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Manny Pacquiao defeats Juan Manuel Marquez...again
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AP Photo/EA Sports
It should be no surprise that Manny Pacquiao remains the undefeated, undisputed pound-for-pound champion of the world according to major boxing publications. Tracking his every move, however, is the universal consensus number 2 pound-for-pounder and Pacquiao nemesis--Juan Manuel Marquez. The only thing that will change between now and October 1st with respect to the number 1 and 2 positions is how creatively I can write this paragraph before Marquez's September showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Unless of course, Junior suffers another rib injury that requires a few more months and a Pacquiao decision to heal.
There is no other universal consensus as to the remaining 8 fighters. Bernard Hopkins is ranked anywhere from 3rd to 5th; however, he has a better overall average than Shane Mosley on individual pound-for-pound rankings to make him number 3 with Mosley holding down the number 4 spot.
Paul Williams continues to receive love from everyone but The Ring magazine with Yahoo Sports placing him above Hopkins and Mosley at the number 3 position. The law of averaging being what it is though, Williams can only reach number 5 this month. Miguel Cotto trails Williams at number 6.
For the first time since I've been doing monthly analysis of the major pound-for-pound listings, there is a tie for the 7th and 9th positions. Israel Vazquez and Ivan Calderon each share a piece of the 7th and Rafael Marquez and the aforementioned Mayweather battled to a draw for the final spots on this month's roster.
If I ruled the world and could prevent fighters who have not fought in over a year to be banned from pound-for-pound consideration, then Vazquez and Floyd, Jr. would not be ranked. If that were the case, and frankly it should be, you would see Vic Darchinyan and Chad Dawson. Ricky Hatton, Winky Wright, and Joe Calzaghe have exited all major top 10 lists. Celestino Caballero is on life support with only the "Bible of Boxing" giving him some waning respect.
While the averages are what they are, I am still not pleased. First, how is it that we have Mosley and Cotto but no Antonio Margarito? I'm not lobbying for the Tijuana Tornado (a/k/a "Hands of Plaster"), but come on. Mosley has been on hiatus for as long as Margarito's suspension and may well still be when Margarito returns. Cotto defeated Mosley and Mosley defeated Cotto. If the top 10 has room for Mosley and Cotto, it should have room for Margarito; however, he isn't ranked on any respectable list. With the precedent of bringing Mayweather, Jr. from off the list to as high as 3rd in overall ranking according to some publications, maybe a paper mache-free Torndado can accomplish the same feat.
Second, Bernard Hopkins is a constant fixture on all lists and Chad Dawson has nothing but upward mobility. If Hopkins will not fight Dawson or vice versa, then everybody's list must take this into account. No disrespect to Glen Johnson, but the Hopkins-Dawson fight is the only fight that anyone cares about at light heavyweight.
We all know that pound-for-pound lists are somewhat silly because of the subjectivity involved. We also know that a storm is building. The outcome of Mayweather-Marquez and Cotto-Pacquiao will forever tweak the top of every list--or solidify the current rankings. If the foregoing fights take place, then the two winners should square off as the main event with the two losers fighting the undercard. I should have been a promoter.
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