By Liam Santiago: Recently, I posted an article on boxingnews24’s new pound for pound rankings. I placed Manny Pacquiao at number one which, looking at the whole picture, I feel I might have been wrong to do. So, I am stripping Pacquiao of this number one spot, for now. I will watch the Cotto fight and make a decision. If he beats Cotto comfortably and I feel the weight drop for Cotto has played no part, I will put him back at no.1, bow down and apologize.
However, for now, Juan Manuel Marquez takes the top spot and Bernard Hopkins follows him to number 2. Pac-Man now stands at no.3.
Ok. I am expecting some seriously abusive comments for this. But, let me explain. The two fight Pacquiao had with Marquez were very close and many boxing experts, such as myself, saw Marquez as the winner. Marquez recently destroyed Diaz in the 9th round of an all out war. I don’t feel the De La Hoya victory for Pacquiao helps his claim for my top spot what so ever. De La Hoya was dead at the weight and Pac might as well have been punching a punchbag in that ring. However, I have to give him credit for beating Hatton. Although at the end of his career and he was over trained and mentally weakened by trainer, Floyd Mayweather Snr. Hatton was in no state to fight that night. Who knows, if he was better mentally prepared he may well have knocked Pacquiao out early on in the fight.
I simply don’t see Pacquiao as great as others do. I know I am not alone in thinking this. Not all that long ago Joe Calzaghe claimed Pacquiao was not that great, also ‘he’s lost 3 fights and drawn a couple, which matters alot’.
I just don’t see that Pacquiao has done quite enough to deserve that top spot where Marquez has. Bernard Hopkins beats Pacquiao to no.2 because the man is simply untouchable. Schooling Kelly Pavlik at the age of 44. Wow. Pacquiao is 30 and plans to retire soon, Hopkins 14 years his senior and still demolishing anyone in his way. Hopkins looks set for a fight with undefeated Chad Dawson if he beats Johnson, which I see Hopkins winning easy.
So this is how Boxingnews24’s rankings stand now:
1.JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
lightweight
2.BERNARD HOPKINS
light heavyweight
3.MANNY PACQUIAO
catchweight fighter
4.MIGUEL COTTO
welterweight
5.SHANE MOSLEY
welterweight
6.CHAD DAWSON
light heavyweight
7.NONITO DONAIRE
flyweight
8.PAUL WILLIAMS
light middleweight
9.VITALI KLITSCHKO
heavyweight
10.KELLY PAVLIK
middleweight
As many boxing fans may have heard Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik look set to square up in their next fight. Bernard Hopkins might soon fight Chad Dawson. Miguel Cotto boils down to fight Manny Pacquiao. So three fight where both fighters are in the rankings. Should be interesting.
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