Pound For Pound
The Boxing Bulletin Pound 4 Pound Top 25: Pacquiao Still Reigns
by The Boxing Bulletin on Dec 27, 2009 4:24 AM EST
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We're down to the final 5 of our year end Top 25 P4P list.
As we mentioned at the start of the countdown, these lists are just for fun. We certainly don't take the rankings too seriously, but enjoy debating where each fighter deserves to be ranked, so please feel free to participate and offer up your opinions of our rankings, or even your own P4P lists.
For previous instalments, check out the following links... 25-21, 20-16, 15-11 and 10-6.
Let's get to the top 5...
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The Boxing Bulletin Pound 4 Pound Top 25 List: 10-6
by The Boxing Bulletin on Dec 26, 2009 7:00 AM EST
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We're down to the top 10 on our year end top 25 P4P countdown.
For numbers 25-11, check out the following links: 25-21, 20-16 and 15-11.
#10 Lucian Bute
Record 2007-2009: 7-0 (4 KO)
Previous Result: KO4 over Librado Andrade
Up next: TBA
Take that Super-Six! Having been passed for Showtime's 168 pound tournament, Lucian Bute sent a powerful message to the world's best super-middleweights, with a crushing 4th round knockout of the previously indestructible Librado Andrade. Bute might not be part of the tournament, but until the eventual winner faces the Montreal based southpaw, he'll have a hard time convincing anyone he's the division's true #1.
HBO is reported to be interested in bringing Bute back in April, but with most of the division's top talent wrapped up in the tournament, there aren't too many options in terms of strong opponents at 168. Names like Bernard Hopkins and Kelly Pavlik have been mentioned, but perhaps the winner of next month's bout between Robert Stieglitz and Edison Miranda is more realistic.
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The Boxing Bulletin Pound 4 Pound Top 25 List: 15-11
by The Boxing Bulletin on Dec 24, 2009 6:27 AM EST
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Today we move on to numbers 15 through 11 of our end of year Top 25 P4P countdown.
On Monday, we started off with numbers 25 to 21 and yesterday continued with 20 to 16. Tomorrow we'll be back with numbers 10-6.
#15 Ivan Calderon
Record 2007-2009: 6-0-1 (0 KO)
Previous Result: SD over Rodel Mayol
Up Next: Possibly Brian Viloria in March
Calderon is still one of the finest practitioners of the art of "hit and not get hit", but there are signs the classy southpaw is starting to slip. This past year he squared off twice against Rodel Mayol in bouts abbreviated due to head clashes, coming away with a draw on the first occasion, and a split decision win in the rematch. While he didn’t get tagged much over the two bouts, he didn’t look particularly sharp either.
If he’s to keep his P4P status it’s fair to say he’ll need to come up big in 2010, and it looks like he’ll have the chance as a 108 pound showdown with Brian Viloria is reportedly in the works for March.
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The Boxing Bulletin Pound 4 Pound List: 20-16
by The Boxing Bulletin on Dec 23, 2009 5:23 AM EST
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We started the list off yesterday with numbers 25 to 21, and today we're moving to the next 5.
Unlike many P4P lists that take a conservative approach, basing their rankings mainly on accomplishments, we've decided to be more aggressive with our list, going with a fighter's current level of ability as our top criteria, while also taking into consideration a fighter's accomplishments over the last 3 years.
Let's get to numbers 20-16...
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The Boxing Bulletin Pound For Pound Top 25 List: 25 - 21
by The Boxing Bulletin on Dec 22, 2009 6:03 AM EST
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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...
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Updated P4P: Pacquiao still Top - Mayweather Grabs #2 Spot
by The Boxing Bulletin on Sep 30, 2009 7:33 PM EDT
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With the successful return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., it's time (okay, it was probably time last week, but we've just got around to getting the votes tabulated now) for The Boxing Bulletin to update our P4P rankings.
Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com
The two main questions facing our voters this time...
How far should Juan Manuel Marquez drop, and did Mayweather do enough to knock Manny Pacquaio off the top spot?
Also in action since our last update were Nonito Donaire, Ivan Calderon and Mikkel Kessler.
1. Manny Pacquiao (vs Miguel Cotto - November 14)
The Pac-Man remains atop the Bulletin's P4P list simply because he is willing to take on all comers, and is out there not only to dominate, but destroy.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (NEW, UD over Juan Manuel Marquez - September 19)
"Money" looked like the same guy who retired almost two years ago. Not surprising really, considering his natural talent and obsessive work ethic. Now that he's back, the question is, who's next? Mosley, or the Pac/Cotto winner?
3. Bernard Hopkins
This might be the last time you'll be seeing The Executioner on our list, as it's getting close to 12 months since he dominated Kelly Pavlik. Also, his future plans include a tune-up and then a possible match-up with Roy Jones. Neither fight does anything for is P4P status.
4. Shane Mosley
Sugar Shane STILL can't get a big-fight, or even a suitable TV date. Unreal. He blasts out the scariest welter around and then sits out a year??? Seems like he'll have to face young Andre Berto to keep his name out there while the big money names decide whether they want some or not. Probably not.
5. Paul Williams (vs Kelly Pavlik - December 5)
"The Punisher" is scheduled to face off against Kelly Pavlik for the Middleweight Championship Of The World, December 5th. I call this remarkable fighter Mr. Pound For Pound because he is a true threat to anyone from 147 to 160, and it says here that he'll be removing Mr. Pavlik from his throne when all is said and done.
6. Juan Manuel Marquez (down 4, lost UD to Floyd Mayweather Jr. - September 19)
The magnificent Marquez probably came in too heavy, too slow and too old for the defensive genius, Mayweather. If he wasn't already declining going into that megafight, he is now. He showed all of the heart and guts that made him a future Hall of Famer in surviving 12 rounds, but was just outgunned. It's hard to figure out where he goes from here, but it was a helluva ride while it lasted.
7. Chad Dawson (vs Glen Johnson - November 7)
"Bad" Chad has a lot of tools to work with, and now he has the support of the major networks, so the sky is the limit for the speedy southpaw. We'll get a better sense of exactly where he stands as a potential great when he laces them up for a second time against iron-willed Glen Johnson, who pushed him to the brink last year.
8. Nonito Donaire (up 1, UD over Rafael Concepcion - August 15)
Since his demolition of Darchinyan, Nonito has done little. It's quite frustrating as a fan because he's a young, fast, exciting and well-schooled fighter who can create some buzz for the little guys in boxing. Perhaps the move up to 115 lbs will open some new doors for him. Maybe now's the time for Donaire-Darchinyan II?
9. Juan Manuel Lopez (down 2, vs Rogers Mtagwa - October 10)
Juan Ma is another young fighter with the world at his feet. Great speed, accuracy and killer instinct are his main assets, but he's also developed some of the most shocking counter punching in the sport. We know he can dish it out, but can he take it? His promoter, Bob Arum, is planning a showdown between Lopez and undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa. That match-up should deliver some answers.
10. Miguel Cotto (down 1, vs Manny Pacquiao - November 14)
Whatever your opinion of Cotto, you have to respect his schedule. He's faced off against 3 welters no one else wanted any part of in Mosley, Clottey and Margarito. You can make the argument that he didn't really "win" any of those, but to be right there with those guys is admirable. He's earned the paycheck that comes with fighting Pacquiao. Should be an all out war for as long as it lasts.
11. Ivan Calderon (Technical SD over Rodel Mayol - September 12)
The tiny Puerto Rican is still regarded as perhaps the most pure boxer out there, but it looks like Father Time is catching up quickly. If he wants to remain a P4P player, he's got to sign a significant fight soon because he's starting to settle into a cautious matchmaking pattern.
12. Mikkel Kessler (TKO4 over Gusmyl Perdomo - September 12, vs Andre Ward - November 21)
With the managerial issues hopefully behind him, Kessler is set to prove that he belongs among the elite. The first step is defeating Andre Ward in the brilliant 168 tournament hosted by Showtime.
13. Timothy Bradley (vs Lamont Peterson - December 12)
While his last fight with Nate Campbell proved little, we were probably a little bit late in including "Dessert Storm" as one of the 15 best out there. At first glance, it's easy to miss a lot of what makes him a very difficult guy to beat. He doesn't have crazy speed, or monstrous power, but he is solid at every facet of the game. While it may not make him the most exciting fighter out there, he just may be the most dangerous guy at 140.
14. Carl Froch (vs Andre Dirrell - October 17)
The hard man from Nottingham is proof that boxing is no beauty contest. There's nothing "pretty" about him, except his undefeated record. He's made up for athletic deficiencies against Pascal and Taylor with grit and conditioning. He'll need the same kind of effort when he meets undefeated Andre Dirrell in the first round of the 168 lb tourney.
15. Hozumi Hasegawa (NEW)
Those who closely follow the Asian scene may be thinking "it's about time" the Japanese destroyer gets some P4P love. None of his last 4 opponents have seen the end of the 2nd round. Included among those is a fellow named Alejandro Valdez, who beat up Fernando Montiel just a few weeks ago.
Just missing the cut...
Vic Darchinyan, Lucian Bute, Rafael Marquez, Celestino Caballero & Wladimir Klitschko
Also receiving votes...
Kelly Pavlik, Jean Pascal, David Haye, Arthur Abraham, Chris John, Fernando Montiel, Glen Johnson & Tomasz Adamek
Not ranked due to inactivity...
Israel Vasquez
To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.
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