The Ring 100 - top 100 fighters today

[Eric Holder]

62. ULISES SOLIS
Junior Flyweight 29-2-2 (20)
Last Year’s Ranking: 40
Status Report: Solis’ entertaining alphabet title reign came to an abrupt end at the baby-sized fists of Brian Viloria (KO 11). This means that in 40 years the answer to the trivia question, “Against whom did Ulises Solis make his final title defense?” will be Nerys Espinoza (W 12), who Solis beat in Mexico. Solis wasted no time after the loss to Viloria, beating one Direcu Cabarca (W 8), also in Mexico.
Future: There’s always a market for fun, hard-hitting vulnerable guys like Solis. He’ll find no shortage of dates.

63. OMAR NARVAEZ
Flyweight 30-0-2 (19)
Last Year’s Ranking: 57
Status Report: It’s status quo for Narvaez, a skilled little guy who fights fairly frequently, but has no apparent interest in facing the best guys in his class. He stepped it up a bit with a win over undefeated American Rayonta Whitfield (KO 10) and then stopped the useful but well worn Omar Soto (KO 11). He can fight but apparently is fearful that the atmosphere outside Argentina would be harmful to his system.
Future: Nothing signed as we went to press, but we’re going to go out on a limb and say to expect a fight against a WBO mandatory. In Argentina.

64. CARL FROCH
WBC Super Middleweight Titleholder 26-0 (21)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Froch crashes the top 100 on the weight of wins over Jean Pascal (W 12), Jermain Taylor (KO 12), and Andre Dirrell (W 12), and is proof that if you believe strongly enough in yourself, after a while everyone else believes in you too. Froch is a bit crude and from all evidence only modestly talented, but has convinced everyone he is a white, 168-pound, British Sonny Liston. Maybe he is.
Future: Next stop in the Super Six tourney: Mikkel Kessler.

65. JEAN PASCAL
WBC Light Heavyweight Titleholder 25-1 (16)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: The talented Pascal breaks into the top 100 following a productive year in which he lost in a barnburner to Carl Froch (L 12), and came back to beat Pablo Nievas (KO 5), Adrian Diaconu (W 12) for an alphabet trinket, and Silvio Branco (KO 10) in defense of said trinket. His rematch win over Diaconu (W 12) is the icing on the cake. Future: Is Chad Dawson down the road?

66. ALEXANDER MUNOZ
Junior Bantamweight 34-3 (27)
Last Year’s Ranking: 31
Status Report: Little power punchers like Munoz don’t come around very often, but when they do it’s helpful if they fight more than once a year. “El Explosivo” fought just once after his loss to Cristian Mijares, beating the novice Breilor Teran (W 10). Hence his 29-point slide from last year. His win over Felix Machado in November was a little too late to get him a boost in these rankings.
Future: Who wouldn’t want to see Munoz against fellow rock-thrower Vic Darchinyan?

67. STEVE MOLITOR
Junior Featherweight 31-1 (12)
Last Year’s Ranking: 50
Status Report: What a nightmare it must have been for Molitor, riding high and undefeated, to get destroyed the way he was by Celestino Caballero (KO by 4). We can’t remember the last time a matchup that looked competitive on paper turned into such a rout. To his credit, Molitor has rebounded, beating Heriberto Ruiz (W 12) and Feliciano Ledezma (KO 5) and Jose Saez (W 8).
Future: Molitor’s a skilled guy and a good fighter who will have trouble against any of the killers rated ahead of him at 122 pounds.

68. DAVID HAYE
Heavyweight 22-1 (21)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: After all the fuss and muss, Haye finally took care of business and beat a hairy mountain range in Nicolay Valuev (W 12) to claim a strap. He didn’t look great doing it, but we’ll take it. Loud mouths like Haye generally are more fun than well-read gargoyles. You have to love the heavyweights.
Future: Alphabet mandatory against - can you stand it? - John Ruiz

69. ANTHONY MUNDINE
Middleweight 37-3 (23)
Last Year’s Ranking: 60
Status Report: You can say a lot of things about Mundine, but you can’t call him lazy. He beat Alejandro Falliga in Tasmania (W 10), his fourth fight since last year’s analysis. That’s the good news. The bad is that his opponents may not be the best fighters on their blocks, never mind in the middleweight division. But Rafael Pintos (W 10), Shannan Taylor (W 12), and Daniel Geale (W 12) are better than nobody. We guess.
Future: Scheduled to meet Robert Medley in Australia in January.

70. ALEXANDER POVETKIN
Heavyweight 18-0 (13)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: THE RING’s highest-ranked heavyweight under 6’7” fought just twice since last year’s analysis, beating prospect Jason Estrada (W 10) and Leo Nolan (KO 3) in Germany. He breaks the top 100 anyway because victories over the last couple years against Chris Byrd, Larry Donald, and Eddie Chambers say he should. Povetkin is a busy, determined guy who will outwork a lot of heavyweights. Not the Klitschkos, but other guys.
Future: At new trainer Teddy Atlas’ urging, Povetkin, Wladimir Klitschko’s IBF mandatory, apparently stepped aside to let Chambers get the next shot so Atlas would have time to work his magic.

71. DENIS BOYTSOV
Heavyweight 26-0 (21)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: We know we’re going out on a limb here, but we’re hearing good things about Boytsov, the latest heavyweight creation of famed Russian trainer Fritz Sdunek. Boytsov is undersized by recent standards, but has fast, heavy hands that so far have led him to wins over Taras *****ko (KO 6) and Jason Gavern (KO 7). And he’s active—four fights in ’08, three more in ’09.
Future: Don’t expect to see him soon. He’ll be brought along slowly.

72. JOEL CASAMAYOR
Lightweight 37-4-1 (22)
Last Year’s Ranking: 39
Status Report: After 14 months off, Casamayor finally have entered the ring again in November, out pointing novice Jason Davis (W 8). The demotion he’s taken this year could have been worse. But this old Cuban is a heck of a fighter, always has been, and he gets the benefit of the doubt.
Future: There aren’t a lot of opportunities out there for 38-year-old, left-handed counter punchers with a bad attitude.

73. ANDRE DIRRELL
Super Middleweight 18-1 (13)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: We doubt Dirrell’s Facebook page was flooded with “friend” requests following his performance against Carl Froch in the first leg of the Super Six tournament. This despite the perception, held by many, that he deserved the decision. He was fast, mobile, and exceedingly hard to hit. The bad news is he was fast, mobile, and exceedingly hard to hit. Maybe he deserved the win, but he stunk out the joint.
Future: Next opponent in the Super Six: Arthur Abraham. Ouch!

74. NEHOMAR CERMENO
Bantamweight 19-0 (11)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Cermeno’s win over Alejandro Valdez (KO 11) proved there was nothing fluky about his victories over Cristian Mijares ( W 12 twice). You wouldn’t be wrong if you said Vic Darchinyan softened him up, but for a 16-fight kid to twice beat a world-class guy in Mijares, and then Valdez, well, that tells you something.
Future: Is one of 327 “interim” WBA bantamweight titleholders, so expect a fight against one of the other 326 some time over the next decade.

75. RAUL GARCIA
IBF Strawweight Titleholder 27-0-1 (16)
Last Year’s Ranking: 80
Status Report: Another good year for Garcia. Wins over Jose Luis Varela in a rematch (W 12), Ronald Barrera (KO 6), and Sammy Gutierrez (W 12), alphabet title defenses each, solidify his standing among the better jockey-sized fighters.
Future: Is there a future for *any* 108-pound fighter? Sure, we’d like to see him face Roman Gonzalez, but why would either of them do it?

[Kris Silver]

Haye and Froch are far too low there.

Especially when you consider before the Ward loss, Kessler was mentioned by BoxingScene's p4p rankings, as one whom could soon be in the top 10. That was with the Calzaghe loss.

Froch's only 9 places ahead of Dirrell who he just beat, and has faced and beaten much better competition. Oh, and I hate Froch.

[P4P Opinion]

What the **** is Devon Alexander doing ahead of Froch and Haye? He has one decent win over a fighter that had been beat recently beforehand in Witter for a vacant belt. Like him or hate him, Froch is a belt holder as well and has wins over the then undefeated and now light heavyweight belt holder Pascal, the former undisputed middleweight champion of the world Taylor and an undefeated prospect in Dirrell. Like him or hate him, Haye is also a belt holder and is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world with wins over then champion Mormeck, belt holder Maccarinelli and belt holder Valuev.

Who the **** can justify that? The Ring can usually be trusted as well...

[aznhybrid]

How the phuck did Devon end at 52?!

[Eric Holder]

39. AMIR KHAN
WBA Junior Welterweight Titleholder 22-1 (16)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Blew out challenger Dmitriy Salita (KO 1) on Dec. 5 in New Castle and recovered nicely from shocking loss to puncher Breidis Prescott (KO by 1) to beat Oisin ***an (KO 2), Marco Antonio Barrera (Tech. Win 5) and Andriy Kotelnik (W 12). Shaky chin might always present problems, but not if he lands first.
Future: Rumors are he could face the excellent Timothy Bradley in a wonderful matchup. Keep your fingers crossed.

40. BRIAN VILORIA
IBF Junior Flyweight Titleholder 26-2 (15)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Appears finally to have come into his own, winning seven straight after dropping a decision to Edgar Sosa in April 2007. He arrives here after a strong 2009, during which he stopped the entertaining but vulnerable titleholder Ulises Solis (KO 11) and defended the alphabet strap against Jesus Iribe (W 12). At 28, Viloria should be in his prime.
Future: Scheduled to face Carlos Tamara on Jan. 23 in the Philippines.

41. PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
Junior Welterweight 27-3 (5)
Last Year’s Ranking: 62
Status Report: It was ruin followed by a measure of redemption for Malignaggi. A disastrous showing against Ricky Hatton (KO by 11) was followed by the firing of Buddy McGirt, a comeback win over Christopher Fernandez (W 8), and then, in a full return to the style he rode to the top, a dubious decision loss to Juan Diaz (L 12) in Texas. His win over Diaz in the rematch in Chicago was nothing short of a masterpiece.
Future: It’s a packed division. There’s another big fight out there in 2010 for “The Magic Man.”

42. PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM
Flyweight 74-3-1 (39)
Last Year’s Ranking: 43
Status Report: A victory in December over under-qualified Rodel Tajares capped a typical year in which the workhouse of the division won four times, beating Shahram Toradied (KO 2), Julio Cesar Miranda (W 12), Takahisa Samuda (KO 6) and Tajares (W 6). Can still stay with the better guys in the division

43. JOAN GUZMAN
Lightweight 29-0-1 (17)
Last Year’s Ranking: 29
Status Report: Barely survived bloody battle with Ali Funeka in November and escaped with disputed draw. Generously talented but apparently only moderately disciplined, Guzman fought just once in 2008, beating one Ameth Diaz (W 12) in the Dominican Republic. Looked mostly awful against Funeka and nothing like the future star we’d seen before.
Future: Needs a solid win over a top guy to restore his reputation. How about a rematch with Humberto Soto?

44. ALI FUNEKA
Lightweight 30-2-3 (25)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Stock soared after his controversial draw against Guzman; the majority of observers thought he clearly deserved the decision. Funeka has now acquitted himself very well in three fights against top guys: a stoppage of Zahir Raheem in July ’08 (KO 4), a close loss to Nate Campbell in February ’09 in Florida (L 12) and the “draw“ against Guzman. The guy can fight.
Future: Would love a rematch with Guzman, but he won’t get it.

45. JORGE LINARES
Junior Lightweight 27-1 (18)
Last Year’s Ranking: 26
Status Report: Linares suffered his first career loss against undefeated but unheralded Juan Carlos Salgado in Tokyo. A wide left hook dropped him, and though he was able to beat the count, the fight was stopped after a second knockdown. Not the stuff of the next Oscar De La Hoya, but one knockout loss doesn’t have to ruin a career, nor does it preclude future success. Look at Amir Khan.
Future: Linares’ people will want to go right after Salgado in a rematch and when you’re the star that Linares is (at least in Japan), you get what you want. Either way, he’s just 24 years old. He has time.

46. HUGO CAZARES
WBA Junior Bantamweight Titleholder 30-6-2 (22)
Last Year’s Ranking: 38
Status Report: Cazares had a busy year, jumping up in weight again and getting good business done, even if two of his victims, Jorge Romero (KO 3) and Margarito Lopez (KO 1), had sub-.500 records. The fights that counted came against Roberto Vasquez (W 11) and Nobuo Nashiro (D 12). Junior bantamweight might be Cazares’ weight class.
Future: Nothing has been signed, but a rematch with Nashiro would make the most sense.

47. KOKI KAMEDA
WBC Flyweight Titleholder 22-0 (14)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Kameda breaks the Top 50 with his win over Daisuke Naito in Japan in late November (KO 2) for the strap. It was his third win of the year, the others coming against no-namers Humberto Pool (KO 5) and Dolores (!) Osorio (KO 2). The former junior flyweight titleholder is one of the most famous athletes in Japan but his flamboyance is a turn-off to many. Think of him as a Japanese Naseem Hamed and you’re in the right ballpark.
Future: The one all of Asia wants to see is Kameda against Brian Viloria. Don’t get your hopes up.

48. LUCIAN BUTE
IBF Super Middleweight Titleholder 25-0 (20)
Last Year’s Ranking: 61
Status Report: Bute’s surprising stoppage of thick-chinned Librado Andrade in their rematch (KO 4) redeemed Bute in the eyes of those who felt Andrade had gotten ripped off in their first match (W 12). Bute’s easy blowout of shopworn Fernando Zuniga (KO 4) didn‘t help much, but the way he took out poor Andrade did.
Future: The Super Six tournament, to which Bute was not invited, ties up most of the other top 168-pounders for the foreseeable future. But when it’s done, watch Bute, if he’s still around, get the winner.

49. ANDRE WARD
Super Middleweight 21-0 (13)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Ward breaks the Top 50 on the strength of his startling whitewashing of established Super Six tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler (W 12). Ward did everything he said he was going to do, outboxing Kessler from the outside and roughing him up inside. If you’re wondering why Ward isn’t rated higher, remember -- Kessler is the first guy he’s beaten who could stand up for three rounds under his own power. Let’s not go crazy over him yet.
Future: Next for Ward is Jermain Taylor on April 17. Ugh.

50. NATE CAMPBELL
Junior Welterweight 33-5-1 (25) with 1 no-contest
Last Year’s Ranking: 17
Status Report: After a big jump in the ratings last year thanks to his win over Juan Diaz, Campbell drops back down to earth this year. He failed to make weight and struggled to beat Ali Funeka (W 12), then was getting his head handed to him by Timothy Bradley when a cut caused by a head butt resulted in a no-contest. Whether or not it was as it seemed, Campbell’s apparent enthusiasm for a stoppage implied a willingness to surrender that was unseemly.
Future: At 37, Campbell doesn’t have a lot of time. A rematch against Bradley appears unlikely and he’s still viewed as too dangerous to take for granted. It won’t be easy.

[Eric Holder]

25. MIKKEL KESSLER
WBA Super Middleweight Titleholder 42-2-0 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 20
Status Report: Up until his disaster against Andre Ward (L 12), Kessler looked to have recovered from the schooling he took against Joe Calzaghe, beating Danilo Haussler (KO 3) and Gusmyr Perdomo (KO 4) before heading into the super middleweight tournament against Ward in California. That he didn’t win a round demonstrates his complete and utter helplessness against a fighter with real speed.
Future: Carl Froch in April, who he’ll find much easier to hit than he did Ward.

26. EDWIN VALERO
WBC Lightweight Titleholder 26-0 (26)
Last Year’s Ranking: 48
Status Report: For those of us whose curiosity about Valero was stoked by all those grainy YouTube.com videos, his blazing win over the competent Antonio Pitalua (KO 2) in Texas was a resounding payoff. This guy is a born puncher. The bad news is he sat on his hands until beating Hector Velazquez in December (KO 6). We want this guy on HBO. Twice a month.
Future: Scheduled to face hot prospect Antonio DeMarco on Feb. 6 in Mexico.

27. RICKY HATTON
Junior Welterweight 45-2 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 13
Status Report: The former 140-pound world champion hasn’t made a peep since impersonating a lawn dart against Manny Pacquiao (KO by 2) and who can blame him? Never mind that his two career losses have come against the best fighters on the planet. When you go to sleep the way he did against Pacquiao, it takes a while to get your gumption back. There’s also the possibility that, even at just 31 years old, he is finished.
Future: Rumors abound that he will face Juan Manuel Marquez in 2010.

28. JUAN CARLOS SALGADO
WBA Junior Lightweight 21-0-1 (15)
Last Year’s Raking: Unranked
Status Report: If you’d never heard of Salgado before his shocking first-round kayo of star-in-the-making Jorge Linares, don’t feel bad; you’re not alone. Salgado cracks the Top 30 based entirely on the left hook he planted on Linares’ chin in October in Tokyo. Sure it represented his first win over anyone who is a household name outside his own household. But it’s huge.
Future: Scheduled to defend against Takashi Uchiyama on Jan. 11 in Tokyo.

29. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ
Junior Featherweight 27-0 (24)
Last Year’s Ranking: 34
Status Report: Lopez won some new friends and lost some old ones with his more-difficult-than-expected victory in October over hard-headed Rogers Mtagwa (W 12). But it proved he can hang in there when hurt. Triumphs earlier in the year over Sergio Manuel Medina (KO 1), Gerry Penalosa (KO 10), and Olivier Lontchi (KO 9) were far less taxing and therefore proved not nearly as much.
Future: Will meet Steven Lueveno on Jan. 23 in New York. Long range plan is a showdown with Yuriorkis Gamboa.

30. TOMASZ ADAMEK
Cruiserweight World Champion 39-1 (27)
Last year’s Ranking: 70
Status Report: Drubbing of 41-year-old remains of Andrew Golota in Poland (KO 5) didn‘t prove much, but Adamek is the goods anyway. His victories at cruiser over Steve Cunningham (W 12), Johnathan Banks (KO 8) and Bobby Gunn (KO 4) proved he’s the best 200-pounder in the world. (OK, not so much Gunn, but the others.) Since his only career loss, which came against Chad Dawson, Adamek has developed into a sound technical fighter and a real puncher.
Future: Jason Estrada on Feb. 6 in Newark, Adamek’s adopted hometown. Looks like heavyweight is where he’ll be permanently before long.

31. GLEN JOHNSON
Light Heavyweight 49-13-2 (33)
Last Year’s Ranking: 36
Status Report: Though a well-preserved 40, finally looked his age in his rematch against Chad Dawson (L 12). He can still hold his own against lesser guys, as he did beating Aaron Norwood (KO 4) and Daniel Judah (W 10) Forty years old or not, he’s probably an easy night for no 175-pounder alive -- except Dawson.
Future: It’s not going to get any easier. It’s hard to start over again when you’re middle-aged. Expect a slow descent.

32. HUMBERTO SOTO
Lightweight 50-7-2 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 30
Status Report: Looked good enough in debut at lightweight against veteran Jesus Chavez in December (W 10). Prior to that he had a productive year, beating Francisco Lorenzo in a rematch (W 12), Antonio Davis (KO 4), Benoit Gaudet (KO 9) and Aristides Perez (KO 2). Was hoping for bigger-money fights against Robert Guerrero or Jorge Linares, but they never happened.
Future: Has interesting options at 135 that include Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Katsidis and Edwin Valero.

33. STEVE CUNNINGHAM
Cruiserweight 22-2 (11)
Last Year’s Ranking: 58
Status Report: Year of mixed blessings for Cunningham, who lost his alphabet title to Tomasz Adamek in one of the best fights of the year (L 12), but rebounded seven months later to decision former beltholder Wayne Braithwaite in Florida (W 12). Did better against Adamek than anyone save for Chad Dawson, but suffered several knockdowns that gave Adamek the victory. Lack of serious punching power does him no favors.
Future: Has been lobbying hard for a rematch with Adamek but apparently won’t get it. He needs to get active against someone. Soon.

34. ROMAN GONZALEZ
WBA Strawweight Titleholder 24-0 (20)
Last Year’s Ranking: 37
Status Report: THE RING’s top-rated strawweight proved his highly improbable upset of Yutaka Nida in ’08 was no fluke, beating Miguel Tellez (KO 3), Francisco Rosas (W 12) and former WBC titleholder Katsunari Takayama (W 12) in ’09. Rosas gave him more trouble than anyone expected and that two of his last three have gone the distance have some questioning his credentials as a power puncher. But this 22-year-old from Nicaragua is all upside.
Future: Scheduled to face hard-hitting mandatory WBA challenger “TBA” on Jan. 30.

35. POONSAWAT KRATINGAENGGYM
WBA Junior Featherweight Titleholder 39-1 (28)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Kratingaenggym’s appearance comes on the strength of his back-to-back clubbings of Rafael Hernandez (KO 9) and Ireland’s Bernard Dunne (KO 3). Outside of those two, believe us, you haven’t heard of anyone on his recent record, with the possible exception of Somsak Sithchatchawal, whom Kratingaenggym stopped in 11 rounds in ’08. Other victims of note include Leo Gamez and Ricardo Cordoba, who fell to Kratingaenggym in ’05.
Future: Junior featherweight is a pretty strong division and the ideal fight would be a showdown between Kratingaenggym and division leader Celestino Caballero to name THE RING champion. We are not getting our hopes up. In the meantime, he’s slated to meet Satoshi Hosono on Jan. 11 in Tokyo.

36. ANDRE BERTO
WBC Welterweight Titleholder 25-0 (19)
Last Year’s Ranking: 78
Status Report: Berto makes big leap on the strength of his wins over Luis Collazo (W 12) and tough Juan Urango (W 12). Was criticized in both fights, for taking too many risks against Collazo and not enough against Urango. Still, both wins answered questions about him, namely that he can recover from being hurt, as he did against Collazo, and that he can stay disciplined for all 12 rounds, as he did against Urango.
Future: Will face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas in a fascinating match. If we wins in good form, he becomes a star.

37. ANSELMO MORENO
WBA Bantamweight Titleholder 28-1-1 (10)
Last Year’s Ranking: 54
Status Report: Moreno isn’t the most exciting titleholder out there – look again at his KO percentage – but he is one of the busiest. He beat Frederic Patrac in France in December (KO 11), and since last year’s analysis he fought Rolly Matsu****a (W 12), Wladimir Sidorenko in a rematch to their May, ’08 meeting (W 12), Mahyar Monshipour (W 12) and Jorge Ortero (KO 6). It’s not Henry Armstrong-busy, but by today’s standards it’s damn close.
Future: Why not a fight with Hozumi Hasegawa so we can crown a RING champion here already?

38. ROBERT GUERRERO
IBF Junior Lightweight Titleholder 25-1-1 (17)
Last Year’s Ranking: 49
Status Report: Last year was a mixed bag for Guerrero. He stopped Edel Ruiz with a body shot (KO 1), then, against tougher than expected Daud Cino Yordan, was cut and chose not to continue (No Dec. 2). The backlash was immediate and intense, but he returned to form against Efren Hinojosa (KO 8) and well regarded Malcolm Klassen (W 12). Guerrero can box a little and punch a little and together it works for him.
Future: Nothing signed at press time, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see Guerrero against Cassius Baloyi some time in 2010.

[Eric Holder]

11. ISRAEL VAZQUEZ
Junior Featherweight 44-4-0 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 5
Status Report: Vazquez was out for 19 months with an eye injury following his colossal third battle with Rafael Marquez. In his eagerly awaited return he struggled and bled (so what else is new?) but showed his class with an exciting win over tough journeyman Angel Antonio Priolo (KO 9). We don’t know how much longer Vazquez can keep this stuff up, so catch him now while you still can.
Future: You have to ask? A fourth match against Marquez, a macabre as it is, is all but a sure thing.

12. RAFAEL MARQUEZ
Junior Featherweight 38-5-0 (34)
Last Year’s Ranking: 8
Status Report: Fought just once after heroic loss to Vazquez in their rubber match, beating Jose Francisco Mendoza (KO 3) in Mexico. If anyone deserved an easy fight it was Marquez, and Mendoza gave him one. To have fought the way he did in the third match with Vazquez and come up the loser is the height of injustice. Damn that shaky chin.
Future: As much as you want to see a fourth match with Vazquez, Marquez wants it more. And he’ll get it.

13. HOZUMI HASEGAWAWBC Bantamweight Titleholder 28-2-0 (12)
Last Year’s Ranking: 23
Status Report: THE RING’s top-ranked bantamweight did nothing to diminish himself in the last year, making three title defenses. Neither Alvaro Perez (KO 4), Vusi Malinga (KO 1) nor Nestor Rocha (KO 1) presented any kind of challenge. That’s the good news. The bad is that all three fights took place in Japan, meaning we’ll only get to watch him on YouTube from Japan. And that’s a shame.
Future: There are plenty of good fights to be made at 118, but we can’t imagine too many guys that will be willing to face Hasegawa in Tokyo. That means more of the same.

14. ARTHUR ABRAHAM
Super Middleweight 31-0 (24)
Last Year’s Ranking: 18
Status Report: Abraham’s bludgeoning of Jermain Taylor in Berlin in the opening round of Showtime’s Super Six tourney was evidence of “King Arthur’s” innumerable strengths. It complemented his wins over Raul Marquez (KO 6), Lajuan Simon (W 12), and Mahir Oral (KO 10), and showed why many pick him to win the tournament outright.
Future: Next up is Andre Dirrell in March.

15. SERGIO MARTINEZ
Junior Middleweight 44-2-2 (24)
Last Year’s Ranking: 75
Status Report: Martinez came out of nowhere—well, Spain actually, which is kind of like nowhere when it comes to boxing—to be a major player at 154. He was wonderful in a titillating battle with Paul Williams (L 12). Unfortunately, he wasn’t as active last year as many of us would have liked. His only other appearance came in a horrendously scored draw against Kermit Cintron (D 12) for one of those lamentable alphabet “interim” titles. He clearly deserved the decision.
Future: At 34 he hasn’t a lot of time to waste, but after nearly beating Williams, he might have trouble finding big name opponents.

16. KELLY PAVLIK
World Middleweight Champion 36-1-0 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 11
Status Report: Pavlik’s win over spirited but outgunned Miguel Espino (KO 5) in December was good for one thing: getting him back in the ring and in front of his fans and getting the hand infection behind him. It was better than his other win in 2009, an uninspired victory over a petrified Marco Antonio Rubio (KO 9). It was good to have the middleweight champ back in action. He has some lost time to make up.
Future: Let‘s hope that showdown with Paul Williams is back on the itinerary.

17. IVAN CALDERON
World Junior Flyweight Champion 33-0-1 (6)
Last Year’s Ranking: 10
Status Report: Calderon’s slight descent in this analysis compared to last year is due primarily to the nature of his last two wins, both over Rodel Mayol (Tech. Win 7 both times). Both bouts were stopped because of a cut on Calderon’s forehead. Nevertheless, “Iron Boy” remains one of the purest boxers in the business and if you don’t believe us, consider how well you must box to remain undefeated as long as he has when you can’t break an egg.
Future: Nothing signed as we went top press, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a match against former titleholder Ulises Solis.

18. CHRIS JOHN
WBA Featherweight Titleholder 43-0-2 (22)
Last Year’s Ranking: 19
Status Report: John’s stock keeps rising, and not just because of his win over Hiroyuki Enoki (W 12). Remember, he left the safe confines of Indonesia and took on Rocky Juarez—in Houston of all places! The dubious outcome of that meeting (D 12) was righted for the most part with John’s win in the return (W 12) even if he almost got knocked out in the last 20 seconds. John isn’t the most skilled guy out there, but when you watch him you can see how nobody’s figured him out yet.
Future: The way the WBA keeps creating titles (John is the “super” champion, while Yuriorkis Gamboa recently won the “regular” title), John may meet himself in a title unification fight if he’s not careful.

19. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
World Heavyweight Champion 53-3 (47)
Last Year’s Ranking: 46
Status Report: He finally did it. By grinding up Ruslan Chagaev (KO 9), rated second at the time, the younger Klitschko graduated from the “consensus best” heavyweight to the world champion. The win was crucial; the only other victory since last year’s analysis was a distasteful bludgeoning of a hapless Hasim Rahman (KO 7), which did nothing to enhance Klitschko’s reputation anywhere outside of Mannheim.
Future: Shoulder tendon surgery sidelined Little Brother for the remainder of 2009. He is expected to defend against Eddie Chambers in the spring of 2010.

20. FERNANDO MONTIEL
Bantamweight 39-2-2 (29)
Last Year’s Ranking: 16
Status Report: It was a mostly good year for “El Cochulito,” with a jump up to bantamweight and wins over Juan Alberto Rojas (W 10) and Diego Oscar Silva (KO 3). But his vulnerability, which is part of what makes him so exciting, almost did him in against Alejandro Valdez (Tech. Draw 3). He was lucky to escape without a knockout loss on his record.
Future: Is scheduled to face Ciso Morales on February 13 in Las Vegas.

21. VITALI KLITSCHKO
WBC Heavyweight Titleholder 39-2 (37)
Last Year’s Ranking: 47
Status Report: Even without his domination of pacifist Kevin Johnson in Switzerland (W 12), Big Brother had already turned in the Comeback of the Year. Almost four years out of the ring and he dominates Sam Peter (KO 8), Juan Carlos Gomez (KO 9), and Chris Arreola (KO 10). No tune-ups, no injuries, all stoppage wins, and hardly a moment of anxiety in 39 rounds. Call it the quality of the heavyweight division, call it the power of unorthodoxy, but call Big Brother a winner.
Future: Between Vitali and Wladimir, they’re cleaning out the division. What happens when they’re the only two left?

22. ANTONIO MARGARITO
Welterweight 37-6 (27)
Last Year’s Ranking: 6
Status Report: Margarito’s 17-point tumble is attributable in the main not to his shocking loss to Shane Mosley—there’s no dishonor there—or to his subsequent inactivity. They work against him, but not as much as the revelation that his wraps were loaded going into the Mosley fight, as well as the very reasonable possibility that they were similarly doctored in all of his big wins. Can he fight? Absolutely. We just aren’t sure anymore how well.
Future: Margarito will be eligible to reapply for a boxing license in California in February 2010. If he can put together a couple good wins he’s right back in business.

23. TIMOTHY BRADLEY
Junior Welterweight 25-0 (11) with 1 no-contest
Last Year’s Ranking: 63
Status Report: Bradley’s excellent win over Lamont Peterson on December 12 isn‘t the only reason he makes a huge jump from last year. The promotion is also the result of an impressive victory over the dangerous and very capable Kendall Holt (W 12) and a cut-induced no-contest against Nate Campbell that looked every bit like a victory in the making. We get the sense that Bradley, a baby, really, at just 26 years old, will be on this list for a long time to come.
Future: There’s talk of Bradley against Amir Khan in 2010. Um, yeah. That works.

24. JOSHUA CLOTTEY
Welterweight 35-3 (20)
Last Year’s Ranking: 33
Status Report: It’s a damn shame that a fighter as good as Clottey is fought just once all of last year, that an exciting loss to Miguel Cotto (L 12). He made that one count, but as happened in his close loss to Antonio Margarito three years ago, Clottey decelerated down the stretch when he simply couldn’t afford to. He may be one of those guys who fights just hard enough to lose the big ones.
Future: Clottey appears to be frozen out of the very biggest fights at 147. But if a comebacking Margarito is looking for a meaningful dance partner, we know where he can find one.

[Eric Holder]

1. MANNY PACQUIAO
World Junior Welterweight Champion 50-3-2 (38)
Last Year’s Ranking: 1
Status Report: Pacquiao’s virtually flawless destruction of Miguel Cotto (KO 12) cemented his status as the best fighter in the world and extended his winning streak to 11 straight. It also rounded out a Hall of Fame year in which Pacquiao also beat Ricky Hatton (KO 2), scoring a knockout so resounding many have named it their Knockout of the Year. It’s hard to name any fighter who enjoyed a better year than Pacquiao did in 2009.
Future: If all this steroids nonsense gets straightened out, Pacquiao will meet Floyd Mayweather in one of the richest fights ever.

2. FLOYD MAYWEATHER
Welterweight 40-0-0 (25)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: If there was any su****ion that Mayweather would be rusty following his 21-month retirement, he eradicated it during his flawless win over Juan Manuel Marquez (W 12). It was all there—the speed, the defense, the reflexes, the confidence. “Money” never looked better, which is bad news for whatever higher-profile fighter he meets next, maybe including Manny Pacquiao.
Future: No matter how the steroid controversy resolves, as long as the fight goes on Mayweather has already landed the first blow.

3. SHANE MOSLEY
WBA Welterweight Titleholder 46-5-0 (39) with 1 no-contest
Last Year’s Ranking: 14
Status Report: Breathed new life into his career—and jumped up 11 spots in this ranking compared to last year—with a surprising and brutal beat down of former pound-for-pound entrant Antonio Margarito (KO 9). At 37 years old looked as fast and powerful as ever and in fact probably looked too good for his own good. Repeated and public overtures to Mayweather and Pacquiao fell on deaf ears.
Future: Is scheduled to face Andre Berto January 30 in Las Vegas.

4. BERNARD HOPKINS
Light Heavyweight 50-5-1 (32) 1 no-contest
Last Year’s Ranking: 4
Status Report: In his first fight since his masterpiece against Kelly Pavlik, Hopkins outpointed Enrique Ornelas over 10 rounds in Philadelphia. That was supposed to be his tune-up for Roy Jones, but you know what happened there. At any rate, after a slow start Hopkins displayed his usual intelligence and mastery, hurting Ornelas down the stretch and winning by a large margin. He is giving Archie Moore competition as the best 44-year-old fighter ever.
Future: From the way he goes about negotiations, you’d think Hopkins is a 24-year-old kid with all the time in the world. A proposed fight with Roy Jones conqueror Danny Green fell apart over money, as did a fight with Tomas Adamek before that. Just pick a guy already, Bernard.

5. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
World Lightweight Champion 50-5-1 (37)
Last Year’s Ranking: 2
Status Report: Pay little attention to Marquez’s stunningly one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather; Mayweather would have beaten 99.999% of humans on the planet 160 pounds and under that night. Instead, recall his masterful and inspired win over the 10-years younger Juan Diaz (KO 9) as proof that against mortals, he remains one of the best in the world. He’s not in his prime anymore, but a just past-it Marquez is better than anyone at lightweight.
Future: The rumor is Marquez will face Ricky Hatton in 2010.

6. NONITO DONAIRE
WBA Junior Bantamweight titleholder 22-1-0 (14)
Last Year’s Ranking: 21
Status Report: Donaire has been riding high since his July 2007 kayo of Vic Darchinyan, but fought just once on ‘08. A change in promoters from Gary Shaw to Top Rank resulted in the busier schedule he’d hoped for and he took advantage, beating Moruti Mthalane (KO 6) and Raul Martinez (KO 4) in flyweight title defenses, and then taking an interim title at 115 against Rafael Concepcion (W 12). And listen: The kid’s just 26 years old.
Future: Scheduled to meet Gerson Guerrero in Las Vegas on February 13.

7. MIGUEL COTTO
Welterweight 34-1-0 (27)
Last Year’s Ranking: 9
Status Report: Cotto‘s brave but losing stand against Pacquiao (KO by 12) probably won him more fans but couldn’t have done him any good in the long run. He took a great deal of punishment and no one would have protested if the fight had been stopped any time after about the eighth round. He also took heavy punishment against Joshua Clottey (W 12), with only Michael Jennings (KO 5) going easy. It’s hard to name anyone who has faced tougher competition over the last several years than has Cotto, which speaks volumes about where he is - and where he‘s going.
Future: A long and deserved rest, an easy comeback fight, and then, if Bob Arum can swing it, a rematch with Antonio Margarito.

8. CELESTINO CABALLERO
IBF/WBA Junior Featherweight Titleholder 33-2-0 (23)
Last Year’s Ranking: 24
Status Report: Just when you thought Caballero couldn’t make yet another drastic jump in these rankings—last year he leapt from 53 to 24—this year he breaks the top 10. Why? Simple. Three straight wins, one an absolute rout of heretofore undefeated and well regarded Steve Molitor (KO 4). The others, over Jeffrey Mathebula (W 12) and Francisco Leal (KO 8) underscore how powerful this beanpole is and why a lot of other 122-pounders want no part of him.
Future: We’d love to see him against Poonsawat Kratingaenggym or Juan Manuel Lopez.

9. CHAD DAWSON
IBF Lightweight Titleholder 29-0-0 (17)
Last Year’s Ranking: 25
Status Report: Shame on all of us for haranguing Dawson into meeting Glen Johnson a second time. Dawson schooled him in the rematch in November (W 12) and it wasn’t close, which nets Dawson a significant promotion in this analysis. Dawson isn’t the most exciting guy or the most charismatic, but since when is that germane to how well a guy fights? Pernell Whitaker was the same way. Dawson can fight. Period. Ask Antonio Tarver, who Dawson also beat (W 12) in a 2009 rematch.
Future: There’s been a lot of talk about Dawson meeting this or that super middleweight or cruiserweight. There’s one fight to make at 175: Dawson-Hopkins.

10. PAUL WILLIAMS
Paul Williams
Middleweight/Junior Middleweight 38-1-0 (27)
Last Year’s ranking: 12
Status Report: You can look at Williams’ life-and-death struggle with Sergio Martinez (W 12) as either a failure of technique or a victory of will. Did he get hit and hurt? Absolutely. He also bit down and gritted out a hard win against one of the better fighters between 160 and 170 pounds. It proved even more than did his other wins in 2009, over
Winky Wright (W 12) and Verno Phillips (KO 8). But those were good too.
Future: Williams is ranked at both 154 and 160 pounds, and with THE RING there is no prohibition against a fighter claiming world titles in multiple weight divisions. This guy could do it.

[Throwingbombs]

Haye 68 and Froch 64 whilst wait for it, the likes of Pauli Malignaggi is at 41. Can a yank ever be trusted to create a list of any kind that is unbiased against euro fighters?

[broxi51]

wtf adamek over haye, gotta laugh at some of those ratings, adamek 1 cruiserweightbelt, haye 3 cruiserweight belt and 1 heavyweight champion, and much better resume, duh ring.