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1. Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, Junior Welterweight (48-3-2, 36 KOs)
Manny's title winning effort at lightweight against WBC champ David Diaz, his "impossible" win at welterweight over the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, and narrowly capturing Juan Manuel Marquez's lightweight title, makes him truly deserving of my number one P4P ranking. A true pound for pound warrior who is never in a dull fight, Pacquiao just keeps impressing and delivering. If he beats Ricky Hatton in May, this whirlwind from the Philippines just might be considered a top 25 all time great. Sorry for doubting you once, Mr. Pacquiao. Never again.
2. Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexico, Lightweight (49-4-1, 36 KOs)
His razor thin split decision loss against P4P king Pacquiao and his impressive win over the rejuvenated Joel Casamayor, makes him on par with Joe Calzaghe in this writer's P4P ranking. A win over Juan Diaz should break the tie with the Welshman.
2. Joe Calzaghe, Wales, Light HeavyWeight (46-0-0, 32 KOs)
Although his win against an over-the-hill Roy Jones Jr didn't really improve his P4P ranking, Joe's unblemished record and longevity, however, do count when considering him this high in the mythical list. Forget the pitty-pat punches, he always seems to get the job done. The bigger the stage, the better he gets, ie., Hopkins and Kessler. He may not be an all-tme great, but right now, he is one of the best of this decade.
4. Bernard Hopkins, USA, Light Heavyweight (49-5-1, 32 KOs)
His recent drubbing of undefeated and tough-as-nails, and considerably younger, 160 lbs. champ, Kelly Pavlik, all but erased memories of his close loss to Joe Calzaghe. Wins over Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, all younger than him at the time of the fight, also cements his place here. If there ever was someone who could be considered an ambassador to the P4P ranking, Hopkins is it. He has fought and gained championships in 2 different weight classes, winning titles at age 30,36, 41, and 42, he defended his IBF Middleweight Title a record 17 times and could quite possibly be the first fighter to hold all four major alphabet titles (WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO) concurrently. Enough said.
5. Israel Vasquez, Mexico, Junior Featherweight (43-4-0, 31 KOs)
His trilogy alone with another P4P entrant, Rafael Marquez, is enough to secure him 5th place in my ranking. He could box, he could punch, he gets knocked-down, he knocks people down. What else could you ask for in a P4P fighter? His never-back-down attitude has endeared him to purists and casual boxing fans alike. Vasquez could easily fight and thrill in any boxing era. Arturo Gatti with finer skills and better quality opposition. Ironically, the only way to move him up further up the ranking is a third win (in four fights) over none other than... you guessed it... Marquez. Unless he moves up in weight class, beating anyone else other than his archrival would not improve his standing.
6. Vic Darchynian, Australia, Junior Bantamweight (31-1-1, 25 KOs)
Except for Pacquiao, Darchynian had the best 2008 among our P4P entrants. His victory over Dimitri Kirilov to capture the IBF Super Flyweight Title, his 2nd belt in a different weight class, and his total domination of once P4P fighter, Christian Mijares, to unify part of the Super Flyweight title, gives him the nod over Shane Mosley or Rafael Marquez. A win over feisty Mexican Jorge Arce will certainly push him past Vasquez.
7. Shane Mosley, USA, Welterweight (46-5-0, 39 KOs, 1 NC)
Turning back the clock against rugged champion, Antonio Margarito, brought this multi-weight titlist back into my P4p heap. Wins over the unluckiest fighter in boxing today, Luiz Collazo, his devastating last second knockout of the mouth of Managua, Ricardo Mayorga, and a close UD loss to Miguel Cotto all add up in making Sugar Shane the man at No. 7. A win over Pacquiao or Paul Williams should catapult Mr. Mosley to either 3rd or 4th.
8. Rafael Marquez, Mexico, Junior Featherweight (37-5-0, 33 KOs)
Read No. 5 Israel Vasquez. A SD or UD win against his conqueror might just move him a rung below Vasquez. A KO victory, however, would grab his nemesis' spot from under his nose and push Mr. Vazques just a step down at No. 6.
9. Ivan Calderon, Puerto Rico, Junior Flyweight (32-0-0, 6 KOs)
His unbeaten record and titles in 2 weight classes qualify this gifted boxer as the No. 9 Pound for Pound entrant. A move up might be imminent, however, as it is the only way he'll move up the P4P list.
10. Ricky Hatton, Junior Welterweight, UK (45-1-0, 32 KOs)
Although slightly overrated, Hatton narrowly edges Kelly Pavlik and Chad Dawson for the 10th spot due to quality of opposition and a title in another weight class. His sole loss came at the hands of then P4P king, Floyd Mayweather Jr at 147, and was competetive up until the middle rounds when the Money Man took control of the fight, eventually knocking Hatton out in Round 10. A win over Pacquiao, coupled with his wins over Kotsya Tszyu, Juan Urango, Collazo, J.C. Castillo and Paulie Mallinagi should be enough to catapult him to a top 5 ranking.
And yes! Shane's deserves to be in the P4P list.
Manny's title winning effort at lightweight against WBC champ David Diaz, his "impossible" win at welterweight over the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, and narrowly capturing Juan Manuel Marquez's lightweight title, makes him truly deserving of my number one P4P ranking. A true pound for pound warrior who is never in a dull fight, Pacquiao just keeps impressing and delivering. If he beats Ricky Hatton in May, this whirlwind from the Philippines just might be considered a top 25 all time great. Sorry for doubting you once, Mr. Pacquiao. Never again.
2. Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexico, Lightweight (49-4-1, 36 KOs)
His razor thin split decision loss against P4P king Pacquiao and his impressive win over the rejuvenated Joel Casamayor, makes him on par with Joe Calzaghe in this writer's P4P ranking. A win over Juan Diaz should break the tie with the Welshman.
2. Joe Calzaghe, Wales, Light HeavyWeight (46-0-0, 32 KOs)
Although his win against an over-the-hill Roy Jones Jr didn't really improve his P4P ranking, Joe's unblemished record and longevity, however, do count when considering him this high in the mythical list. Forget the pitty-pat punches, he always seems to get the job done. The bigger the stage, the better he gets, ie., Hopkins and Kessler. He may not be an all-tme great, but right now, he is one of the best of this decade.
4. Bernard Hopkins, USA, Light Heavyweight (49-5-1, 32 KOs)
His recent drubbing of undefeated and tough-as-nails, and considerably younger, 160 lbs. champ, Kelly Pavlik, all but erased memories of his close loss to Joe Calzaghe. Wins over Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, all younger than him at the time of the fight, also cements his place here. If there ever was someone who could be considered an ambassador to the P4P ranking, Hopkins is it. He has fought and gained championships in 2 different weight classes, winning titles at age 30,36, 41, and 42, he defended his IBF Middleweight Title a record 17 times and could quite possibly be the first fighter to hold all four major alphabet titles (WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO) concurrently. Enough said.
5. Israel Vasquez, Mexico, Junior Featherweight (43-4-0, 31 KOs)
His trilogy alone with another P4P entrant, Rafael Marquez, is enough to secure him 5th place in my ranking. He could box, he could punch, he gets knocked-down, he knocks people down. What else could you ask for in a P4P fighter? His never-back-down attitude has endeared him to purists and casual boxing fans alike. Vasquez could easily fight and thrill in any boxing era. Arturo Gatti with finer skills and better quality opposition. Ironically, the only way to move him up further up the ranking is a third win (in four fights) over none other than... you guessed it... Marquez. Unless he moves up in weight class, beating anyone else other than his archrival would not improve his standing.
6. Vic Darchynian, Australia, Junior Bantamweight (31-1-1, 25 KOs)
Except for Pacquiao, Darchynian had the best 2008 among our P4P entrants. His victory over Dimitri Kirilov to capture the IBF Super Flyweight Title, his 2nd belt in a different weight class, and his total domination of once P4P fighter, Christian Mijares, to unify part of the Super Flyweight title, gives him the nod over Shane Mosley or Rafael Marquez. A win over feisty Mexican Jorge Arce will certainly push him past Vasquez.
7. Shane Mosley, USA, Welterweight (46-5-0, 39 KOs, 1 NC)
Turning back the clock against rugged champion, Antonio Margarito, brought this multi-weight titlist back into my P4p heap. Wins over the unluckiest fighter in boxing today, Luiz Collazo, his devastating last second knockout of the mouth of Managua, Ricardo Mayorga, and a close UD loss to Miguel Cotto all add up in making Sugar Shane the man at No. 7. A win over Pacquiao or Paul Williams should catapult Mr. Mosley to either 3rd or 4th.
8. Rafael Marquez, Mexico, Junior Featherweight (37-5-0, 33 KOs)
Read No. 5 Israel Vasquez. A SD or UD win against his conqueror might just move him a rung below Vasquez. A KO victory, however, would grab his nemesis' spot from under his nose and push Mr. Vazques just a step down at No. 6.
9. Ivan Calderon, Puerto Rico, Junior Flyweight (32-0-0, 6 KOs)
His unbeaten record and titles in 2 weight classes qualify this gifted boxer as the No. 9 Pound for Pound entrant. A move up might be imminent, however, as it is the only way he'll move up the P4P list.
10. Ricky Hatton, Junior Welterweight, UK (45-1-0, 32 KOs)
Although slightly overrated, Hatton narrowly edges Kelly Pavlik and Chad Dawson for the 10th spot due to quality of opposition and a title in another weight class. His sole loss came at the hands of then P4P king, Floyd Mayweather Jr at 147, and was competetive up until the middle rounds when the Money Man took control of the fight, eventually knocking Hatton out in Round 10. A win over Pacquiao, coupled with his wins over Kotsya Tszyu, Juan Urango, Collazo, J.C. Castillo and Paulie Mallinagi should be enough to catapult him to a top 5 ranking.
And yes! Shane's deserves to be in the P4P list.
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