Pittsburgh, PA- Is there any list harder to accurately compile than boxing’s pound-for-pound best? Many compete in distant weight classes, never sharing the same ring or even common opponents. Imagine having to decide the best in men’s and women’s golf or tennis while handicapping for gender, or better yet, the best auto racers in the world in NASCAR and Formula One. Yet, we commonly judge our sport’s elite in this manner, pretending that real rules govern the compilation.
HOW DO WE DECIDE THE POUND-FOR-POUND BEST?
With an influx of potential new stars threatening to penetrate lists (most notably found in the Ring, on Espn.com and on other top sites) currently dominated by veterans, let’s consider the accuracy, or perhaps the complacency, of these lists. Regardless of the so-called standards to which the leading commentators refer, only one question should guide us in deciding the sport’s pound-for-pound best: Who does his job the best right now? For a ranking that often cannot be earned by direct challenges inside of the ring, what other criteria could possibly work? With that, here’s my list:
1) (tie) “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs): Why must Mayweather rank below Pacquiao and others simply because he retired? He’s active again now, so let’s rank him where he belongs among active fighters. With equal speed and better size and defense, I slightly favor him over his only equal in the sport right now….
1) (tie) Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs): A true great, with Mayweather back his path to clear supremacy only requires a victory over the Mayweather-Marquez winner.
3) Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs): It takes two all-time greats to keep the lightweight (135 lb.) champ, and Pacquiao’s nemesis, at this spot.
4) Paul “the Punisher” Williams (37-1, 27 KOs): A combination of unheard of physical characteristics and amazing volume make up for some decreasing technical deficiencies of this man who scours five weight classes, looking for unwilling opponents.
5) Nonito “the Filipino Flash” Donaire (21-1, 14 KOs): Perhaps just entering his prime at 26, Donaire at his best is a masterful boxer-puncher, a real natural.
6) “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs): Resurgent with trainer Naazim Richardson, and the current best in the sport’s best division, Mosley however still has styles he cannot beat.
7) Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez (26-0, 24 KOs): I place this potential pound-for-pound heir this high because, if a round robin were held between him, Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez and Celestino Caballero at 122, he’s my pick.
8) Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs): With studio analysis and a training guide in the Ring, perhaps he should change his nickname “the Professor.” Only his age and a recent .500 record prevents him from a higher ranking.
9) “Bad” Chad Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs): Cruiserweight (200 lb.) champ Tomasz Adamek has had a monster career, but remember that, with the exception of one big right hand late in their bout, Dawson schooled him.
10) Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez (43-4, 31 KOs): A ring warrior with a champion’s heart, in the last 10 years he’s beaten everyone he faced, avenging his only two losses.
MY NEXT TEN
11) Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KOs)
12) Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon (32-0-1, 6 KOs)
13) Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs)
14) Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs)
15) Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs)
16) Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs)
17) Kelly “the Ghost” Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs)
18) “King” Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs)
19) Glen “the Road Warrior” Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs)
20) Vic “the Raging Bull” Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs)