One Man’s Take On Boxing’s Top 10, Pound-for-Pound

A hypothetical ranking of boxing’s elite, regardless of weight…

Floyd Mayweather (Previous Position: 1)

Record: 47-0 (26 KOs)

Current Belts: WBC/WBA ‘Super’ World Welterweight (147lbs); WBC World Light–Middleweight (154lbs)

Surely, this is still the only position in the rankings not up for debate. There’s no doubt that at 38 years old Mayweather appears to have lost half a step, but until he surrenders that incredible undefeated record or else looks truly atrocious in the ring, he will remain in the top spot on pretty much any list you can find. With the Pacquiao fight FINALLY being set for May 2nd of this year, Mr. Money faces the man with a higher chance than anyone of finally knocking him off of his pound-for-pound perch. In doing so, he has also managed to silence some of the “Ducker” jibes levelled against him over the previous few years (at least temporarily). Realistically, then, there are only two people with even a faint hope of achieving the feat of dethroning Mayweather: it’s either Manny Pacquiao or Father Time.

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The Heavyweight Champion is back – Klitschko vs Jennings

Wladimir Klitschko, 63-3 (53KO’s) will end his 86-month exile from boxing biggest stage when he returns to Madison Square Garden for his 25th April showdown with unbeaten American hopeful Bryant Jennings, 19-0 (10KO’s).

For a century it would have been unimaginable to even suggest that the recognised figurehead of boxing, it’s leading man would not contest the sports premier title on U.S. soil for over 7 years.

And yet, it happened and passed much like Dr. Steelhammer’s last visit to the Mecca of boxing – when defeating Sultan Ibragimov over 12 rounds to become unified heavyweight champion – with little resistance.

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Roach: “Luckily Roger won’t be running the corner for Floyd”

“Luckily Roger won’t be running the corner for Floyd, his dad is in the corner. I think Floyd Sr. makes it an easier fight for us,” said Roach during an interview with Rappler.com.

On May 2nd, Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao will both finally cross the ropes and face each other in the ring, ready to leave it all in there for the fans their legacy. Too many things will once again be familiar for both champions: the venue, the crowd, and an endless avalanche of media attention.

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Interview: Joseph Parker on his upcoming fight with Jason Pettaway

….his relationship with trainer Kevin Barry and his upcoming sparring with Wladimir Klitschko in April

The lobby of the Pullman Hotel, Joseph Parker’s home away from home when he is in Auckland preparing for a fight, is a lot busier than usual. Cricket World Cup fever has hit the country and New Zealand’s national team are also staying at the inner city hotel as they prepare for their upcoming grudge match against fierce rivals Australia. Only the day before Joseph and Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum have done a TV news piece, Parker and Coach Kevin Barry putting the cricketer through his paces in the boxing gym.

When we meet Joseph is downstairs hitting the mitts with Kevin, during which McCullum and several other teammates drift in to take a look at the action, emitting low whistles at the power and precision with which Joseph hits his heavily padded trainer.

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Parker To Continue To Rise Up The Heavyweight Ranks

March 5th, Auckland, New Zealand rising heavyweight Joseph Parker goes head to head with once beaten American Jason Pettaway.

Pettaway 17-1-0 sports a handy resume, however on closer inspection only five of the opponents he’s faced to date have positive win-loss records.

In 2012 Pettaway took a big step up in fighting than undefeated Russian Magomed Abdusalamov. Early on Pettaway had moments, using his right hand to counter the aggressive southpaw. Unfortunately for Pettaway he didn’t have the power to win the respect of Abdusalamov, the Russian walking him down before stopping him by way of TKO in the 4th round.

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Interview: Izu Ugonoh on the success of his unusual working arrangement and his career ahead

It is rare to see 2 contenders fighting in the same division being coached by the same trainer at the same time. But that is exactly where unbeaten Polish heavyweight Izu Ugonoh finds himself ahead of his fight with Thomas Peato at Auckland’s Vodafone Arena on Thursday night.

In an old school tradition echoing some past greats like Cus D’Amato and Manny Steward, Coach Kevin Barry has both protégés Joseph Parker and Izu Ugonoh not just training with him but also living under his roof. ‘The only nightclub they see is the one in my living room’ quips Kevin of the situation.

It is borne from the idea that when it comes to the 5am training runs and the brutal gym sessions it is better working environment for Joseph and Izu to endure them together, working as a team. It also means an improved quality of sparring, Kevin also adding that ‘due to the very high respect they have for each other the sparring is always very intense and competitive.’

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Interview With Daily News Golden Gloves Director Brian Adams

New York Daily News Golden Gloves director Brian Adams is a busy man. The former four time Daily News Golden Gloves champion runs the biggest amateur boxing event in the world while also dueling as a TV broadcaster for the Broadway Boxing series run by promoter Lou DiBella. Adams is a tireless individual who travels all over the New York Tri-State area during the Golden Gloves tournament, that runs from January 28th to April 2nd. The likable and straight-forward Adams was the Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the amateur boxing scene in the early 90’s in New York City. I got a chance to catch up to the “Punching Poet” and ask him about his journey in boxing.

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Carl Froch will not be forced into a Ward rematch

Carl Froch got some pretty bad news with the WBA wanting negotiations between himself and Andre Ward. Froch has already come out and said that fights against Ward, Hopkins and DeGale simply did not interest him and he would likely retire rather than face any of those names. Having beaten Mikkel Kessler in their rematch however, Ward is the only unavenged loss sitting on the Brits resume.

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How good is Carl Frampton?

Carl Frampton had his second world title fight for his IBF strap when he took on top rated contender Chris Avalos. Avalos had two previous losses in his twenty-seven-fight career, and both had been split decisions versus undefeated opposition. The last of those losses came late in 2011 and since then had amassed a six and zero record with four stoppages. This included good wins over the likes of undefeated Yenifel Vicente and an IBF eliminator against Yautaka Ishimoto.

The fight only went five rounds when Frampton ended the event via a TKO and moved his own record to twenty wins, zero losses and zero draws. This kind of performance is what he needs should he be heading into clashes with the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Scott Quigg and the avoided Guillermo Rigondeaux who all share his division.

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Isa Akberbayev destroys Ruben Angel Mino in first round KO

The cruiserweight scene is largely overlooked for the talents at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. Despite several good fighters, the 176-200lb division doesn’t get the kind of attention that it really deserves. Last night a fighter who isn’t ranked in the top 25 made a big statement in knocking out the once beaten Argentinean fighter Ruben Angel Mino in the very first round.

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