Out With The Old, In With The New Pound For Pound Rankings

Today, a dude name "WIL" commented on a boxing rankings post that I wrote almost two years ago. A few days before that, my blogging brethren Bryant Maxwell asked me to provide him with a list of the top fighters today. With the battle for pound-for-pound supremacy on the horizon (Mayweather vs Pacquiao), the time is right for me to respond to WIL, Bryant and anyone else who cares to debate on this topic.

1. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) – Since his last defeat nearly five years ago to Erik Morales, he stopped Morales twice in return bouts, decisioned Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch, edged Juan Manuel Marquez in another rematch, made Oscar De La Hoya quit after eight rounds, knocked Ricky Hatton senseless in two rounds, and beat Miguel Cotto down for a 12th round TKO. No fighter today trumps this resume. Period. 
2. Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) – Most of his career-defining wins ironically came when he was fighting under current adversary Bob Arum’s promotional outfit. Diego Corrales (R.I.P.), Jesus Chavez and Jose Luis Castillo (twice) were among his early noteworthy victims. Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez are among his latest. He is the most gifted boxer today and will seek to prove that he’s also it’s baddest in his upcoming battle with my numero uno.
3. Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) – Like old man river, the Executioner just keeps going. His resume speaks for itself but what is most amazing is that he’s doing this at the ripe old age of 44 (he turns 45 next week). In hindsight, his struggles against the now "shot" Jermain Taylor are head-scratchers. But his subsequent domination of then-light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver and current middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik in 2008 were head turners. I’d like to see him fight Tomasz Adamek or Chad Dawson in 2010. But retirement and early induction into the Hall of Fame would work for me as well.
4. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) – It’s funny. When Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao hopefully meet in March, the two best boxers in the world will be fighting at 147 pounds. However, neither fighter has better credentials at the weight than my number four. Unlike Floyd Mayweather, Mosley took on the considerable challenge that was Antonio Margarito and dented his seemingly indestructible chin. And unlike Manny Pacquiao, Mosley defeated a prime Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight. Unable to secure a fight with my number one or number two, he’ll settle for rising star Andre Berto later this month. 
5. Chad Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs) – First, dude has a great last name. Second, he’s perhaps the most gifted boxer on this list, behind Floyd Mayweather. He’s defeated Glen Johnson (twice), Antonio Tarver (twice), and most impressively, a prime Tomasz  Adamek three years ago. That’s the good news. The bad news is that most of his wins have come against fighters past their best, his recent wins haven’t exactly gotten people out of their seats and there appears to be a lack of name opponents for him on the horizon. My advice to Chad: follow the Hopkins blueprint and the rest will fall into place in due time.
6. Paul Williams
7. Juan Manuel Marquez
8. Wladimir Klitschko
9. Vitali Klitschko
10. Tomasz Adamek

If you do not agree, you know how to reach me. Please don’t be shy.