24.12.06 – By James Slater: There is little over one week left in the year. Therefore the following pound-4-pound ratings are probably the last ones you will read before 007. This coming year will hopefully give us plenty to cheer about in terms of boxing action, and the top-ten best fighters on the planet list may well be subject to a major shake-up. With every single year in boxing history providing us with its share of big upsets, I expect next year to be no different. At the moment though, the following positions are safe ones for the boxers occupying them. Who knows though, in the coming twelve months perhaps the men holding positions one and two in the following list may actually be defeated. Time, as always, will tell.
1. Manny Pacquiao
Leaps to the top spot courtesy of a quite fabulous year. Fought three times, winning on each occasion – twice by KO. The last of these knockouts, a swift destruction of all-time great Erik Morales, sealed Pac-Man’s pound-for-pound supremacy.
2. Floyd Mayweather
Drops from the top spot despite also having a good year. “Pretty Boy’s” wins over Zab Judah and the much bigger man in Carlos Baldomir not withstanding, Pacquiao is now more deserving of the number one slot. This could change though, If Floyd defeats his next opponent – Oscar De La Hoya – in dominant fashion next May.
3. Winky Wright
Held the number one middleweight to a controversial (in some eyes) draw, then comprehensively out pointed the tough Ike Quartey in his most recent performance. Some people feel as though Winky should be as high as number one pound-4-pound. I think number three is a high enough number for Wright.
4. Bernard Hopkins
B-Hop was missing from my last pound-4-pound list, due to my having taken his retirement speech at its word. Now that “The Executioner” is back in training for action his merits in any such list must be respected. Based on his last performance – a twelve round drubbing of Antonio Tarver – ‘Nard has to figure highly.
5. Jermain Taylor
The middleweight king didn’t have the best of years – what with his being held to a draw by natural 154 pounder Wright, along with “Bad Intention’s” hard night’s work with another naturally smaller man in Kassim Ouma. Still, I feel a drop of one place only on this list suffices. Taylor will have to impress many with a dominant performance in the coming year to remain a
pound-4-pound entrant though.
6. Marco Antonio Barrera
Still boxing at the very highest level after an incredibly long career, Marco’s time may well soon be up. Fought masterfully in his rematch with Rocky Juarez, however, and if he can possibly do so in his mooted return with Manny Pacquiao he will end all talk about his being anywhere close to being done.
7. Joe Calzaghe
After his great win over Jeff Lacy in March even bigger things were expected of “The Pride of Wales.” Yet despite his momentum having stalled somewhat after nothing but a tough points win over the relatively unknown Australian based Sakio Bika, Joe still deserves to be ranked this high. A super fight victory next year would do the thirty-four year old a power of good, however
8. Jose Luis Castillo
Fought only once in ’06, when he out pointed Rolondo Reyes in non too spectacular fashion. Still, the Mexican warrior remains one of boxing’s quintessential tough guys. Figures to have some hell of a year in ‘07, especially if his fight with Ricky Hatton comes off as planned. A stoppage win there could certainly help move Jose up a few notches on this list.
9. Ricky Hatton
As with the guy he’s set to tangle with (all being well) in the summer, “The hitman” fought once only this year. Struggled with the crafty Luis Collazo, yet did enough to pick up a world title in his second weight class as he did so. With that said, Ricky needs a much better year in 007.
10. Shane Mosley
Returned to winning ways with two inside schedule victories over warrior Fernando Vargas. With his still formidable speed and reflexes “Sugar” could very well win another world title in the coming year. As it is, I feel the two good wins over “El Feroz” more than justify his number ten placing here.