By James Slater – “The Bible Of Boxing,” Ring Magazine, has just updated its Pound-For-Pound ratings and its clear the writers of the publication were as impressed as the fans were by bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire’s awesome 2nd-round stoppage of Mexico’s Fernando Montiel. Before the big win, “The Filipino Flash” sat at the #5 position on Ring’s P-4-P chart, but now he has vaulted up to the #3 position – behind only countryman Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior.
Fans of middleweight king Sergio Martinez may feel angered, seeing as how “Maravilla” has been dropped to the #4 slot, but it can’t be denied how deserving of his lofty ranking Donaire is. Many good writers wrote how a star was born on Saturday night, in reference to the brutally stunning punch that both felled the previously unstopped Montiel and left his legs twitching in scary fashion. Now eager to see more of the once-beaten (very early in his pro career, on points over five-rounds), now three-weight champion, fans and writers also want to see how high Donaire can go in the P-4-P charts..
Much has been discussed about the man who still holds the #2 slot, the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Junior. Some fans feel “Money” should be dropped down a few places due to inactivity; others still say he should not be on the list at all any longer! It sure will be interesting to see what Ring Magazine and other publications do with the soon-to-be 34-year-old star if the month of May comes and goes without him fighting. It was back on May 1st, against Shane Mosley, when Mayweather last boxed, but with his legal issues hanging over him, it’s unlikely he will fight again any time soon. If a full year passes without Floyd having fought, should he be dropped from the P-4-P ratings?
If this is what turns out to be the case, and as long as he doesn’t lose in the meantime, the sensational Donaire will likely rise to the #2 slot; meaning two great fighters from The Philippines will pretty much rule the boxing world! And two greater, more role model-like men you could not find. Isn’t it a shame, though, that these two incredible talents will never be able to fight each other in a bid to decide true supremacy?
Ring Magazine’s full top-10, Pound-for-Pound:
1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Floyd Mayweather
3. Nonito Donaire
4. Sergio Martinez
5. Juan Manuel Marquez
6. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
7. Wladimir Klitschko
8. Timothy Bradley
9. Juan Manuel Lopez
10. Giovani Segura