by Cliff Rold
The boxing world saw a powerful shakeup two Saturday’s ago when Manny Pacquiao, regarded still as 1A to Floyd Mayweather at Welterweight after a highly despised decision loss to Timothy Bradley, was left inert by Juan Manuel Marquez.
That card also featured the return to action of Yuriorkis Gamboa, now fighting at Jr. Lightweight. One week later, we also have the return of former Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal after ample time off.
How does it shake out?
Light Heavyweight: Pascal returns at #4, bumping previous #10 Denis Grachev out of the ratings. Pascal is slated for a title shot at Chad Dawson in the spring. A left arm injury in his win over Aleksy Kuziemski could delay those plans and force another layoff.
Welterweight: Marquez moves into the number one contender slot below lineal champion Floyd Mayweather. No one should expect that rematch, but a fifth Pacquiao fight may be coming. Pacquiao, who was competing well, is only a few months removed from the lousy Bradley decision and stays ahead in the ratings. Marquez also remains rated, for now, at Jr. Welterweight with some decisions to make.
Jr. Lightweight: Gamboa enters just below the division titlist but, realistically, would be favored over most if not all of them.
The full results of note and impact on the ratings are a click away.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene and a member of the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
