You are probably wondering why I am even asking this question, if I already am telling you who I think that person is 
based on my top boxers, pound-for-pound list. Hey, just because I predict boxing matches very well (this year, at least), does not mean that I think I have figured everything out. And unlike boxing predictions, which are ultimately proven right or wrong based on what happens in the ring, determining who the best fighter in the world is a highly subjective matter.
Hopefully, you accessed my boxing ranking page mentioned above. Whether you did or not, I’ll get straight to the point. For better or for worse, Floyd "Money" Mayweather is still the best boxer in the world. "For better," he still has the best defense of any fighter in the sport, and perhaps its faster pair of fists. "For worse," he has increasingly fought in relatively low-risk, high reward fights (Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, and Oscar De La Hoya) for a fighter of his caliber.
The lucrative WWF "Big Show" that he recently put on and his "Dancing with the Stars" have done well for Mayweather’s pockets, but have done little for the sport of boxing. These events have generated frustration among even his staunchest fans while providing his "haters" with more ammunition (to shoot him down with) than Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando. However, despite all of this, as well as the continued ascension of Joe Calzaghe and Manny Pacquiao over the past year, my money is still on Mayweather.
Now that I have gotten my last shameless ‘money’ reference out of the way, please leave a comment below to get the debate going. I know you have something to say; take a deep breath, refrain from cursing, and type away.
When we talk about the “best” in a sport we always have to face the question of who has the best skills versus who is having the most impact. In baseball or basketball, for example, the MVP award usually goes to the best player on the best team – not necessarily the player with the best overall stats.
In boxing, I think we can make the same kind of distinction – best fighter or Most Significant Fighter. Right now, the best fighter, or the boxer that seems to have the best overall skills, in my opinion, is Manny Pacquiao. Speed, agility, chin, exciting, willing to face top opponents – he seems to have the complete package. But for the Most Significant Fighter, I think you have to say that Joe Calzaghe is on top. He’s been the reigning champ for a long time, he’s faced the big names and finally come out of Europe to show his skills. Most importantly to me, he seems willing to be a showman and at least attempts to put himself in danger to provide an entertaining fight.
Mayweather hasn’t been dominant for as long as Calzaghe has and he’s not nearly as entertaining to watch.
the pac man is best pound for pound and should be in all lists, mayweather has not proven him self at 147,”im not goging to let boxing retire me im going to retire from boxing” mayweather. then why move up if your not willing to fight the more respected names in that weight division, until he fights the winner between cotto and margarito he will gain my respect in the walter weight divison, he should of just stayed at light weight if he is not going to put himself in harms way
Sir Jenks, VERY compelling argument on behalf of Joe Calzaghe. I pose you with this question: if they were the same size, who do you think would win between Mayweather-Pacquiao or Mayweather-Calzaghe? My answer would be Mayweather in close, competitive fights. I guess my definition is more about the best fighter, pound-for-pound, in the purest sense. But it appears that we have different criteria on who the “best” is. So, maybe we are not in disagreement regarding “pound for pound.” Am I correct?
louieguti, fair criticisms of “money” mayweather, but do you feel pac-man is a better fighter than him, nothing more, nothing less? that’s the question i am posing. if so, please tell me why – when it comes to their abilities and accomplishments as boxers.
Ja, to answer your question I would take Mayweather over the Pac Man only because Manny does show a breakdown in technique at times and I think Mayweather’s slickness could make Pac Man look outclassed. I would have to take Calzaghe over Mayweather though just because in my opinion Calzaghe has more of a warrior spirit and would breakdown Mayweather’s skill. I’m basing that on the fact that if you can impose your will on Bernard Hopkins, then I think you can impose your will on anyone. That would be an epic battle.
For your second question, I’m considering pound for pound to be more like the athlete with the best stats, like A-Rod when he was with the Rangers. Whereas the “Best Fighter” is the MVP or most important fighter today. Calzaghe has never truly blown me away with skills in any single area such as speed (although he has a hell of a chin). But to me, in defeating the other long reigning champ in his era, B Hop, he’s set himself ahead as the best overall. Kind of like when Big Papi won MVP for the Red Sox – he wasn’t the best player in the league, but he was the most impactful in terms of success.
If Manny reigns as champ for a few more years then I think he would deserve to claim the title of “best”. I would put his boxing skills ahead of Calzaghe.
Jenks, I can live with that explanation. And although I do not agree with it entirely, i.e. the part about Calzaghe being able to beat Mayweather in a mythical, “same-weight” battle, I like your Big Papi analogy. My only problem with Papi is that he only plays one way, so his impact is somewhat blunted in any overall discussion on “the best.”
Agreed. I hesitated about using that example but it was all I could come up with. In a way, I would equate Big Papi to, say, George Foreman in his 40s – one dimensional but that dimension is a GREAT dimension.
Dunno about Calzaghe v. Mayweather. Calzaghe is a relatively harder puncher and has relatively similar handspeed. His defense isn’t as slick, but he has a harder chin. Ultimately, I don’t think anyone has taken Floyd into the deep water but Calzaghe has been there. So I’m giving Joe the edge on heart and experience, but not by much.
I don’t think that anyone Mayweather has defeated was as relatively good as Calzaghe is.
Sir Jenks,
I must say that I agree with your last sentence: “I don’t think that anyone Mayweather has defeated was as relatively good as Calzaghe is.” But can’t you say that neither has Calzaghe – and the past-prime version of Bernard Hopkins does not count. He’s one bad old mo’fo though.
I have to say that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the best pound for pound fighter in boxing (although I’m not a fan of his out-of-the-ring persona). He’s taken on some tough opponents and handled them. His hand speed and defense are unparalleled. I would like to see him move up in weight and dominate but, even with that being said, I feel he has little left to prove to cement himself as one of the best ever.
(Dan) That’s pretty much my take Dan, but, I do think him unifying at welterweight (he has never been a unified champion), would go a long way in elevating his legacy to a Leonard-like level. Right now, he’s a notch below cats like Leonard, Whitaker, Duran, Armstrong, and others. I won’t even say Sugar Ray Robinson…no one is on his level.
the reason why i say manny is the best pound for pound is because im sure you can agree when i say, this was the best light weight era in boxing history and one man finished on top of the weight divison by kinocking out morales twice knocking out barrea and beating marquez all future hall of famers, a knock out is more defining than a decision. even though you can say both barrea and morales were out of their prime so were hopkins with calzaghe, and de la hoya with mayweather, manny has continued to but his legacy on the line over again, i cant really tell you who can win between mayweater and pacquiao cause stlyes make fights and these are two very different stlyes, but who has proven more in their weight divison? manny pacquiao
i beleive this was the best light weight era in boxing history, with the all future hall of famers barrera, morales, marquez. pacquiao finshed on top of all these names with capitalizing knock outs over barrera and morales. knockout are more defining in a fight as suppose to a decision. pacquiao is a warrior that keeps giving to boxing and is willing to fight anyone. im just not content in calling someone the best pound for pound when he has not proven himself in the weight class for the past two years.
sorry i didnt think my first comment got put on samething as the first
No need for an apology Louieguti, I hear you loud and clear. Just so folks don’t think I am a Mayweather “rider” I’ll leave you with this: based on how their matchups appear for 2008, Manny Pacquiao is poised to leapfrog the Pretty Boy this year if he wins his next fight. You have my word. The only thing that can change that is if Mayweather faces Cotto, Margarito, Mosley or Margarito instead of Oscar De La Hoya – which is doubtful, to say the least.
i hope he faces cotto or margarito that would be a huge fight for boxing, this website is a good cause of the different opionions one holds for different fighters i look foward to blogging with all of you and may the sport of boxing keep giving to boxing fans
I agree on those fights, i.e. against Miguel Cotto. However, do not look for it to happen man. Money is louder than angry fans, to the ears of Mayweather (right now). Boxing has been fairly god to us lately, but they owe us hundreds of “free” fights for all of the bad decisions and over-priced pay-per-view debacles we have witnessed over the past couple decades.
yeah for sure who do you think will win cotto or the taller margarito, this is a fight i cant decide on
I got Cotto; he’s done better than Margarito when faced with stiff competition (his good wins against Quintana, Judah and Mosley). Margarito has had mixed results (loss to Daniel Santos and Paul Williams, and good wins against Joshua Clottey and Kermit Cintron). I do realize that Margarito has tended to have more problems with fighters taller and with a longer reach than him, but Cotto is peaking right now, and I think Margarito gets hit too much. That will be the difference, defense. Cotto’s is better at this point, and he’ll have more to hit. I see Cotto winning by late stoppage or unanimous decision in the potential fight of the year.
pacman is the best coz of aggressiveness mayweather is a running champ dont fight as a pound for pound he is not a champ@Ja Dawson:
manny pacman paquiao is the best boxer in the world he’s got 7 different titles; mayweather is fake; cotto is fake; hatton is fake; delahoya is fake; morales is fake; marquez is fake; barrera is fake; diaz is fake, etc/. pacman is the best – “iwagayway ang bandila ng pilipinas.”
@monalize…No arguments re: PacMan at this point BUT I think he loses his crown to Floyd Mayweather when they meet next year.
pacquiao is the best and i will have a proof on march 13 2010 in pacquiao vs mayweather i am sure pacquiao will beat that mayweather in just a few rounds
mayweather will lose in his fight againts pacquiao@Ja Dawson:
@Ja Dawson:
@WIL We shall see, if and when PacMan takes some form of the requested random blood test!
@ ja dawson why should pacquiao take the blood test we all know that he does not use drugs mayweather cant just believe how strong and pacquiao is.
@ wil, and how would you know that for sure? Don’t get me wrong I don’t think (or maybe I just hope that he isn’t) Pacquiao is juicing but it’s hard to have it so one-sided, when Pac Man asked Floyd to wear 8 oz. gloves, which is not his standard, and to pay $10 million per pound over the weight limit (if he’s over) when they meet. It’s all part of pre-fight negotiations, which I generally do not like but I understand. Pac can’t have it both ways.
@ jaw dawson i know that pacquiao does not use drug because he is filipino, he just eat filipino foods that is why he get strong and just pray to god to win the fight maybe you can tell mayweather to pray to god also cause he is in danger when he fight the P4P king MANNY PACQUIAO.PACQUIAO will break the undefeated record of mayweather FOR SURE
@wil:
hey Ja want to know manny’s secret he eat BULALO w/ balon balunan b4 the fight he he he
Ja Dawson
jojen43, please tell our readers exactly what that is! 🙂
PACQUIAO is the “BEST” p4p boxer..
pacman won against clottey!..he proved again that he’s still on the top. While mayweather only proves by way of his mouth…he’s afraid to lose to the smaller pacquiao.
Hey….just would like to inject this tid-bit……why would Pac-man NOT participate in that requested drug test?…WHAT IS HE HIDING???….now, I don’t know about you guys…but if I’m not guilty of something and I have nothing to hide….WHY NOT TAKE THE DAMN TEST and prove that I’m clean…we all know boxing is a shady aport, i.e. Don King, i.e. antonio margerito(lower case on the name on purpose for disrespect) …Theres NO-WAY a clean margerito beats Cotto!!!….boxing should give that win and the title back to him….best p4p in this era hands down not even close…FLYOD “BIG MONEY” MAYWEATHER…41 and NOTHING!!!! Theres NO-WAY he loses to a UNDRUGGED Pac-man…Calzaghy is impressive with a very un-orthodox style…he just WINS….but Floyd has been boxing since DIAPERS…he has style….he has class…he is a show-
Mook, you Mayweather cheerleading aside (smile), I see where you are coming from. I, like you, personally feel that Margarito should not be allowed to fight again. It makes me laugh how folks are like he made a mistake and claimed he didn’t know. I’m like so what? That’s like someone apologizing for a botched attempted murder (ok, that’s a bit extreme, but fighting with loaded gloves should at least be viewed as pre-meditated battery). But I digress. I do think Floyd is the best boxer of the past dozen years or so BUT Pacquiao can make an excellent claim as well. Hence, why they MUST fight for boxing’s sake. I hope it happens. But I also agree with you regarding Pacquiao’s non-test taking. It’s like denying to take a lie detector test if you are accused of committing a crime. Fair or not, many folks will assume you’re hiding something. But he’s using Mayweather’s reputation (deserved up until the Mosley fight) for dodging challenges and finding excuses to justify the dodging. After Floyd’s rousing win against Mosley, that ploy has lost some steam. The blood feud will be very interesting this go-round. And I don’t even wanna talk about the likely money haggling – i.e. since it’s now known that Mayweather-Mosley generated $1.4 million buys.