After last night’s complete dismantlement of Miguel Cotto during a 12th-round TKO victory, there is no longer any doubt about who deserves to be recognized as the best boxer in the world on a pound-for-pound basis. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his posse may have something to say about that at a future time and place, but until that event materializes, Manny Pacquiao will solely carry the mantle.
In all honesty, in looking at Manny Pacquiao’s full body of recent work which includes winning five of seven matches against Mexican greats Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, while also knocking out physically bigger stars Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and David Diaz, it is time to consider the Filipino star among the modern greats.
Below is my top 10 pound-for-pound list that includes boxers who have been active over the past 40 years.
1. Muhammad Ali (56-5-0, with 37 KOs) – Absolutely electric inside and out of the ring. Big victories over Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, Floyd Patterson and Bob Foster just to name a few.
2. Sugar Ray Leonard (36-3-1, with 25 KOs) – Fought and defeated many of the best, including Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Wilfred Benitez.
3. George Foreman (76-5-0, with 68 KOs) – With the exception of Muhammad Ali, he crushed all heavyweights of note during the 1970s. Took 10 years off from the ring and regained heavyweight title at 45 years old in 1994. An unbelievable accomplishment. Key victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Gerry Cooney and Michael Moorer.
4. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, with 38 KOs) – Titleholder in too many weight divisions to count, with victories over Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
5. Roberto Duran (103-16-0, with 70 KOs) – Among best lightweights ever. Defeated Sugar Ray Leonard, Carlos Palomino, Esteban De Jesus, and Ken Buchanan.
6. Salvador Sanchez (44-1-1, with 32 KOs) – Life tragically ended at only 23 years old, but he is among the best I have ever seen in the ring. Big victories over Wilfredo Gomez, Azumah Nelson, Juan La Porte, Nicky Perez, Roberto Castanon and Danny Lopez.
7. Aaron Pryor (39-1-0, with 35 KOs) – While drug addiction cut his career short, one cannot deny he was among the best. Major victories included Alexis Arguello, Gary Hinton, Akio Kameda, Sang Hyun Kim, Dujuan Johnson and Antonio Cervantes.
8. Larry Holmes (69-6-0, with 44 KOs) – Won the heavyweight title in 1978 and was a major force in the division through the 1990s. Defeated Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, Mike Weaver, Ernie Shavers, Tim Witherspoon and Ray Mercer.
9. Julio Caesar Chavez (107-6-2, with 86 KOs) – Incredible career that included victories over Hector Camacho, Greg Haugen, Frankie Randall, Meldrick Taylor, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario and Ivan Robinson.
10. Marvin Hagler (65-3-2, with 52 KOs) – The marvelous one was a beast during the 1980s. He retired prematurely after a controversial loss to Sugar Ray Leonard but defeated John Mugabi, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Mustafa Hamsho, Alan Minter and Vito Antuofermo.
Comments
you know i think i have surpasses all those great boxers including ali
Congrats Manny Go for 8titles,you have a good chance against Yuri Foreman or Corey Spinks then you can fight Floyd later if he has atitle,go for a title and not for money$$$$,you have a lot of it now
better than Ali? Mayweathers' goimg to beat you down
Manny is a machine, fighters like him only come around once in a life time, but seriously don't disresect Muhammad by saying anyone is better than him, because no one ever was... I'll tell you one thing though, Floyd can't run and hide anymore, it's the fight everyone wants to see, it foreshadows BIG $$$ signs! Floyd has the potential to give Manny the fight he's never had, but Manny has that same potential! Can you say fight of the century!
you are putting Duran under Leonard and Foreman? YOU ARE ONE FUKEN STUPID WRITER WHO DOESN'T KNOW SHIET ABOUT BOXING.
Real boxers only box the best, Manny willnever be greater than ali! Many years later Ali is still talked about a ture boxer would have never uttered those words, Get past Floyd first.
Chris you know damn well Manny wouldn't say such a thing like that. He's the most humble boxer you'll ever meet. He has never talked crao about any of his opponents. Don't be a sore loser. He beat him fair and square. You obviously don't know crap about boxing. Mayweather??? All he'll do is run around like every single one of his fights.
Luzver. He's not about just money. He's proven to everybody that he'll fight whoever. 7 titles! enough said
Great job Manny!!!
Pacman and Mayweather fight will not happen, Mayweather will price himself out, the Pacman deserves 60-40 of the share....
some dude just portaits manny and say these things. You know damn well he would never say that he surpasses Ali. You guys must be retarded to beleive that he actually wrote this. He would never go on just any website to write some non-sense like this. That's not Pacman!
How come the world is demanding a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight? A warrior versus a defensive fighter? It's going to be one heck of a boring fight! Imagine Manny chasing a homosexual ignorant slave from Africa the whole night?!
Manny is incomparable to Floyd by a mile fighting him would be detrimental to his legacy. My question is, where is the glory in fighting, much less, Manny beating Floyd?
This guy is just a babbling slave from Africa who never learns to respect Pacquiao's achievements. I say, Pacquiao should avoid this black man at all cost. He already has proven his place in boxing history, have tons of money and all the respect in the world fighting Floyd would be detrimental to the legacy he leaves.
I say, Manny semi-retires and leave Floyd to fight bigger guys like Mosley, Margarito and Berto. Let's see how Floyd can make money without Pacquiao. Let's see if boxing thrives without Pacquiao.
Manny should retire and denounce Floyd as a homosexual jerk who picks his opp
Time for the fight of the decade, The good (manny) vs evil (floyd)
Pacman is a respectful god-fearing guy who has special talent. Mayweather is a foul-mouthed, money grabbing, self-centered sob that likes to run around like a headless chicken. He's not afaid of pacquao per se. But he is so scared of losin' his unbeaten record. What a shame. even the best of the best lost at one point in their career (save for rocky marciano because he died early without finishing his). Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Patrick Dempsey. When are you gonna take your head out of your ass Gayweather and face the inevitable? sheesh!
this write is a fool. mayweather beat 3 of the 5 guys this foo points out
where at ----jeff the frican nd all ya hatters
Im here Esl Niño. Manny fought a great fight. He put it on Miguel. Can't lie. Cotto didn't have anything. Idk why. I never saw him fight a weaker fight. He didn't have any shot at winning & was gettin punished but I thought that the ref just wanted 2 stop it. He could have finished the fight. All be it, not really trying 2 exchange w.manny. He could have finished it. Manny won though either way. He was the better man. Im not gonna say nothing about the 2 extra pounds Cotto had 2 lose (I do think that was a b!tch move on Manny & Freddies part) or the rookie tainer he had (That's on Cotto, he chose him so hey)
& im not a hater. Far from it fam. Just because I was going 4 Cotto that makes me a hater?
@jeff the rican- you know i was gona get at you brother. but you know its all for the love of sports!!! good fight
FLOYD IS THE BEST LOOK WHAT HE DID TO MARQUEZ MANNY GOT HIS BUT BEAT BY HIM. STOP HATIN ON FLOYD JUST BECAUSE HE YOUNG BLACK AND RICH YALL KNOW HE DA BEST. THEY GIVE MORE RESPECT TO A MAN WAY ACROSS THE WORLD THEN THE MAN BORN IN THE US. IF FLOYD WAS WHITE HIS FANBASE WOULD BE THE BIGGEST EVER.
Santiago, clearly a trainer who's wet behind the ears, made a mistake at last night's Pacquiao beating of Cotto. His telling Cotto to, "watch out for his(Pacquiao's) left hand because that's all he has" turned out to be an ill advise, if not, moronic, because Cotto's first knock down came from a well-placed right semi-hook to the face.
Maybe this bozo was watching HBO' 24/7 showing Freddie Roach practicing Manny to perfect that straight-left-and-slide technique. It was a 'show' because as it turned out, Manny fought an entirely different fight. Being the greenhorn that he was, after seeing this, Santiago failed to make the necessary adjustments and let his fighter into a lion's den.
All throughout the fight, Santiago never really gave Cotto any coherent technical advice - any answer to Pacquiao's onslaught, whatsoever. The moron even lied to Cotto as to what round it was just to keep him from fighting. What a jerk!
Ah, Santiago should go back to being a nutritionist and leave
& how the hell is Roberto Duran 5th on this list?? I understand he won over 100 fights but come on, he lost 16 of them!!! You people have 2 be kidding me. & Sugar Ray Robinson is not here?? The Examiner needs 2 evaluate its writers because these people don't know sht.
www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/16/boxing.pacquiao.mayweather.reaction/index.html
Don't get me wrong. Mayweather is a great fighter as well no doubt about it but to him it's all about the money now! just like what ESL said "its all for the love of sports" whatever happened to that?
Just make the fight happen and stop the bullsh!t. Whoever wins win! simple as that
@Esl boy, no doubt man. Its all good. Im here though. Im not the type 2 not show up after the lost. I don't respect that. If you talk tough, you better not hide when your wrong. That's not what im about. Idk what was up with Cotto. 2lbs or his dumb@$$ trainer or w.e. any1 wants 2 say doesn't matter now. Pacquiao banged my boy out. Simple as that.
The love 4 Sports can be so Great & so Depressing
Ready 4 PBF? I dont think so!
I have Pacquiao is shaking in his nikes
www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/16/boxing.pacquiao.mayweather.reaction/index.html
Don't get me wrong. Mayweather is a great fighter as well no doubt about it but to him it's all about the money now! just like what ESL said "its all for the love of sports" whatever happened to that?
Just make the fight happen and stop the bullsh!t. Whoever wins win! simple as that
1. Mayweather
2. Ali
3. Hagler
Floyd is the p4p king. Manny has 2 go thru him if he really wants 2 it.
Floyd is the greatest!!!
Eat crow BOURELLY!!!!
Quit talking Floyd fans until your boy even wants to get out there and fight Pacman in the first place. Until then Pacman is the man.
www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/16/boxing.pacquiao.mayweather.reaction/index.html
Don't get me wrong. Mayweather is a great fighter as well no doubt about it but to him it's all about the money now! just like what ESL said "its all for the love of sports" whatever happened to that?
Just make the fight happen and stop the bullsh!t. Whoever wins win! simple as that
that's funny! you're saying if Pacman really wants to? when Mayweather is the one who's been dodging him!!! All he cares about is $$$. Wow you even put Mayweather above Ali??? hahah all you need now is to take a load in the face from Mayweather...AHAHAHAH
www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/16/boxing.pacquiao.mayweather.reaction/index.html
Don't get me wrong. Mayweather is a great fighter as well no doubt about it but to him it's all about the money now! just like what ESL said "its all for the love of sports" whatever happened to that?
Just make the fight happen and stop the bullsh!t. Whoever wins win! simple as that
BLAH BLAH ALL YOU PACHATERS!!!
YOU'RE ALL LOGICALLY IMPAIRED LIKE THIS WRITER WHO HAVE NO CREDIBILITY!
This is a terrible list. Aaron Pryor only beat one HOF fighter in Arguello, and Alexis was old when he beat him. Duran is 1-5 against the 1980s greats Leonard/Hearns/Benitez and Hagler. I would have gone more for Thomas Hearns who beat Cueves for his first title, Benitez for his second and Hill for his light heavyweight title, as well as being a 7 time champ in 6 divisions. Hearns also demolished Duran and fought wars with Hagler and Leonard.
"Sure, we'll fight Mayweather, if he wants to," Roach said.
And what did Mayweather have to say?
"It's the promoter who makes the fights," he said. "My job is to fight in the ring."
Gee! Floyd can't even give a straight answer! Just say yes already.
"Sure, we'll fight Mayweather, if he wants to," Roach said.
And what did Mayweather have to say?
"It's the promoter who makes the fights," he said. "My job is to fight in the ring."
Gee! Floyd can't even give a straight answer! Just say yes already.
Sugar Ray Robinson , Smooth as silk ..... # 1
Sugar Ray Robinson has not fought over the past forty years, so he didn't make the list. Thomas Hearns, Wilfred Benitez, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior were all close. If I had to replace Larry Holmes, it would be Thomas Hearns.
Hey Andrew. I hear what you are saying about Aaron Pryor, but he was one of the most avoided guys ever. He tried desparately to get fights with Leonard and Hearns as a professional, but they avoided him. Pryor absolutely destroyed Hearns as an amateur too. Don't believe me? Check it out on Youtube.
Hey Andrew. I hear what you are saying about Aaron Pryor, but he was one of the most avoided guys ever. He tried desparately to get fights with Leonard and Hearns as a professional, but they avoided him. Pryor absolutely destroyed Hearns as an amateur too. Don't believe me? Check it out on Youtube.
Don't worry that your prediction was the other way around, man.
It's alright... you are in the same company as Angelo Dundee - one of boxing's great trainer.
Mayweather might retire again any moment now...
Cotto is a gallant warrior. I read somewhere that Miguel Cotto was very much respected by the Filipino boxing fans especially when he went to congratulate the praying Manny after the fight... I hope Cotto wins in his rematch with Margarito.
why u dont write first that you need to eat your s%it first before you write this kind o farticle???the way you doubt money its like hes just floor map guy, now you talking like hes the CEO in the company! be man enough! eat the crow first! your more of floyd action!
Hey guys. I am the first to admit my prediction was dead wrong. That is what made Pacquiao's victory that much more impressive in my eyes. He proved he is a great fighter.
JOSEPH BOBOURELLY:
SHUT THE PAK UP!
YOU GOT NO CREDIBILITY NO MORE!
SO STOP WRITING AND START MOANING...ARSE.
hey mr. bourelly,
After your dead wrong prediction, and after you had blatantly proclaimed that manny pacquiao should be put in his rightful place, meaning he doesn't belong to the elite welterweights league, you are now praising him??? And that now you're saying he belongs to the list all-time greats??? HOW HYPOCRITICAL!!!
Writers like you should be banned!!!
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