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Pound for Pound By Default
WED July 9, ANDRES ANTONIO CARRIEDO - In the aftermath of WBC 135 lb. titlist Manny Pacquiao's title winning effort against former titlist David Diaz, many boxing fans and pundits alike have proclaimed the Filipino icon the new king of the pound for pound rankings. The combination of Pacquiao's five division title holding resume, his national hero following in the Philippines and his budding popularity here in the United States have catapulted him to the top of many pound for pound rankings.
I penned an editorial a two months ago (prior to former pound for pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s retirement announcement), that made the case for Joe Calzaghe should one choose to replace Mayweather, which I hadn't. Only two things that should affect pound for pound rankings have happened since then. Mayweather retired, thus creating a vacancy for the top spot. Then Pacquiao battered Diaz to a pulp. In the process of thrashing Diaz Pacquiao became a five division champion (though the basis of that is somewhat questionable in that Pacquiao only held the linear title at 126 and beat largely unknown entities for his titles at 112 and 122), which in and of itself is an impressive accomplishment. However, it was David Diaz and a very legitimate argument can be made that Diaz won his belt at WBC meeting rather than in the ring.
That said, Pacquiao is a wonderful pugilistic talent with amazing ring accomplishment to his name. Yet, I can't stop thinking back to 2001. At that time, Roy Jones Jr. was in the midst of defending his many 175 lb. title belts against a seemingly endless string of mandatories while Shane Mosley and Felix “Tito” Trinidad were dazzling crowds with explosive KO's and “Fight of the Year” candidates. Many pundits dropped Roy Jones down to either #2 or 3 in the pound for pound rankings and Mosley and Trinidad assumed the top spot basically by default. I hate to say that they were exposed because I think that word is over-used, but the fact of the matter is that the next few years proved that neither was ever really the top fighter in the sport on a pound for pound basis. In 20-20 hindsight vision, it was probably either Mayweather or Jones who was the rightful inhabitant of the throne.
For the time being, I have Calzaghe in the top spot. Most others have Pacquiao at the top of the rankings. However, I suspect that crown will sit on many different heads over the next three years. That is what happens when a fan favorite gets to the top by default. Eventually they lose and are replaced. This does not mean that they aren't great and exciting fighters. It only means that there's a lot of parity at the top. Kelly Pavlik, Miguel Cotto and even younger budding stars like Jorge Linares and Andre Ward could assume the throne in the reasonably near future. We just don't know.
Mayweather's retirement left open a huge vacuum. Pacquiao seems to be filling it ably for the time being. The prediction from this corner is, however, that in the very near future it's going to be musical chairs at the top of the pound for pound charts.
Pound for Pound Pavlik?
The top spot on the pound for pound chart is usually reserved for a versatile boxer-puncher. So, it's not always intuitive to consider the best heavy handed KO artist in the discussion. However, if such a boxer proves his merits against boxer-punchers and pure boxers then he should get consideration for the top spot, which leads me to Kelly Pavlik. On his way up through the rankings, Pavlik blasted out respectable journeyman Dorian Beaupierre in two rounds and KO'd former 154 lb. titlist Bronko McKart in six rounds. Both fighters fit the classic boxer mold and, at least in my mind, prepared Pavlik for what he saw against boxer-puncher Jermain Taylor.
Pavlik beat Taylor twice and now may face the aging though still highly regarded southpaw, Winky Wright. A Pavlik win over an accomplished pure boxer like Wright should earn him a place in the discussion over pound for pound supremacy. A follow up win against very highly regarded boxer-puncher Arthur Abraham might seal the deal for Pavlik.
Don't Forget Cotto
WBA 147 lb. titlist Miguel Cotto is a bit of a hybrid. He's not really a boxer-puncher and he's not a pure one punch KO artist. He reminds me a little bit of Shane Mosley in that he looks to break his opponent down with body shots, has fast hands, solid technique and can move around the ring like a boxer if he needs to. He's a two division titlist, though he's never won a linear title. His wins against boxer-punchers like “Chop Chop” Corley and Zab Judah mixed in with his victories over classic boxers like Paulie Malignaggi and Oktay Urkal complement his wins over Ricardo Torres, Carlos Quintana and Shane Mosley very well. Should he defeat rugged brawler Antonio Margarito later this month, he deserves a place in the discussion about who the eminent fighter is the sport on a pound for pound basis.
Good Times for Top Rank
Now that stars like Oscar De la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Bernard Hopkins are in the final throes of their careers and every other promotional company is trying to move their advanced prospects into title contention, Top Rank is in the enviable position of not only having some of the most promising advanced prospects in the sport (Vanes Martirosyan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Bernabe Concepcion and Lamont Peterson), but some of the more marketable young titlists (Nonito Donaire and Juan Manuel Lopez) to go along with three of the top four or five fighters in many pound for pound rankings (the aforementioned Manny Pacquiao, Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto).
It's safe to say that Top Rank has no worse than the second most talent of all the promotional companies in boxing and is likely sitting in the top spot.
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