago is back on the table. Even if it happens in 2015, preliminary odds have Mayweather winning, and in all honesty Pacquiao hasn’t done much to change public perception. The Filipino icon has punched his way back to among the best two or three best fighters in the world, but largely on the strength of his rematch win over Tim Bradley and the inactivity of super middleweight king Andre Ward. 

Amir Khan continues to plead his case for a showdown with Mayweather. That fight has a greater chance of happening than the one just mentioned. Khan was believed to be in the hunt for the May 3 date that eventually went to Maidana. The Brit strengthened his cause with decisive wins over Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander.

Is it enough to land the fight with Mayweather, never mind beat him?

Others who could enter the conversation at some point are: Keith Thurman, who looked like boxing’s next most feared man, until appearing ordinary in a 12-round rust-shaker over Leonard Bundu; Kell Brook, who figures to land Khan in an all-Brit clash next summer in the event neither faces Mayweather; and Danny Garcia, should he decide to move up in weight.

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT (up to 154 lb.)

Who’s the champ?
There have only been seven true 154 lb. champions in boxing history. Floyd Mayweather is the only one among that list to also remain champion in another weight class, as the pound-for-pound king rules the roost here and at welterweight. His reign began with – and is protected by – his last fight the weight, a 12-round decision over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the most lucrative boxing event ever.

Who’s the best?
It’s odd that Floyd Mayweather (six votes) and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (four votes) were the only two fighters to receive votes for this division since – technically – neither had a fight at 154 lb. at all in 2014.

Mayweather’s past 12 months were spent lining his pockets with wins over Marcos Maidana, with both fights taking place at welterweight. Alvarez’ year was spent rebuilding from his lone career loss – last year’s letdown versus Mayweather – with wins over Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara. Both fights were close enough to the division limit for voters to still consider him among the best in the world at the weight. Yet the contracted catchweights that came with each fight officially puts both fights in the middleweight limit.

What can change?
Given that Mayweather and Alvarez both plan to fight outside the division for their first fight of 2015, you would think a changing of the guard would follow.

However, further examination of the rest of the field suggests that fans can wait this one out, and allow for either fighter (or both) to officially sever all ties to the super welterweight division before searching for another hero.

Should that day come, the audience will turn to the likes of Erislandy Lara, Demetrius Andrade or perhaps even the Charlo brothers—Jermell and Jermall—to eventually fill that void.

Lara removed the bad taste left behind from his disputed loss to Alvarez in July, scoring a decisive decision over 154 lb. titlist Ishe Smith. Still in his arsenal, however, is the tendency to box and move when fighting is actually necessary, so perhaps some lessons are just never learned.

Andrade was supposed to fight on that same weekend, but was displeased with the financial package offered in a planned title defense versus Jermell Charlo and abruptly withdrew from the December 13 show. The Charlo twins remained on the card, with Jermall winning in a final eliminator to earn a crack at reigning two-time titlist Cornelius Bundrage.

Lurking in the wings, rising prospect Julian ‘J-Rock’ Williams certainly looks the part and could potentially enjoy a breakout campaign in 2015.

For the moment, however, it all remains wishful thinking. Until they decide to move on, the road to 154 lb. supremacy will run through Mayweather and Alvarez, in that order.

Next up: Part V – Examining the 160 lb., 168 lb., 175 lb. and 200 lb. divisions

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America . Twitter: @JakeNDaBox