Dougie’s Pound-For-Pound Top 20 List By Doug Fischer (Dec 27, 2007) Send this page to friend Give us your feedback I held off all year before filing this list for two reasons: One, because everyone and his grandmother has a freakin’ pound-for-pound list that they drop five times a year these days (just like everyone and his grand daddy and his grand daddy’s gay lover has a mail bag – including writers who once told me that mail bags are “a waste of time”); and two, because of the many significant showdowns between boxers ranked among the top 20 of most fight scribes and publications that were scheduled in ’07. Now that the big clashes (Barrera vs. J.M. Marquez, Vazquez vs. R. Marquez, Taylor vs. Pavlik, Diaz vs. Diaz, Pacquiao vs. Barrera, Calzaghe vs. Kessler, Cotto vs. Mosley, and Mayweather vs. Hatton) have taken place, I’m ready to give you my list of the best fighters on the planet. I’m not saying my list is any better than anyone else’s, but … oh who am I kidding!? I DO think my pound-for-pound list is the best in the business. If you don’t agree with that notion don’t freakin’ read it, you schmoes! Let’s get to my pound-for-pound top 20, plus the ‘Furious Five’ and a few additional lists I tossed in here just for the heck of it. (Needless to say, I favor quality of opposition over undefeated records; I put recent accomplishments in front of overall body of work; consistency over style, blah, blah, blah, you know the rest…) 1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – After being a top 10 and top fiver for at least the last seven years, “Money May” has finally reached the pinnacle of Mr. Fischer’s pound-for-pound list; this has truly been a breakthrough year for the best combination of talent, skill and technique in the sport; one in which he extended his undefeated record to 39-0 while breaking pay-per-view revenue records. Now Mayweather’s diehard fans (the Pretty Boys) will call me a “hater” for not having their hero at the no. 1 spot at least three years ago. Actually, I’m beyond a simple hater to the PBs, I’m a hate monger; I’m a racist; I’m a brown-skinned David Duke; I’m Adolph Hitler with a pony tail, I’m Satan with a weekly internet show; but in reality, I’m just a guy with an opinion that differs from theirs. Mayweather has always been close to no. 1 on my list, but I had him behind such future hall of famers as Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones going into 2001 (PBF’s best year, in my opinion, until ’07). When Tito, my no. 1, was unseated by Bernard Hopkins in Sept. of ’01, Jones Jr. reassumed the throne he had held in the late ‘90s. When Jones was cold-cocked by Antonio Tarver in May of ’04, Hopkins – who was the undisputed middleweight champ and division record holder for title defenses – took my no. 1 spot. When Hopkins lost back-to-back bouts to Jermain Taylor in late ’05, the mythical pound-for-pound title could have gone to Mayweather, who had looked spectacular in drubbing Arturo Gatti for the WBC 140-pound title (and most scribes and publication did indeed make him ‘the man’), but I bestowed that honor upon Winky Wright, who had become the undisputed junior middleweight champ in ’04 by twice beating Shane Mosley and then absolutely dominated a come-backing Trinidad in mid-’05. Mayweather made a case for the no. 1 spot in ’06 by beating Zab Judah and shutting out Carlos Baldomir for the WBC and The Ring-recognized welterweight title, but I thought Manny Pacquiao, a former flyweight and 122-pound titlist who won recognition as the featherweight champ by stopping Marco Antonio Barrera in ’04, deserved to be the P4P King with his 10th-round stoppage of Erik Morales in their classic 130-pound rematch. (Mayweather’s faithful fans will point out that Pacquiao lost to Morales in their scintillating first bout, but I’ll put split bouts vs. ‘El Terrible’ ahead of decisions over Judah and Baldomir. And I thought Pacquiao’s track record from ’03 through ’06 simply trumped Mayweather’s course to 140- and 147-pound titles during the same period. I value a stoppage of future hall-of-famer Barrera over meaningless lightweight title defenses against the likes of Victor Sosa and Phillip Ndou. I’ll take a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez over a points win against DeMarcus Corley; and I think splitting two fights with Morales tops beatdowns of Gatti and Sharmba Mitchell any day.) However, Mayweather’s ’06 kept him in position, and when Pacquiao’s schedule slowed down this year, the Pretty One took my top spot by out-boxing Oscar De La Hoya over 12 rounds (to take the WBC 154-pound belt) and by wearing Ricky Hatton down to an impressive 10th-round stoppage (in defense of his 147-pound title). How long will Mayweather hold the no. 1 spot? That’s up to him. There are plenty of worthy challengers currently residing in the 147-pound division for a potential great fighter to prove his mettle against. A decisive victory over young undefeated title holders Miguel Cotto or Paul Williams or a still-dangerous veteran former champ in Shane Mosley will not only solidify his current place on this but his placement in boxing history. 2. Manny Pacquiao – The PacMan has taken his foot off the gas pedal since his rubber-match destruction of Erik Morales, focusing more on the never-ending obligations that come with being a national icon than his duties as a full-time prize fighter. Mayweather assumed the no. 1 spot on this list in part because of Pacquiao’s choice of opposition this year: the unbeaten but unheralded Jorge Solis and the aging post-J.M. Marquez version of Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao went through the motions (in camp and during the fight) with Solis and then he appeared to let Barrera off the hook in their long-awaited rematch. However, in facing former nemesis, fellow Barrera conqueror and current WBC title holder Marquez in March, the Pacman is getting back to the kind of challenges that made him no. 1 on more than just this pound-for-pound list in ’06. With Marquez being ranked in the pound-for-pound top five of most boxing writers and publications, a decisive victory over the Mexican technician could put Pacquiao back in the top spot. 3. Joe Calzaghe – Boxing’s longest reigning champ left no doubt who the best 168-pound fighter in the world is by taking dangerous undefeated title holder Mikkel Kessler to school in the biggest boxing event that took place in Europe this year. His career stats are not only those of a top five pound-for-pound player but those of a first-ballot hall of famer: 21 defenses of the WBO title he won 10 years ago, including victories over seven current or former title holders (notably IBF belt holder Jeff Lacy and Kessler, who held both the WBC and WBA titles). At age 35, Calzaghe, an athletic southpaw who can do it all, is obviously still on top of his game. He has an opportunity to earn his way to the top of this list if he lands a fight with Bernard Hopkins or perhaps WBC light heavyweight stud Chad Dawson. 4. Juan Manuel Marquez – Along with Joe Calzaghe and Shane Mosley, the four-time two-division title holder from Mexico City is among the best mid-30s boxers in the game. Marquez has evolved from an almost too-perfect counter-puncher to an aggressive technician who drops perhaps the crispest combinations among active fighters. He was masterful against Barrera this past March and vs. Rocky Juarez the 34-year-old boxer-puncher fought like the younger, hungrier man. Marquez will need all of his skills and hunger to turn back Pacquiao’s challenge this March, one of the many reasons their rematch is the fight I want to see most in ’08. 5. Bernard Hopkins – If Calzaghe, Marquez and Mosley are marvels for remaining world-class fighters into their mid-30s, what are we to think of 42-year-old Hopkins? Put simply, the man is one of a kind. He could have retired after his close and controversial losses to Jermain Taylor secure in the knowledge that he would be inducted into the hall of fame as soon as he was eligible, but he shocked most of the boxing world by dominating recognized light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver last year and he followed up that showcase by breaking down the seemingly unbreakable Winky Wright over 12 rounds in a 170-pound catchweight bout this year. Hopkins wasn’t all that entertaining in out-boxing Tarver and he wasn’t very pretty in out-muscling Wright, but by brains or by brawn he finds a way to beat most fighters he faces no matter how strong, skilled or experienced they are. He’s so good at what he does that if a bout with Calzaghe can be made in ’08, the man who will be 43 years old next month might be the odds makers’ favorite. 6. (tie) Israel Vazquez/Rafael Marquez – These two little warriors are even in my book until their March rubber-match decides who is the best of their instant classic three-fight series. Their first two bouts were as good as boxing gets: two well-schooled but aggressive technicians with power and courage to match clashing in an even contest of controlled violence. Marquez, formerly the best bantamweight on the planet, has the edge in natural talent, technique and punching power, but his 122-pound rival is gifted with a better set of whiskers plus a heart the size of their native Mexico City. I have no idea who will win the third fight but I know it will be bloody and exciting and the winner definitely deserves top five P4P consideration. 8. Miguel Cotto – Puerto Rico’s undefeated two-division titlist made the transition from regional hero to crossover star by passing his two toughest tests this year: withstanding the explosive power of Zab Judah before wearing the former champ down to a brutal late stoppage and turning back the spirited challenge of Shane Mosley by out-boxing the former three-division champ en route to a close but unanimous decision (to retain his WBA 147-pound title). Against Judah and Mosley, Cotto exhibited skill, focus, power, heart, durability, and adaptability; all the attributes a fighter needs to climb the elite rankings and to one day become a true champion. Cotto’s ready, all he needs is the opportunity. 9. Ivan Calderon – Next to Floyd Mayweather, Cotto’s diminutive countryman is the best pure boxer in the sport. The former 105-pound titlist and current WBO and The Ring-recognized 108-pound champ can do everything but punch, and the slick and savvy southpaw prides himself on using his head as much as his hands (and feet) in the ring. And unlike Mayweather the pretty boxing Puerto Rican has no choice but to take on young, hungry contenders (like recent opponent Juan Esquer) and naturally bigger, stronger and more powerful title holders (like Hugo Cazares) in order to make a living. The undefeated (30-0) Calderon made 12 defenses of his 105-pound belt without much notice from even hardcore boxing fans and journalists. In order to gain any sort of notoriety or make the kind of money his talent merits, he will have to continue to take on naturally bigger title holders. Fortunately for him (and us) those challengers (Ulises Solis, Edgar Sosa and Cazares), all from Mexico, exist. 10. Winky Wright – After shutting out Felix Trinidad in May of ’05, Wright out-boxed a game 160-pound contender in Sam Soliman and then drew with recognized champ Jermain Taylor (in a bout many observers thought he won). However, since the Taylor fight Wright has looked rather ordinary in out-pointing former welterweight titlist Ike Quartey and he appeared somewhat sluggish in going 12 mauling rounds with Hopkins. Wright may have been bored with Quartey and a bit too heavy against Hopkins, or he might be slowing down as he enters his mid-30s. Whatever the case, the tough-as-nails southpaw needs a challenge from a good young fighter more his size (160 pounds) in order to stay relevant and inside my P4P top 10. The winner of the Pavlik-Taylor rematch or IBF middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham would make perfect foes. 11. Juan Diaz – Don’t call him “the Baby Bull” anymore, the relentless WBA/WBO/IBF lightweight titlist has proven to be the best 135-pound fighter in the world by forcing veteran belt holders Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz to quit on their stools this year. The undefeated (33-0) 24-year-old college student has even more dangerous challengers on tap for ’08, perennial contender Nate Campbell and undefeated Australian slugger Michael Katsidis. If the Bull can turn back their sure-to-be spirited challenges, he will likely cross the line into my top 10 and will be ready for fighters who can earn him top-five status (Pacquaio and Ricky Hatton). 12. Mikkel Kessler – The former WBA/WBC super middleweight titlist showed pound-for-pound potential by dominating current titlists (Manny Siaca and Marcus Beyer), former belt holders (Anthony Mundine and Eric Lucas) and tough-guy contenders (Librado Andrade and Andre Thysse) before getting out-boxed and out-worked by no. 3 on this list. However, while the skill and talent the 28 year old used to beat 39 consecutive opponents was not enough to unseat Calzaghe, the guts he showed in the decision loss should one day (soon) carry him into the top 10. 13. Joan Guzman – The WBO’s former 122-pound titlist and current 130-pound belt holder has proven his skill and obvious talent against many tough hombres (including the late Agapito Sanchez, Javier Jauregui, Jorge Barrios and Humberto Soto) but the Dominican dandy needs to either entice no. 2 and no. 4 on this list into a fight or he must venture to the 135-pound division in order to show the world that he deserves to be inside the pound-for-pound top 10. 14. Cristian Mijares – If you haven’t seen the wonderfully talented WBC 115-pound titlist fight, do yourself a favor and find a tape or DVD of his title bouts vs. Japan’s Katsushige Kawashima and his one-sided beatdown of Jorge Arce; the southpaw boxer-puncher from Durango, Mexico is the total package: intelligence, speed, power, skill, and guts. We’ll see how Mijares uses those attributes vs. the experience and savvy of three-time title challenger and fellow southpaw Jose Navarro on the undercard of the February rematch between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor. 15. Kelly Pavlik – The WBC/WBO and The Ring-recognized middleweight champ is not the first fighter to “beat” former champ Jermain Taylor in the eyes of some observers but he was the first to officially get the job done and he did so by getting off the deck to score a spectacular knockout. Eight- and seven-round wars with Mexico’s rugged Jose Luis Zertuche and Colombia’s hard-hitting contender Edison Miranda prepared the undefeated Buckeye Banger for his showdown with Taylor and his underrated heart will undoubtedly serve the 25 year old well as he rises in weight and on this list. If Pavlik beats Taylor in their super middleweight rematch, stern-but-career defining challenges await the power-punching stalker in the 168-pound division and eventually at light heavyweight. 16. Ricky Hatton – There’s no shame in losing (even by knockout) to the no. 1 boxer on this list, but the 140-pound champ did not look like a top-10 elite fighter in the three fights (vs. Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo and Juan Urango) that he had in-between his signature wins against Kostya Tszyu and an obviously faded Jose Luis Castillo, thus his fall from grace. However, the once-beaten hero of Manchester can regain some of his lost luster, and perhaps climb a few notches on this list, by taking on some of the brash and talented title holders currently residing in the 140-pound division (UK rival Junior Witter and New York City speedster Paul Malignaggi) or by enticing some of the top lightweights to step up in weight (challenges from Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis would make for can’t-miss clashes). 17. Martin Castillo – the former WBA 115-pound titlist has slowly regained the championship form he showed in title bouts vs. Alexander Munoz and Eric Morel and appeared to lose in his upset loss to Nobu Nashiro last year and his subsequent comeback fight against veteran trialhorse Oscar Andrade. The gutsy Mexico City-born technician looked like his old classy self in a 10-round points win over Colombia’s Jonathan Perez this past October, which sets up an attractive showdown with Mexican star Jorge Arce, a bout that is being discussed for the early part of ’08. 18. Daisuke Naito – This veteran Japanese flyweight contender dethroned long-reigning lord of the flies Pongsaklek Wongongkam, the only man to have ever defeated him, this past July to win the WBC 112-pound title. Prior to the decision loss to Naito, Thailand’s Wonjongkam had gone unbeaten for an amazing 11-year stretch, held the WBC title for more than six years and had made 17 defenses of the belt. However, Naito is not just a one-hit wonder; he has also gone 5-0-1 in domestic matchups against undefeated national contenders, including a one-sided points victory against Daiki Kameda in his first defense of the WBC belt. 19. David Haye – London’s “Hayemaker” became the WBC/WBA and The Ring-recognized cruiserweight champ with his impressive stoppage of France’s two-time champ Jean Marc Mormeck last month. The once-beaten power puncher (19 of his 20 victories are by way of KO) has a number of worthy challengers in the 200-pound division (O’Neil Bell, Enzo Maccarinelli and the winner of this Saturday’s Steve Cunningham-Marco Huck bout come to mind) but since crushing Polish heavyweight Tomasz Bonin in one round this past April, Haye has set his sights on boxing’s (former) Glamour Division. 20. Takefumi Sakata – The WBA flyweight belt holder had an awesome 2007, winning the title from undefeated (27-0) Venezuelan stud Lorenzo Parra, who twice beat Sakata in previous encounters, and then defending the belt against Panama’s dangerous former 108-pound titlist Roberto Vazquez (24-1) and experienced Thai warrior Denkaosan Kaovichit (40-1). A title unification bout with fellow Japanese belt holder Daisuke Naito or a mandatory defense against superstar countryman Koki Kameda are natural showdowns for Sakata in 2008. THE FURIOUS FIVE Alexander Munoz, Chris John, Hozumi Hasegawa, Shane Mosley, and Jermain Taylor DOUGIE’S TOP 20 TITLE HOLDERS 1. Wladimir Klitschko – the best big man in the game 2. Nonito Donaire – fastest flyweight on the planet 3. Arthur Abraham –at worst the world’s third best 160-pounder 4. Ulises Solis – Skill, will, and more skill 5. Chad Dawson – the youngest 175-pound player is most talented 6. Paul Williams – “the Punisher” is now the “Most Avoided Welterweight” 7. Gerry Penalosa – I thought the Fab Filipino beat Ponce DeLeon 8. Junior Witter – Hatton AND Mayweather avoided “the Hitter” 9. Jorge Linares – pound-for-pound top 10 potential 10. Cory Spinks – I thought “the Jinx” won eight rounds vs. Taylor 11. Vernon Forrest – Comeback of the Year 12. Edwin Valero – power personified 13. Sergei Dzinziruk – most underrated 154 pounder in the game 14. Omar Narvaez – crafty lefty always finds a way to keep his belt 15. Steve Molitor – could be Canada’s best fighter 16. Robert Guerrero – finally living up to his potential 17. Steven Luevano – quiet but deadly 18. David Diaz – limited but durable and always gives 100% 19. Celestino Caballero – not always pretty but gets the job done 20. Daniel Ponce DeLeon – ditto TOP PROSPECTS IN EACH WEIGHT CLASS Hey, do I give you more for your money or what? In case you don’t see some of your favorite prospects on this list I should let you know that I consider Giovanni Segura, Koki Kameda, Alejandro Valdez, Lamont Peterson, Joel Julio, John Duddy, Matt Godfrey, Eddie Chambers and Alexander Povetkin to be young contenders. You’ll find some honorable mention prospects in parenthesis next to the top dog’s name in some of the weight classes. Enjoy! 105/108 – Roman Gonzalez 112 – Raul Martinez 115 – A.J. Banal 118 – Abner Mares 122 – Juan Manuel Lopez (Kiko Martinez, Akifumi Shimoda, Mike Oliver) 126 – Derry Mathews (Takahiro Aoh, Juan Carlos Burgos) 130 – Roman Martinez (Monty Meza Clay, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Argenis Mendez) 135 – Amir Khan (Anthony Peterson, Josestio Lopez) 140 – Victor Ortiz (Tim Bradley, Marcos Maidana, Francisco Figueroa, Vernon Paris) 147 – Andre Berto (Jesus Soto-Karass, Devon Alexander, Roberto Garcia, Mike Jones) 154 – James Kirkland (Vanes Martirosyan, Alfredo Angulo, Ronald Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.) 160 – Andy Lee (Joe Greene, Giovanni Lorenzo, Paul Smith, Peter Quillan, Craig McEwan) 168 – Andre Ward (Andre Dirrell, Jaidon Codrington, David Banks, Buddy McGirt Jr.) 175 – Tavoris Cloud (Chris Henry, Jameson Bostic) 200 – Johnathan Banks (Aaron Williams, B.J. Flores, Yoan Pablo Hernandez) Heavyweight – Chris Arreola (Malik Scott, Chazz Witherspoon, Kevin Johnson, Odlanier Solis, Roman Greenberg). 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