By Cliff Rold
Since the retirement of Joe Calzaghe, there had been little reason to revisit the sport’s ten best fighters but a series of events and milestones have shaken up the picture in ways which can appeal to any fight fan.
On Saturday, May 2nd, former multi-division World Champion Floyd Mayweather announced he will be returning to the ring in July for a showdown with reigning World Lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez. On the evening of the same date, the sports best active fighter made clear who the winner of Mayweather-Marquez should be gunning for. Both of these events have an impact on the new ratings.
Also impacting the new ratings are a pair of absences. The two titans of the Jr. Featherweight class, World Champion Israel Vazquez and former champion Rafael Marquez, have been inactive since their epic third fight on March 1 of last year. Marquez has imminent plans to return; Vazquez does not as yet and is therefore removed from this latest list. When his plans become clear, he will of course be reconsidered.
Their exit makes room for a new if familiar face which you’ll find in these new Boxing Scene Pound for Pound ratings.