By James P Sexton: A while ago I posted an article discussing my personal opinions on the current pound for pound picture and just how I thought that list was made up. Thinking over all the potential match ups which can and should be made this calendar year, I have a few ideas who will stay and who will go on this list.
For reference, I will quickly add my pound for pound list now, followed by how I think it will look in twelve months time and give my reasons.
1. Floyd Mayweather
2. Wladimir Klitschko
3. Guillermo Rigondeaux
4. Manny Pacquiao
5. Gennady Golovkin
6. Sergey Kovalev
7. Danny Garcia
8. Carl Froch
9. Roman Gonzalez
10. Terence Crawford
1. Firstly, Floyd Mayweather. The number one criticism of my previously mentioned former article was that this man was included, and that he was listed as the number one fighter on the planet. To these people I am afraid this article isn’t going to be any easier for you to read because I still see him on top throughout 2015. He has two fights left on his showtime contract and whether he chooses to retire or not doesn’t change the fact that 2015 will be another year of the Mayweather reign. I do not see any choice of opponents which can give him an L on his record and two more wins will only further his reputation as a man who is likely in the top twenty fighters ever.
2. Wladimir Klitschko is a trickier one. Whilst I do not seem him losing, he may shift positions only due to the fact that fighters like Golovkin and Pacquiao can accomplish bigger things than him this year, as they have the potential for bigger fights against better opposition and for this he will likely end up three or even four on the list at the end of the year. Opponents such as Bryant Jennings, Tyson Fury and the winner of Bermane Stiverne vs Deontay Wilder will provide some interesting match-ups and some much needed excitement to the division, but the lower weight classes still promise more exciting fights this year.
3. Guillermo Rigondeaux. It may have been optimistic listing Rigo so high on my list. I see him as a tremendously talented fighter who is simply wasting his potential in his recent bouts. Yes he was knocked down twice by a more or less unknown opponent in his last bout, but the guy looked far too big for Rigondeaux and lost every other round on route to a stoppage after the eleventh. His face resembled something from a comic book by the time of the stoppage. The reason I am going to predict Rigondeaux will drop out of the top four by the the end of the year is not due to anything other than the fact he is the most avoided man in boxing. Unification matches need to happen, but no fighter in their right mind wants a part of him.
4. Manny Pacquiao. This one really depends on his choice of opponents. I cant see him leaving the top five, certainly not the top ten. There are big fights for him if he can be made, but pumped up 140 pounders like Chris Algieri and Rios wont cut it. I don’t think guys like Terence Crawford or Jessie Vargas are ready for this kind of match-up so something better needs to be found if the Pacman wants to regain top three status.
5. Gennady Golovkin. I can only see this monster moving up the rankings. Top three or even top two. Either he finishes out the year with 3 or 4 more wins against top 15 ranked fighters or he lands a big match-up against a big name and breaks onto the major scene that way. Either way I cant see him losing or going down the rankings this year.
6. Sergey Kovalev, again a man who has the potential to rise on this list. The fight against Jean Pascal as well as the dream bout against fellow title holder Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson could send his stock soaring throughout the new year. I see Kovalev remaining in the top six with possible moves into the top five.
7. Danny Garcia. This man needs a fresh start in 2015, a look back top his 2013 campaign is something he can use for inspiration. Where this man ends up on the list – if he is on it at all depends on who is is matched against and when. A unification with Lamont Peterson would be great. A rematch with Lucas Matthysse would be good. Anyone of the talents who currently resides at 140 including Ruslan Provodnikov, Adrien Broner or Victor Vargas would be great, but we cant see any more mismatches or shaky performances.
8. Carl Froch. This is a big maybe. He has enjoyed his stay in the top ten for a short while now, but will he even fight again? If he does who will it be against? This long time champion and his promoters have some deciding and planning to do before I can even hazard a guess as to where he would be at the end of the year, but if I was forced to make a guess I would say number ten, as a return from the talents such as Andre Ward or Mikey Garcia could push him down.
9. Roman Gonzalez. Another push up the rankings should be due. Activity is a friend to this three weight champion as he has had seven fights through 2013-2014 and all seven have been stoppage victories. If he can win another three or even four fights this year I would be forced to raise him, probably into the top five.
10. Terence Crawford. Another Case where matchmaking can play a part. Some people do not think he is deserving of the tenth spot as it is and weak match-ups or shaky performances could see him slip out. However I think he could still be around residing in the ninth or tenth spots by the end of the year, and a move into the 140lb division would mean he has multiple great options to chose from.
An addition would be to add Andre Ward back into the picture. His reemergence into the picture could force someone like a Froch or Crawford out of the picture. I think he will fight again this year, and I think he will win, but the extent of this remains to be seen.
Another name to mention would be Timothy Bradley. Right now I would definitely include this former champion in the top fifteen and with his exceptional resume including wins over Juan Manuel Marquez, Luis Carlos Abregu, Pacquiao, Provodnikov, Devon Alexander, and Peterson, his name should never be far away from a pound for pound discussion. Having watched the Chavez fight I am of the opinion that he was deserving of the decision, however this can lead to a number of good fights for Bradley in 2015.
Comments are closed.