Report by Tony Curtis/Bleacher Report
In my head there is a great debate about top 10 pound for pound lists. Do you base the list off of talent or record and opponents beaten.
When I compile my list it is a mixture of talent and opponents beaten. I don’t believe in putting a fighter higher over another one because he has more talent.
If you have all the talent in the world and beat nobodies you aren’t deserving. If you are beating top fighters day in and day out that means you have good talent.
Without rambling anymore here is my top 10 pound for pound list.
10. Fernando Montiel
Titles: WBO bantamweight champion
Why: Has held titles in three different weight classes and has fought good opposition since 2000.
9. Pongsaklek Wonnjongkam
Titles: WBC, The Ring flyweight champion
Why: Only six fighters are Ring champions and he is one of them. Has been at the top of his division for a very long time.
Titles: WBA, WBO, The Ring light flyweight champion
Why: The only man to defeat Ivan Calderon and has been on a blazing pace since 2008. He is a rising star in the sport.
7. Sergio Martinez
Titles: WBC, The Ring middleweight champion
Why: Has held titles in two divisions and has been on a tear since 2008. May fight the best schedule of any active fighter.
6. Paul Williams
Titles: None
Why: He has beaten Martinez and has fought good opponents since 2008. Currently is scheduled to rematch Martinez.
5. Timothy Bradley
Titles: WBO light welterweight champion
Why: He has fought top tier opponents since 2008 and is a throwback fighter. Has a lot of potential and isn’t afraid to fight anyone.
4. Wladimir Klitschko
Titles: IBF, WBO, The Ring heavyweight champion
Why: He is clearly the best fighter at heavyweight and has been for a long time. He also hasn’t lost a fight since 2004.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez
Titles: WBO, WBA, The Ring lightweight champion
Why: Only fights the best and usually wins. His last three losses were to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, and Chris John. Two undefeated fighters and numbers one and two on the pound for pound list. Most underrated fighter in the game.
2. Manny Pacquiao
Titles: WBO welterweight champion
Why: I find his wins impressive but they are a bit on the handpicked side. When he faces and beats a top level boxer then I will move him to number one. Really is a one b fighter not a number two.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Titles: None
Why: Has beaten a lot of good fighters in his career. Is coming off a shellacking of Shane Mosley which I find more impressive then Pacquiao’s win over Joshua Clottey. Personally think that his fights are handpicked to but his last win vaults him here.
So those are my pound for pound rankings. The back end of mine are very different from The Ring’s and my placing of Klitschko is much higher.
These are not the perfect ratings but they are mine (as per Tony Curtis) and I am sure people will have comments about them.
