Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com - Kelly Pavlik comes in at #25 on The Boxing Bulletin's year end 2009 P4P list.

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With 2009 coming to a close, and all the P4P players on the shelf until 2010, it's time for The Boxing Bulletin to do our final P4P list for 2009, and we'll be counting down the names in groups of 5 over the next week.

For this - and future editions  - we've decided to expand the list from 15 to 25.  The way we see it, these lists are mostly just a bit of fun for fans to argue about, so why not add to the debate by including 10 more names.

Our criteria:

1.Current level of ability

2.Accomplishments over the past 3 years.

Today, we're counting down from 25 to 21.  Let's get to it...

Record 2007-2009: 7-1 (5 KO)

Previous result: TKO 5 over Miguel Espino

Up next: Hopefully Paul Williams

The reigning middleweight champion just made it at #25, although some – including more than half of our panel of voters - might say he doesn’t belong at all. It’s certainly true that by world class standards, Miguel Espino was an underwhelming opponent, as were Pavlik’s two previous middleweight victims, Marco Antonio Rubio and Gary Lockett. By no means a fearsome trio, and sandwiched in between the Rubio and Locket bouts was a one sided drubbing at the hands of Bernard Hopkins. Beating over-matched fringe contenders (and calling them contenders is probably being generous), while getting shut-out by the elite isn’t exactly P4P stuff.

He’s on the list for now, but a good performance from one of the many fighters that just missed the cut could mean Pavlik gets the boot next time out.

#24 Celestino Caballero

Record 2007-2009: 8-0 (5 KO)

Previous result: TKO8 over Francisco Leal

Up next: Presumably someone at 126

Caballero’s P4P claims took a bit of a hit earlier this year after a mandatory defence against Jeffrey Mathebula nearly resulted in a loss. Many observers in fact felt the South African challenger had deserved the nod, but Caballero escaped with a split decision. Despite that blemish, Caballero’s resume over the past few years has been very strong, and his willingness to take on opponents in their own backyard is to be admired.

Hopefully at some point, Caballero can secure a lucrative fight against one of the bigger name fighters he’s been calling out. Perhaps after the dust has settled between Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa, the winner will step up the plate and grant the lanky Panamanian his opportunity. Until then, he’ll need to keep winning… and look good doing it, if he’s to keep his spot on the list.

#23 Vic Darchinyan

Record 2007-2009: 6-2-1 (6 KO)

Previous result: KO2 over Tomas Rojas

Up next: TBA

Not a great year, but not a bad one either for The Raging Bull. The big punching (and big talking) 115 pounder started the year off by battering Jorge Arce, and finished it up with a 2nd round knockout of Tomas Rojas. In between, there was a trip up to 118 to challenge Joseph Agbeko. While Darchinyan was unsuccessful against the Ghanaian bantamweight, his willingness to meet all comers is a point in his favour.

Now if only Gary Shaw would let bygones be bygones and make the Nonito Donaire rematch that everyone – including Darchinyan – wants to see happen.

#22 Rafael Marquez

Record 2007-2009: 2-2 (2 KO)

Previous result: TKO 3 over Francisco Mendoza

Up next: Israel Vasquez on May 22

After a 14 month break following his memorable trilogy with Israel Vasquez, the big punching Mexican returned in May with a win over Columbian featherweight Francisco Mendoza. While Marquez recorded a 3rd round stoppage, he didn’t look particularly sharp as he appeared slow to pull the trigger and his punches lacked precision. The fact that Mendoza was coming off 3 straight bouts without a victory gives a fair indication that it wasn’t much of a test.

Naturally one has to question whether Marquez is still a P4P player… and he’s certainly not on our list for anything he’s shown recently. But how do you knock him off until he’s proven one way or the other what he’s got left? We’ll have a better idea come May 22nd when he faces Vasquez for the 4th time.

#21 Israel Vasquez

Record 2007-2009: 3-1 (2 KO)

Previous result: TKO 9 over Angel Priolo

Up next: Rafael Marquez on May 22

Vasquez has also only fought once since the trilogy, returning in October with an uninspiring 9th round TKO win over Angel Priolo. To put the result in perspective, fighting at 118 pounds and below, Priolo had lost 6 straight bouts failing to make it past the 7th round in all but one of those contests.

As with the case of Marquez, one must consider the likelihood that Vasquez is no longer a P4P level fighter, but in fairness to his past accomplishments, it’s probably best to wait until May 22nd to make that call.