In response to the hotly contested debates over which fighters comprise the pound for pound greatest, the Ring News 24 staff decided to compile our own list, which will be revised and updated each month. The pound for pound top ten is a consensus of all twelve writers who cast their votes. Each fighter is ranked by how many points he received from the voting totals. The top fighter on a writer’s ballot receives 10 points, with the second best receiving 9 points, and each spot losing one point all the way down to the tenth and final spot, which receives 1 point.
1. Manny Pacquiao
Points: 79 (7 of 8 first place votes)
Record: 53-3-2 (38 KOs)
Titles: WBO welterweight champion
Most recent result: Unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley on May 7
Scheduled bouts: vs. No. 5 Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on HBO PPV.
Analysis: Nearly swept the voting panel’s number one votes as a result of his domination in six different weight classes.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Points: 68
Record: 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Titles: None
Most recent result: Unanimous decision victory against Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010
Scheduled bouts: vs. Victor Ortiz on September 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on HBO PPV.
Analysis: Although he has not fought in over one year, Mayweather is eligible for the Ring News P4P list as a result of his upcoming scheduled bout against Victor Ortiz. Because he has a fight scheduled, he is considered by Ring News 24 to be an active fighter. Mayweather has leapfrogged Sergio Martinez in this month’s list, despite neither fighter winning or losing a fight in that period of time.
3. Sergio Martinez
Points: 67 (1 first place vote)
Record: 47-2-2 (26 KOs)
Titles: WBC middleweight champion
Most recent result: 8th round TKO vs. Sergiy Dzinziruk on March 12
Scheduled bouts: vs. Darren Barker, the former EBU Middleweight titlist from London, on October 1 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight will be televised live on HBO.
Analysis: Received the only first place vote not acquired by Manny Pacquiao, a vote belonging to Chris Milton. Martinez is a rock in a hard place, seemingly a bit too talented for his own good. “Maravilla” has become one of the most feared opponents in the sport, struggling to schedule a fight with anybody of his caliber. Other top tier middleweight contenders have either turned down deals to fight Martinez or are otherwise engaged.
4. Nonito Donaire Jr.
Points: 50
Record: 26-1 (18 KOs)
Titles: WBC, WBO bantamweight champion
Most recent result: 2nd round TKO over Fernando Montiel on February 19
Scheduled bouts: vs. Omar Andres Narvaez on October 22 at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, on HBO.
Analysis: Narvaez, who received one point in the Ring News P4P list from Scott Graveson, is not an opponent to be overlooked. If Donaire defeats the Argentinian WBO champion, a future matchup with either Joseph Agbeko or Abner Mares is a top priority for early 2012.
5. Juan Manuel Marquez
Points: 36
Record: 53-5-1 (39 KOs)
Titles: WBA, WBO lightweight champion
Most recent result: 1st round TKO of Likar Ramos on July 16
Scheduled bouts: vs. No. 1 Manny Pacquiao on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on HBO PPV.
Analysis: The victory over sacrificial lamb Likar Ramos was controversial. Some believe that Ramos embellished on straight right from Marquez that put him down 1:46 into the round. Regardless, Ramos posed no threat to Marquez. Marquez leaped one spot ahead of Bernard Hopkins in the standings.
6. Bernard Hopkins
Points: 29
Record: 52-5-2 (32 KOs)
Titles: WBC light heavyweight champion
Most recent result: Unanimous decision victory against Jean Pascal on May 21
Scheduled bouts: vs. Chad Dawson on October 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on HBO PPV.
Analysis: Hopkins defeated Pascal to become the oldest champion in boxing history at age 46, nearly 23 years after he began his professional career. He dropped one spot in the standings to sixth behind Juan Manuel Marquez.
7. Andre Ward
Points: 18
Record: 24-0 (13 KOs)
Titles: WBA super middleweight champion
Most recent result: Unanimous decision victory against Arthur Abraham on May 14
Scheduled bouts: vs. No. 10 Carl Froch in the Super Six championship on October 29 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Showtime.
Analysis: Following victories against Abraham, Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, and Sakio Bika, Ward has been catapulted into the upper echelon of the sport. A win against Carl Froch could land him a spot in the top five.
8. Timothy Bradley
Points: 14
Record: 27-0 (11 KOs)
Titles: WBO, WBC light welterweight champion
Most recent result: 10th round technical decision win against Devon Alexander on January 29
Scheduled bouts: None
Analysis: Bradley is taking a page out of the Winky Wright playbook. Either he thinks he’s worth more than he is, he’s a feared fighter receiving few opportunities, or both. The verdict is out on Bradley, because nobody really knows what exactly he is up to.
8.. Wladimir Klitschko
Points: 14
Record: 56-3 (49 KOs)
Titles: IBF, WBA, IBO, WBO heavyweight champion
Most recent result: Unanimous decision victory over David Haye on July 2
Scheduled bouts: None
Analysis: The fight against Haye was one of the most important and most anticipated heavyweight bouts since Wladimir’s older brother Vitali fought Lennox Lewis in 2003.The fight was a colossal disappointment, but no from Klitschko’s end. It’s not Wladimir’s fault his opponent didn’t come to fight, although it doesn’t help his perhaps unfair image in America as a boring fighter. Regardless of his style, Klitschko is clearly king of the heavyweight division. He dropped from seventh last month to a tie for eighth with Timothy Bradley.
10. Carl Froch
Points: 12
Record: 28-1 (20 KOs)
Titles: WBC super middleweight champion
Most recent result: Majority decision victory June 4 against Glen Johnson
Scheduled bouts: vs. No. 7 Andre Ward in the Super Six championship on October 29 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Showtime.
Analysis: The outspoken Englishman’s résumé dating back to 2008 is phenomenal, perhaps one of the most stacked in boxing. But despite wins over Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, and Glen Johnson, Froch is still mired at the bottom half of the P4P rankings.
10. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Points: 12
Record: 82-3-1 (45 KOs)
Titles: WBC Flyweight Champion
Most Recent Result: 1st round TKO of Pakasit Twins Gym on August 4
Scheduled bouts: vs. Edgar Sosa on October 28 at an undetermined location in Thailand for the WBC Flyweight Title.
Analysis: The majority of Wonjongkam’s opponents make Demetrius Andrade’s opponents (prior to Grady Brewer) look like death row. However, he steps up in competition a few times a year to defend his title, and does so successfully, so how he chooses to spend his free time can’t be used against him. Prior to his August victory over Pakasit Twins Gym (who has never won a professional fight), he defeated Takuya Kogawa on July 1 by unanimous decision to defend his title.
Others receiving votes: Toshiaki Nishioka, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Giovanni Segura, Chris John, Amir Khan, Vitali Klitschko, Omar Andres Narvaez, Tomasz Adamek.
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