Yes, we're a few days into 2010 now, but sometimes it takes some time to have all the BoxingWatchers give some input on... well, anything really.
Anyhow, we only do a pound-for-pound list at the end of each calendar year, because things don't generally change too much in any given month to be worth voting again. After 12 months though? That's a different story.
For starters, we lost several men from our end of list. Joe Calzaghe retired, and Antonio Margarito lost his only 2009 fight and got suspended for cheating.
A notable addition to the top 10 is Floyd Mayweather, who was still "retired" at this time last year. And the rest of the deck has been shuffled somewhat as well.
Based on nothing but our own opinions, here's our list:
BoxingWatchers.com Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Boxers - End of 2009
(End of 2008 rank in parentheses)
1. Manny Pacquiao (Last year: 1)
2. Floyd Mayweather (NR)
3. Bernard Hopkins (3)
4. Shane Mosley (NR)
5. Juan Manuel Marquez (4)
6. Israel Vazquez (5)
7. Chad Dawson (NR)
8. Paul Williams (6)
9. Arthur Abraham (NR)
10. Timothy Bradley (NR)
Also receiving votes: Nonito Donaire
Dropped out: Joe Calzaghe (retired, last year: 2), Antonio Margarito (7), Kelly Pavlik (8), Ivan Calderon (9), Rafael Marquez (10)
Posted by The Franchise
Showing posts with label israel vazquez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label israel vazquez. Show all posts
27.4.09
20-20 Hindsight: Froch Makes the Scene, End of the Road for Taylor and What's Next for JuanMa
If you're a boxing fan and didn't enjoy the weekend that just ended, then I don't know what to tell you.
Friday night offered a more entertaining than expected fight between Cory Spinks and Deandre Latimore. Saturday was even better, with Carl Froch's dramatic late KO of Jermain Taylor and thrilling performances (for different reasons) from Juan Manuel Lopez and Gerry Penalosa - and they were spaced out in a way that you could catch both fights.
Froch should be the weekend's big winner, as beating a guy with some name recognition like Taylor makes him a known quantity outside of the U.K. for the first time. And yes, the way in which he did it also helps.
Since he's spoken recently about staying in the U.S., it will be interesting to see if he does exactly that. The top American contenders at super middleweight might not be up for a shot at Froch right away - guys like Andre Dirrell, Allan Green and Andre Ward - but there are other possibilities within a division that suddenly looks more interesting than it's been in a while.
I wouldn't mind seeing Froch fight Mikkel Kessler, Sakio Bika or Librado Andrade. There's also Lucian Bute for a battle of undefeated titleholders, though The Cobra would be wise not to fight him in Montreal.
It's probably not out of the question for a rematch with Taylor either, as the fight was close enough to warrant one. If that doesn't happen, we may have seen the last of Jermain as a top contender.
Taylor has just three career losses, but all have come in his last four fights. His best moments have come against guys that aren't known to be devastating KO artists (Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins) and he just doesn't seem to be able to put it together against fighters who can withstand what he dishes out in early rounds. The always excellent Dougie Fischer has a great summary of what Taylor's turned out to be in his latest mailbag post on The Ring Blog.
Saturday's fight added a second "What if?" moment to add to his first fight with Kelly Pavlik as he was unable to finish Froch. It's one of the bigger ironies in boxing that a man nicknamed Bad Intentions has been undone by his lack of a killer instinct.
In contrast, JuanMa Lopez does have the know-how to go for the kill when he smells blood. He just wasn't able to do it against Penalosa, who turned in one of the gutsiest efforts in recent memory by standing and trading with the Puerto Rican star for nine tough rounds.
One nice thing about Penalosa's ridiculous staying power is that it allowed Lopez to display his whole offensive package. He can box or brawl, he mixes up head and body shots extremely effectively and he can deliver volume while still having plenty of snap on each punch.
JuanMa is also too big and strong for most guys at 122 lbs., so it came as little surprise when he stated after the fight that he was headed for 126 at the end of this year or the beginning of 2010. Even though he likes to stay busy - Lopez fought four times in 2008 - that realistically means we'll only see him in two more fights, tops, at super bantamweight.
No doubt every fight fan would love to see him face Israel Vazquez or Rafael Marquez, who he name-dropped in his post-fight interview, but would they be as eager to fight him after putting each other through hell three times in the past two years? Another compelling match-up would be with Celestino Caballero (assuming he beats Jeffrey Mathebula later this week) in a bout that would unify three of the four alphabet belts at 122.
After that, the sky's the limit for Lopez. He's already a superstar in Puerto Rico and only his lack of real rivalries and the fact that he plies his trade in the lighter weight classes are keeping him from that same status on a wider scale.
Posted by The Franchise
Friday night offered a more entertaining than expected fight between Cory Spinks and Deandre Latimore. Saturday was even better, with Carl Froch's dramatic late KO of Jermain Taylor and thrilling performances (for different reasons) from Juan Manuel Lopez and Gerry Penalosa - and they were spaced out in a way that you could catch both fights.
Froch should be the weekend's big winner, as beating a guy with some name recognition like Taylor makes him a known quantity outside of the U.K. for the first time. And yes, the way in which he did it also helps.
Since he's spoken recently about staying in the U.S., it will be interesting to see if he does exactly that. The top American contenders at super middleweight might not be up for a shot at Froch right away - guys like Andre Dirrell, Allan Green and Andre Ward - but there are other possibilities within a division that suddenly looks more interesting than it's been in a while.
I wouldn't mind seeing Froch fight Mikkel Kessler, Sakio Bika or Librado Andrade. There's also Lucian Bute for a battle of undefeated titleholders, though The Cobra would be wise not to fight him in Montreal.
It's probably not out of the question for a rematch with Taylor either, as the fight was close enough to warrant one. If that doesn't happen, we may have seen the last of Jermain as a top contender.
Taylor has just three career losses, but all have come in his last four fights. His best moments have come against guys that aren't known to be devastating KO artists (Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins) and he just doesn't seem to be able to put it together against fighters who can withstand what he dishes out in early rounds. The always excellent Dougie Fischer has a great summary of what Taylor's turned out to be in his latest mailbag post on The Ring Blog.
Saturday's fight added a second "What if?" moment to add to his first fight with Kelly Pavlik as he was unable to finish Froch. It's one of the bigger ironies in boxing that a man nicknamed Bad Intentions has been undone by his lack of a killer instinct.
In contrast, JuanMa Lopez does have the know-how to go for the kill when he smells blood. He just wasn't able to do it against Penalosa, who turned in one of the gutsiest efforts in recent memory by standing and trading with the Puerto Rican star for nine tough rounds.
One nice thing about Penalosa's ridiculous staying power is that it allowed Lopez to display his whole offensive package. He can box or brawl, he mixes up head and body shots extremely effectively and he can deliver volume while still having plenty of snap on each punch.
JuanMa is also too big and strong for most guys at 122 lbs., so it came as little surprise when he stated after the fight that he was headed for 126 at the end of this year or the beginning of 2010. Even though he likes to stay busy - Lopez fought four times in 2008 - that realistically means we'll only see him in two more fights, tops, at super bantamweight.
No doubt every fight fan would love to see him face Israel Vazquez or Rafael Marquez, who he name-dropped in his post-fight interview, but would they be as eager to fight him after putting each other through hell three times in the past two years? Another compelling match-up would be with Celestino Caballero (assuming he beats Jeffrey Mathebula later this week) in a bout that would unify three of the four alphabet belts at 122.
After that, the sky's the limit for Lopez. He's already a superstar in Puerto Rico and only his lack of real rivalries and the fact that he plies his trade in the lighter weight classes are keeping him from that same status on a wider scale.
Posted by The Franchise
31.12.08
BoxingWatchers.com 2008 Fight of the Year: Vazquez-Marquez III
Even without them sitting beside me right now, I'm fairly certain the other BoxingWatchers would agree with me that 2008 was a pretty good year to be a fan of the sport. Plenty of fights between big name fighters came together - including one most thought laughable at the beginning of the year - and more than a handful of fights between lesser known boxers turned out to be well worth watching.
Not all of the marquee match-ups were sequels, as we got to see Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, Bernard Hopkins and Kelly Pavlik, and, yes, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya go at it for the first time. But when it came time to vote for our Fight of the Year, it was the third chapter in the thrilling trilogy between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez that came out on top.
If you watched and enjoyed the first two fights in the series, you were undoubtedly excited for Round Three - and maybe a little concerned that it wouldn't live up to what had come before since the bar had been set so high. As it happened, there was no reason to worry.
Part of the reason was that the styles of the two fighters suited each other so well. Marquez was a better technician and Vazquez had more power, but the differences were small. As we knew from the first two bouts, both men had plenty of heart and stamina, were willing to trade and had enough holes on defense to ensure many punches would land.
The rounds unfolded in breathtaking fashion. Both fighters had their moments, and yet both found themselves on the canvas.
What set it apart from other skillful, competitive fights in 2008 was the last-minute drama, as Vazquez scored a late knockdown that literally won him the fight. And there was even just a pinch of controversy, though it was the kind that led to discussion, not the kind that made you feel the loser got hosed.
In short, it was the proverbial fight that had everything. Here's hoping 2009 gives us another fight like that... even if it has to be Vazquez-Marquez IV.
Reader Picks: The readers also went with Vazquez-Marquez III, giving it 55 percent of the vote. Pacquiao-J.M. Marquez II came in a strong second with 30 percent.
Also receiving some love were Cotto-Margarito and Diaz-Campbell, and it's hard to argue that those were both offensive showcases.
Somewhat surprisingly, Holt-Torres II got no votes despite featuring what was absolutely the craziest single round of 2008. I also thought Cunningham-Adamek would get some support. Though I didn't feel it quite lived up to Fight of the Year status, it was an excellent scrap and was fresher in the minds of fans since it was fought near the end of the year.
Not all of the marquee match-ups were sequels, as we got to see Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, Bernard Hopkins and Kelly Pavlik, and, yes, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya go at it for the first time. But when it came time to vote for our Fight of the Year, it was the third chapter in the thrilling trilogy between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez that came out on top.
If you watched and enjoyed the first two fights in the series, you were undoubtedly excited for Round Three - and maybe a little concerned that it wouldn't live up to what had come before since the bar had been set so high. As it happened, there was no reason to worry.
Part of the reason was that the styles of the two fighters suited each other so well. Marquez was a better technician and Vazquez had more power, but the differences were small. As we knew from the first two bouts, both men had plenty of heart and stamina, were willing to trade and had enough holes on defense to ensure many punches would land.
The rounds unfolded in breathtaking fashion. Both fighters had their moments, and yet both found themselves on the canvas.
What set it apart from other skillful, competitive fights in 2008 was the last-minute drama, as Vazquez scored a late knockdown that literally won him the fight. And there was even just a pinch of controversy, though it was the kind that led to discussion, not the kind that made you feel the loser got hosed.
In short, it was the proverbial fight that had everything. Here's hoping 2009 gives us another fight like that... even if it has to be Vazquez-Marquez IV.
Reader Picks: The readers also went with Vazquez-Marquez III, giving it 55 percent of the vote. Pacquiao-J.M. Marquez II came in a strong second with 30 percent.
Also receiving some love were Cotto-Margarito and Diaz-Campbell, and it's hard to argue that those were both offensive showcases.
Somewhat surprisingly, Holt-Torres II got no votes despite featuring what was absolutely the craziest single round of 2008. I also thought Cunningham-Adamek would get some support. Though I didn't feel it quite lived up to Fight of the Year status, it was an excellent scrap and was fresher in the minds of fans since it was fought near the end of the year.
12.12.08
Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Boxers: BoxingWatchers.com End of 2008 List
Thus far, we've resisted doing a pound-for-pound list, simply because everyone does them, and it seems unnecessary to do them as often as some people do. Monthly updates? I don't think so, because it's a really good (and rare) month when more than two boxers in the top 10 are in action.
Still, it doesn't seem ridiculous to do one at the end of the year. So when asked recently by a writer at another site to come up with a top 10, we put our heads together and came up with the following list. Voting was simple, with 10 points for first, nine for second, etc.
The year's not quite over, as there are quite a few notable fights this weekend. None of the men on this list are in action before the end of 2008 though.
Feel free to tell us how wrong we are. Or how right, though that probably won't be as much fun.
Here goes nothing...
BoxingWatchers.com Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Boxers - End of 2008
Spartan117's 10 is not enough honorable mentions: Chris John, Ricky Hatton, Vic Darchinyan
Still, it doesn't seem ridiculous to do one at the end of the year. So when asked recently by a writer at another site to come up with a top 10, we put our heads together and came up with the following list. Voting was simple, with 10 points for first, nine for second, etc.
The year's not quite over, as there are quite a few notable fights this weekend. None of the men on this list are in action before the end of 2008 though.
Feel free to tell us how wrong we are. Or how right, though that probably won't be as much fun.
Here goes nothing...
BoxingWatchers.com Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Boxers - End of 2008
- Manny Pacquiao (30 pts.)
- Joe Calzaghe (25)
- Bernard Hopkins (24)
- Juan Manuel Marquez (23)
- Israel Vazquez (15)
- Paul Williams (14)
- Antonio Margarito (13)
- Kelly Pavlik (9)
- Ivan Calderon (5)
- Rafael Marquez (3)
Spartan117's 10 is not enough honorable mentions: Chris John, Ricky Hatton, Vic Darchinyan
31.10.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxer Power Rankings: October 2008
It's that time again: time for the rankings that even cause discord among the BoxingWatchers themselves. For the uninitiated, this isn't a pound-for-pound list (thus no Bernard Hopkins or Joe Calzaghe), but a semi-mathematical measure of who's done the best against fighters with good records over the past three years.
A KO is worth more than a unanimous decision, which is worth more than a split decision. Lose and you lose points.
Our previous number one is slipping due to inactivity, but a certain Ghost failed to take advantage when he got taken apart by The Executioner. Here's how this month's list shakes out:
1. David Haye - 21.75 - The Hayemaker is sliding but he'll have a chance to correct that when he takes on Monte Barrett in November. We'll find out quickly if his aspirations of chasing the heavyweight titles are realistic.
2. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - He won't be fighting Alexander Povetkin in December, but apparently he'll still fight somebody. It's not likely to be anybody to get too excited about.
3. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - We'll see King Arthur in action early in November. If he gets past Raul Marquez, that middleweight battle with Kelly Pavlik is looking more possible than ever.
4. Kelly Pavlik - 18.03 - It's back to the drawing board for the Pride of Youngstown, who can abandon plans to fight higher and head back to 160 pounds. I'd hate to be the next guy to face him there.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 17.28 - The build-up to his fight with Oscar De La Hoya continues. Manny has to hope he's not in for a replay of Pavlik-Hopkins with him playing the role of Pavlik.
6. Chad Dawson - 16.80 - Bad Chad rockets into our rankings for the first time with an impressive win over Antonio Tarver. Just 26, his future looks as bright as anyone's in the sport.
7. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - Now rumors say De La Hoya may fight Tony before he retires after all. That would be a nice payday for Margarito if it happens, but I'm sure he's not holding his breath.
8. Andre Berto - 13.67 - Not much to say about Berto, except that the BoxingWatchers are looking forward to see him fight again.
9. Juan Diaz - 12.70 - Nothing on the immediate horizon for the Baby Bull.
10. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Vazquez is in danger of slipping off this list by the end of the year due to inactivity. We'll forgive him though.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Cristian Mijares, Chris John, Paul Williams, Joe Calzaghe, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez
A KO is worth more than a unanimous decision, which is worth more than a split decision. Lose and you lose points.
Our previous number one is slipping due to inactivity, but a certain Ghost failed to take advantage when he got taken apart by The Executioner. Here's how this month's list shakes out:
1. David Haye - 21.75 - The Hayemaker is sliding but he'll have a chance to correct that when he takes on Monte Barrett in November. We'll find out quickly if his aspirations of chasing the heavyweight titles are realistic.
2. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - He won't be fighting Alexander Povetkin in December, but apparently he'll still fight somebody. It's not likely to be anybody to get too excited about.
3. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - We'll see King Arthur in action early in November. If he gets past Raul Marquez, that middleweight battle with Kelly Pavlik is looking more possible than ever.
4. Kelly Pavlik - 18.03 - It's back to the drawing board for the Pride of Youngstown, who can abandon plans to fight higher and head back to 160 pounds. I'd hate to be the next guy to face him there.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 17.28 - The build-up to his fight with Oscar De La Hoya continues. Manny has to hope he's not in for a replay of Pavlik-Hopkins with him playing the role of Pavlik.
6. Chad Dawson - 16.80 - Bad Chad rockets into our rankings for the first time with an impressive win over Antonio Tarver. Just 26, his future looks as bright as anyone's in the sport.
7. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - Now rumors say De La Hoya may fight Tony before he retires after all. That would be a nice payday for Margarito if it happens, but I'm sure he's not holding his breath.
8. Andre Berto - 13.67 - Not much to say about Berto, except that the BoxingWatchers are looking forward to see him fight again.
9. Juan Diaz - 12.70 - Nothing on the immediate horizon for the Baby Bull.
10. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Vazquez is in danger of slipping off this list by the end of the year due to inactivity. We'll forgive him though.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Cristian Mijares, Chris John, Paul Williams, Joe Calzaghe, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez
4.10.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxer Power Rankings: September 2008
Welcome to another edition of our pseudo-scientific boxer rankings. Though Uatu has distanced himself from this list in favor of his own (and perhaps he'll grace us with another update soon) this is an attempt to quantify which boxers have done the best over the last three years - in this case, from the end of September 2005 through the end of September 2008.
Though there isn't too much movement from last month, the next two months could shake up these rankings substantially as a host of boxers on the list take to the ring.
Here goes nothing...
1. David Haye - 24.15 - He'll finally start losing points at the end of this month as one of his wins will "expire." Fortunately for him, he's found an opponent for his first foray into the heavyweight division in Monte "Two Gunz" Barrett, and the two will square off in November.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The more I think about it, the more I dislike The Ghost's chances against Bernard Hopkins on Oct. 18. Of course, if Father Time shows up to aid Pavlik, maybe The Executioner finally goes down for the count.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - Wlad haters will be watching in December, because at least on paper, he's fighting someone who has a chance to beat him in undefeated Alexander Povetkin.
4. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - King Arthur is actually fighting tonight against mandatory challenger Raul Marquez. I'm sure his people will again reach out to Pavlik's people after he wins, and they will once again respectfully decline to face him.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 17.28 - Lots of people voting on BoxingWatchers.com seem to think Manny can upset Oscar De La Hoya. I'm worried about what will happen when the much bigger Golden Boy lands the left hook.
6. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - Right now the plan seems to be for Tony to defend his title once in the first quarter of 2009, then look for a rematch with Miguel Cotto in the summer. And once again, that will be one to watch for all real fight fans.
7. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - Currently inactive through no fault of his own after Joan Guzman pulled out of their fight. Here's hoping he can find a good fight soon.
8. Andre Berto - 13.67 - Berto doesn't score a lot of points for some of his wins under our scoring system thanks to substandard opposition, but he's racked up enough of them to make his first appearance on this list. He's still lacking a fight that definitively puts him on the map, but he's young enough that he's got plenty of time to find it.
9. Juan Diaz - 12.70 - The Baby Bull bounced back from his defeat to Campbell by beating Michael Katsidis. I wouldn't mind seeing him fight the Galaxxy Warrior again.
10. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Seems to be preparing for a return to the ring this coming spring. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports suggests Jorge Arce is a possible opponent.
The next 7: Cristian Mijares, Paul Williams, Chris John, Joe Calzaghe, Chad Dawson, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez
Though there isn't too much movement from last month, the next two months could shake up these rankings substantially as a host of boxers on the list take to the ring.
Here goes nothing...
1. David Haye - 24.15 - He'll finally start losing points at the end of this month as one of his wins will "expire." Fortunately for him, he's found an opponent for his first foray into the heavyweight division in Monte "Two Gunz" Barrett, and the two will square off in November.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The more I think about it, the more I dislike The Ghost's chances against Bernard Hopkins on Oct. 18. Of course, if Father Time shows up to aid Pavlik, maybe The Executioner finally goes down for the count.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - Wlad haters will be watching in December, because at least on paper, he's fighting someone who has a chance to beat him in undefeated Alexander Povetkin.
4. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - King Arthur is actually fighting tonight against mandatory challenger Raul Marquez. I'm sure his people will again reach out to Pavlik's people after he wins, and they will once again respectfully decline to face him.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 17.28 - Lots of people voting on BoxingWatchers.com seem to think Manny can upset Oscar De La Hoya. I'm worried about what will happen when the much bigger Golden Boy lands the left hook.
6. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - Right now the plan seems to be for Tony to defend his title once in the first quarter of 2009, then look for a rematch with Miguel Cotto in the summer. And once again, that will be one to watch for all real fight fans.
7. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - Currently inactive through no fault of his own after Joan Guzman pulled out of their fight. Here's hoping he can find a good fight soon.
8. Andre Berto - 13.67 - Berto doesn't score a lot of points for some of his wins under our scoring system thanks to substandard opposition, but he's racked up enough of them to make his first appearance on this list. He's still lacking a fight that definitively puts him on the map, but he's young enough that he's got plenty of time to find it.
9. Juan Diaz - 12.70 - The Baby Bull bounced back from his defeat to Campbell by beating Michael Katsidis. I wouldn't mind seeing him fight the Galaxxy Warrior again.
10. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Seems to be preparing for a return to the ring this coming spring. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports suggests Jorge Arce is a possible opponent.
The next 7: Cristian Mijares, Paul Williams, Chris John, Joe Calzaghe, Chad Dawson, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez
9.9.08
Franchise Thoughts: 10 Fights I'd Like to See
Thinking about the convoluted roads that led to the De La Hoya-Pacquiao and Pavlik-Hopkins fights got me thinking about how much easier life as a boxing fan would be if there was just one all-powerful being in charge of matchmaking. Say, me, for instance.
While I'm not going to hold my breath for that to happen, it doesn't mean a boy can't dream. So I thought to myself, "Self, if you had ultimate power over boxing, meaning money and politics were out of the way, who would you most like to see fight?"
To make it a little more interesting, I limited myself to first-time meeting - no sequels. I mean, no one would mind seeing Marquez-Vazquez IV, but it's not really exercising your brain to come up with that one. Also, even though jumping up or down multiple weight classes is all the rage right now, I'm a firm believer that there are plenty of good fights to be made at most weight without resorting to that nonsense, so I imposed a limit of one class up or down when matching fighters.
Since this is my list, I naturally picked fighters who I enjoy watching. But I did throw a couple in I don't care for if I thought they could be paired with someone to make an especially compelling storyline or style matchup.
In no particular order, here are 10 fights I'd like to see. With any luck, at least some of them will actually get made.
Antonio Margarito vs. Floyd Mayweather
I wouldn't consider myself a Floyd hater, but I'm also not his biggest fan. His immense skill can't be questioned, but the quality of his opposition is just suspect enough that I'll always wonder if he was as good as it seemed he was. I expect him to come out of retirement, but not to take this fight - which is the only one I'm really interested to see him take. If he would beat the Tijuana Tornado, I'd consider all questions answered, because Margarito would test him.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Arthur Abraham
History has shown that it's wise to be at least a little skeptical when it comes to boxers who rack up impressive records fighting only in Europe. Abraham falls into that category, but he does have some wins on his resume (Kingsley Ikeke and Howard Eastman, for instance) that are legit, and he definitely proved something by putting a beating on Edison Miranda this summer. He deserves a shot at Pavlik, and only the fact that he's not that well known in the U.S. - and thus wouldn't sell too well - is keeping it from happening.
Chad Dawson vs. Tavoris Cloud
Though separated by only a year, Dawson has been in with much tougher competition so far, and Cloud may not be ready for this just yet. But Bad Chad is in a division with primarily older contenders, and eventually he'll need new challenges. Dawson has a well-rounded set of skills, and Cloud is a beast who is looking for the knockout every time out. This would be a fun fight for fans.
Paul Williams vs. Andre Berto
Here are two more young lions who would almost guarantee fireworks if they faced off. Williams is a punch-throwing machine, and his first-round KO of Carlos Quintana showed that he's not as slappy as some have suggested. Berto is a certifiable badass who is ready to step up and face tougher foes.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye
You know Haye actually has this in mind as his actual goal. He could be the shot in the arm the heavyweight division needs, but he's yet to prove himself against the big boys. Meanwhile, Wlad's recent fights haven't exactly been scintillating, but perhaps he just needs the right challenge to find the champion's heart inside him. Or maybe I'm just a hopeless optimist.
Chris John vs. Israel Vazquez
It's a running joke on this site that I have never seen John fight. There's a good reason for that, as I don't get too many boxing feeds from Indonesia. My gut tells me he can't possibly be a total stiff, as he does have wins over Derrick Gainer and Juan Manuel Marquez, though the latter is rumored to be due at least partly to some home cooking. In any case, if The Dragon ever wanted to test himself on this side of the world, may I suggest Vazquez? With his power, offensive skill and heart, he'd make sure we all know exactly what John is made of.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Nate Campbell
Manny is an easy choice as my favorite fighter since I'm Filipino on my mom's side. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt that he's the best boxer active in the sport right now. Campbell put on a tremendous performance when he beat Juan Diaz that really opened my eyes. He's also a great success story overdue for a nice payday, which he'd get if he fought Pacman.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero
This was actually discussed as a possibility before Pacman moved up to much bigger and financially better things by signing to face Oscar De La Hoya. From a purist's standpoint, this bout would be a lot more aesthetically pleasing, pitting the pound-for-pound king against Dougie Fischer's favorite son, an internet legend who has knocked out every foe he's faced thus far. Potentially explosive? I would say so.
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva
Before UFC head honcho Dana White put the kibosh on this idea, I was pretty excited to see if it would actually happen. Silva is considered by many to be MMA's most talented fighter, and his striking skills are something to watch. Still, I wonder about how even The Spider would fare against a top notch boxer -especially defensively - and Jones has enough gas left in the tank for us to find out. This fight would also do amazing business at the gate and on pay-per-view, with Jones still a draw among casual fans and Silva continuing to be built up by the UFC.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley
This appears to be a violation of my self-imposed weight rule, but Manny is going up to welterweight to face De La Hoya, so I'm letting it slide on a technicality. This is strictly a personal pick, as these two men have been my favorite boxers since my brother Uatu first got me into the sport. Mosley is obviously bigger and hits pretty hard even at 147, but he's also older than Manny and has lost at least a half-step. If Manny was going to take a big step up in weight, this is the fight I'd rather see.
While I'm not going to hold my breath for that to happen, it doesn't mean a boy can't dream. So I thought to myself, "Self, if you had ultimate power over boxing, meaning money and politics were out of the way, who would you most like to see fight?"
To make it a little more interesting, I limited myself to first-time meeting - no sequels. I mean, no one would mind seeing Marquez-Vazquez IV, but it's not really exercising your brain to come up with that one. Also, even though jumping up or down multiple weight classes is all the rage right now, I'm a firm believer that there are plenty of good fights to be made at most weight without resorting to that nonsense, so I imposed a limit of one class up or down when matching fighters.
Since this is my list, I naturally picked fighters who I enjoy watching. But I did throw a couple in I don't care for if I thought they could be paired with someone to make an especially compelling storyline or style matchup.
In no particular order, here are 10 fights I'd like to see. With any luck, at least some of them will actually get made.
Antonio Margarito vs. Floyd Mayweather
I wouldn't consider myself a Floyd hater, but I'm also not his biggest fan. His immense skill can't be questioned, but the quality of his opposition is just suspect enough that I'll always wonder if he was as good as it seemed he was. I expect him to come out of retirement, but not to take this fight - which is the only one I'm really interested to see him take. If he would beat the Tijuana Tornado, I'd consider all questions answered, because Margarito would test him.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Arthur Abraham
History has shown that it's wise to be at least a little skeptical when it comes to boxers who rack up impressive records fighting only in Europe. Abraham falls into that category, but he does have some wins on his resume (Kingsley Ikeke and Howard Eastman, for instance) that are legit, and he definitely proved something by putting a beating on Edison Miranda this summer. He deserves a shot at Pavlik, and only the fact that he's not that well known in the U.S. - and thus wouldn't sell too well - is keeping it from happening.
Chad Dawson vs. Tavoris Cloud
Though separated by only a year, Dawson has been in with much tougher competition so far, and Cloud may not be ready for this just yet. But Bad Chad is in a division with primarily older contenders, and eventually he'll need new challenges. Dawson has a well-rounded set of skills, and Cloud is a beast who is looking for the knockout every time out. This would be a fun fight for fans.
Paul Williams vs. Andre Berto
Here are two more young lions who would almost guarantee fireworks if they faced off. Williams is a punch-throwing machine, and his first-round KO of Carlos Quintana showed that he's not as slappy as some have suggested. Berto is a certifiable badass who is ready to step up and face tougher foes.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye
You know Haye actually has this in mind as his actual goal. He could be the shot in the arm the heavyweight division needs, but he's yet to prove himself against the big boys. Meanwhile, Wlad's recent fights haven't exactly been scintillating, but perhaps he just needs the right challenge to find the champion's heart inside him. Or maybe I'm just a hopeless optimist.
Chris John vs. Israel Vazquez
It's a running joke on this site that I have never seen John fight. There's a good reason for that, as I don't get too many boxing feeds from Indonesia. My gut tells me he can't possibly be a total stiff, as he does have wins over Derrick Gainer and Juan Manuel Marquez, though the latter is rumored to be due at least partly to some home cooking. In any case, if The Dragon ever wanted to test himself on this side of the world, may I suggest Vazquez? With his power, offensive skill and heart, he'd make sure we all know exactly what John is made of.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Nate Campbell
Manny is an easy choice as my favorite fighter since I'm Filipino on my mom's side. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt that he's the best boxer active in the sport right now. Campbell put on a tremendous performance when he beat Juan Diaz that really opened my eyes. He's also a great success story overdue for a nice payday, which he'd get if he fought Pacman.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero
This was actually discussed as a possibility before Pacman moved up to much bigger and financially better things by signing to face Oscar De La Hoya. From a purist's standpoint, this bout would be a lot more aesthetically pleasing, pitting the pound-for-pound king against Dougie Fischer's favorite son, an internet legend who has knocked out every foe he's faced thus far. Potentially explosive? I would say so.
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva
Before UFC head honcho Dana White put the kibosh on this idea, I was pretty excited to see if it would actually happen. Silva is considered by many to be MMA's most talented fighter, and his striking skills are something to watch. Still, I wonder about how even The Spider would fare against a top notch boxer -especially defensively - and Jones has enough gas left in the tank for us to find out. This fight would also do amazing business at the gate and on pay-per-view, with Jones still a draw among casual fans and Silva continuing to be built up by the UFC.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley
This appears to be a violation of my self-imposed weight rule, but Manny is going up to welterweight to face De La Hoya, so I'm letting it slide on a technicality. This is strictly a personal pick, as these two men have been my favorite boxers since my brother Uatu first got me into the sport. Mosley is obviously bigger and hits pretty hard even at 147, but he's also older than Manny and has lost at least a half-step. If Manny was going to take a big step up in weight, this is the fight I'd rather see.
3.9.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxer Power Rankings - August 2008
The dog days of summer were just that for the sport of boxing. August offered few fights of consequence among the top names, and few televised fights of any kind outside of the thoroughly unsatisfying Olympic variety.
Thus, don't expect too much movement in our monthly look at who's done the best over the last three years or so. Any risers and fallers came about primarily because of inactivity, plus a tweak I made to the point system to more properly punish boxers who get knocked out as opposed to losing by decision. Insert the usual disclaimer about how this is NOT a pound-for-pound list here.
On to the rankings:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - So, um, David. If you want to get on with making a splash in the heavyweight division, it may help if you found yourself someone to fight. Also it may help if it's someone half-decent, because the Nov. 15 date you have your eye on already has an HBO card featuring Jermain Taylor and Jeff Lacy.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The world is still waiting somewhat anxiously, I guess, for Pavlik to face Bernard Hopkins in October. Kelly will have to score a KO for Bernard to admit he lost, I'm sure.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 23.00 - Wlad has nobody scheduled right now, but he's certain to be in brother Vitali's corner in October when he takes on Samuel Peter.
4. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Freak show or legitimate bout? Opinions seem to be split on whether or not Pacman has a chance against the much bigger Oscar De La Hoya in December. Given Manny's skills, it's probably a mistake to count him out altogether.
5. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - If he gets past Raul Marquez and Pavlik defeats Hopkins, will we see the world's two best middleweights square off in 2009? Here's hoping.
6. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - I'm not sure most fans wanted to see him take on Josh Clottey again, but that appears to be what we're getting. Clottey is tough, but I wouldn't bet against the Tijuana Tornado knocking him out this time.
7. Miguel Cotto - 15.07 - No word yet on the next opponent for Cotto. I like him to bounce back against just about anyone not named Margarito.
8. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - The Ring's lightweight championship is on the line elsewhere on the same night, but the real battle for 135 supremacy is likely to be fought between Campbell and Joan Guzman on Sep. 13. There's been enough trash-talking between the two men and their camps to think it's personal as well.
9. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Vazquez is sliding in our poll as he's gone six months without fighting, and all still appears quiet on the Magnifico front.
10. Chris John - 11.72 - Guess what? Still haven't seen him fight.
The next 7: Cristian Mijares, Juan Diaz, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Samuel Peter, Paul Williams, Nonito Donaire
Thus, don't expect too much movement in our monthly look at who's done the best over the last three years or so. Any risers and fallers came about primarily because of inactivity, plus a tweak I made to the point system to more properly punish boxers who get knocked out as opposed to losing by decision. Insert the usual disclaimer about how this is NOT a pound-for-pound list here.
On to the rankings:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - So, um, David. If you want to get on with making a splash in the heavyweight division, it may help if you found yourself someone to fight. Also it may help if it's someone half-decent, because the Nov. 15 date you have your eye on already has an HBO card featuring Jermain Taylor and Jeff Lacy.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The world is still waiting somewhat anxiously, I guess, for Pavlik to face Bernard Hopkins in October. Kelly will have to score a KO for Bernard to admit he lost, I'm sure.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 23.00 - Wlad has nobody scheduled right now, but he's certain to be in brother Vitali's corner in October when he takes on Samuel Peter.
4. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Freak show or legitimate bout? Opinions seem to be split on whether or not Pacman has a chance against the much bigger Oscar De La Hoya in December. Given Manny's skills, it's probably a mistake to count him out altogether.
5. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - If he gets past Raul Marquez and Pavlik defeats Hopkins, will we see the world's two best middleweights square off in 2009? Here's hoping.
6. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - I'm not sure most fans wanted to see him take on Josh Clottey again, but that appears to be what we're getting. Clottey is tough, but I wouldn't bet against the Tijuana Tornado knocking him out this time.
7. Miguel Cotto - 15.07 - No word yet on the next opponent for Cotto. I like him to bounce back against just about anyone not named Margarito.
8. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - The Ring's lightweight championship is on the line elsewhere on the same night, but the real battle for 135 supremacy is likely to be fought between Campbell and Joan Guzman on Sep. 13. There's been enough trash-talking between the two men and their camps to think it's personal as well.
9. Israel Vazquez - 12.13 - Vazquez is sliding in our poll as he's gone six months without fighting, and all still appears quiet on the Magnifico front.
10. Chris John - 11.72 - Guess what? Still haven't seen him fight.
The next 7: Cristian Mijares, Juan Diaz, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Samuel Peter, Paul Williams, Nonito Donaire
2.8.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxer Power Rankings: July 2008
We definitely had to wait until the month of July was completely finished to roll out updated power rankings since the Cotto-Margarito took place on the final weekend. Now we've got some movement both up and down the top 10 thanks to some big performances on the part of some boxers and inactivity on the part of others.
If you're not familiar with how our rankings work, the first thing you're going to do is look at them and say, "How the hell can Cotto be above Margarito?" Well folks, this isn't a pound-for-pound list, but a pseudo-mathematical reflection of how fighters have fared over a rolling three-year period. While Cotto is falling thanks to his KO loss, he's still faced and beaten more quality fighters in that time than Margarito - though that's not necessarily Tony's fault, since numerous potential foes wanted no part of him. The Tijuana Tornado does make his well-deserved return to this list though, and if he adds another win later this year he should continue to climb.
For now, here's how we stand at the end of July, 2008:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - I've heard from fans who want to see The Hayemaker in against Wladimir Klitschko now, but it would behoove him to get his feet wet against other heavyweights first. Still waiting to see who he'll face in November.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The Ghost is kind of in a no-win situation against Bernard Hopkins this fall, as The Executioner can make even someone with Pavlik's talent look bad. Hope for an exciting fight but don't be shocked if it's less than thrilling.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 23.00 - He proved at least a little bit with his knockout of Tony Thompson. Wlad still seems awfully vulnerable for someone who aspires to be universally recognized as the heavyweight champion of the world.
4. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Like Haye, Pacman has a November date in mind for his next fight but no dance partner as of yet. It remains to be seen if a bout with Oscar De La Hoya is reality or fantasy.
5. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - Probably the guy Pavlik should be fighting, though it doesn't seem too economically appealing since King Arthur isn't well known to the general public. While he awaits his big chance, he'll stay busy taking on Raul Marquez in October.
6. Miguel Cotto - 18.07 - On top of this list just a few months ago, the proud Puerto Rican has to regroup after his punishing loss to Antonio Margarito. His next outing will tell us a lot about the size of his heart.
7. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - The Tijuana Tornado is on top of the world and in better position than ever to have foes come to him instead of vice versa. We know for sure that he won't back down from anyone.
8. Israel Vazquez - 15.13 - Fans would love to see him back in the ring, but there still hasn't been word of an upcoming fight.
9. Chris John - 15.05 - My streak of never seeing John fight adds another month.
10. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - Has a chance to impress any lingering doubters by beating Joan Guzman in September, but the lightweight picture is as muddled as any division right now.
The next 7: Juan Diaz, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Samuel Peter, Paul Williams, Nonito Donaire
If you're not familiar with how our rankings work, the first thing you're going to do is look at them and say, "How the hell can Cotto be above Margarito?" Well folks, this isn't a pound-for-pound list, but a pseudo-mathematical reflection of how fighters have fared over a rolling three-year period. While Cotto is falling thanks to his KO loss, he's still faced and beaten more quality fighters in that time than Margarito - though that's not necessarily Tony's fault, since numerous potential foes wanted no part of him. The Tijuana Tornado does make his well-deserved return to this list though, and if he adds another win later this year he should continue to climb.
For now, here's how we stand at the end of July, 2008:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - I've heard from fans who want to see The Hayemaker in against Wladimir Klitschko now, but it would behoove him to get his feet wet against other heavyweights first. Still waiting to see who he'll face in November.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - The Ghost is kind of in a no-win situation against Bernard Hopkins this fall, as The Executioner can make even someone with Pavlik's talent look bad. Hope for an exciting fight but don't be shocked if it's less than thrilling.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - 23.00 - He proved at least a little bit with his knockout of Tony Thompson. Wlad still seems awfully vulnerable for someone who aspires to be universally recognized as the heavyweight champion of the world.
4. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Like Haye, Pacman has a November date in mind for his next fight but no dance partner as of yet. It remains to be seen if a bout with Oscar De La Hoya is reality or fantasy.
5. Arthur Abraham - 19.29 - Probably the guy Pavlik should be fighting, though it doesn't seem too economically appealing since King Arthur isn't well known to the general public. While he awaits his big chance, he'll stay busy taking on Raul Marquez in October.
6. Miguel Cotto - 18.07 - On top of this list just a few months ago, the proud Puerto Rican has to regroup after his punishing loss to Antonio Margarito. His next outing will tell us a lot about the size of his heart.
7. Antonio Margarito - 16.00 - The Tijuana Tornado is on top of the world and in better position than ever to have foes come to him instead of vice versa. We know for sure that he won't back down from anyone.
8. Israel Vazquez - 15.13 - Fans would love to see him back in the ring, but there still hasn't been word of an upcoming fight.
9. Chris John - 15.05 - My streak of never seeing John fight adds another month.
10. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - Has a chance to impress any lingering doubters by beating Joan Guzman in September, but the lightweight picture is as muddled as any division right now.
The next 7: Juan Diaz, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Samuel Peter, Paul Williams, Nonito Donaire
3.7.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxer Power Rankings: June 2008
Yes, it's actually July now. But since June had fights all the way until the end of the month, we had to wait until the month was completely over to see how everything shook out.
Remember that this is not a pound-for-pound list (in which case Manny Pacquiao would be number one), but a reflection of how well each boxer has done over the past three years, taking into account how active he's been, how decisively he's won and the winning percentage of the opponents he's faced. Granted, that doesn't always mean the opposition is good (ahem, European boxers!), but sometimes it's the best objective measure we've got.
In any case, on with the show:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - He's got a date picked out for his heavyweight debut but no opponent as of yet. We're definitely anxious to see if he can get it done against bigger foes.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - Put on a clinic against Gary Lockett, for what it's worth. The Ghost is well on his way to becoming one of the sport's biggest stars.
3. Miguel Cotto - 22.07 - It seems like it's taking forever, but his showdown with Antonio Margarito is almost here. Gather your friends for that one and show them what boxing is all about.
4. Arthur Abraham - 20.96 - Answered some questions in his rematch with Edison Miranda. Unless Pavlik moves up in weight, their paths should cross some time in 2009.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Pacman easily handled his first fight at 135. If he faces Edwin Valero later this year, it could redefine the term "explosive."
6. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Wlad's fight with Tony Thompson comes on in the afternoon here in the Eastern U.S. So I guess I should thank him for giving me something to do on a Saturday afternoon.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.13 - Still no word on the next fight for Magnifico.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - Every month that goes by adds to my streak of not seeing John fight.
9. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - I'll be kind of conflicted in September. The Galaxxy Warrior has become a BoxingWatchers favorite, but I'm a fan of Joan Guzman too.
10. Juan Diaz - 12.87 - The Baby Bull also returns to action in September. His fight with Michael Katsidis should be entertaining.
The next 7: Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Samuel Peter, Cristian Mijares, Nonito Donaire, Paul Williams
Remember that this is not a pound-for-pound list (in which case Manny Pacquiao would be number one), but a reflection of how well each boxer has done over the past three years, taking into account how active he's been, how decisively he's won and the winning percentage of the opponents he's faced. Granted, that doesn't always mean the opposition is good (ahem, European boxers!), but sometimes it's the best objective measure we've got.
In any case, on with the show:
1. David Haye - 24.15 - He's got a date picked out for his heavyweight debut but no opponent as of yet. We're definitely anxious to see if he can get it done against bigger foes.
2. Kelly Pavlik - 23.03 - Put on a clinic against Gary Lockett, for what it's worth. The Ghost is well on his way to becoming one of the sport's biggest stars.
3. Miguel Cotto - 22.07 - It seems like it's taking forever, but his showdown with Antonio Margarito is almost here. Gather your friends for that one and show them what boxing is all about.
4. Arthur Abraham - 20.96 - Answered some questions in his rematch with Edison Miranda. Unless Pavlik moves up in weight, their paths should cross some time in 2009.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 20.61 - Pacman easily handled his first fight at 135. If he faces Edwin Valero later this year, it could redefine the term "explosive."
6. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Wlad's fight with Tony Thompson comes on in the afternoon here in the Eastern U.S. So I guess I should thank him for giving me something to do on a Saturday afternoon.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.13 - Still no word on the next fight for Magnifico.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - Every month that goes by adds to my streak of not seeing John fight.
9. Nate Campbell - 13.67 - I'll be kind of conflicted in September. The Galaxxy Warrior has become a BoxingWatchers favorite, but I'm a fan of Joan Guzman too.
10. Juan Diaz - 12.87 - The Baby Bull also returns to action in September. His fight with Michael Katsidis should be entertaining.
The next 7: Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Samuel Peter, Cristian Mijares, Nonito Donaire, Paul Williams
29.5.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - May 2008
With no big fights set for the last weekend of May thanks to Zab Judah's arm injury, it's safe to go ahead and do the latest installment of our boxing power rankings. Some of my friends have asked why we don't just do a pound for pound list, and it's quite simple: there's already plenty of them out there, some of which are done by people who know a lot more about boxing than we do.
Our rankings reflect who's done well recently (defined as three years back from today) against opponents with good records. For more, read this.
On to the May rankings...
1. Miguel Cotto - 25.50 - If you read a site like this, you're definitely looking forward to seeing Cotto fight Antonio Margarito in July. You are excited, right?
2. David Haye - 24.15 - Now that he's signed to Golden Boy, he should be able to get the fights he wants at heavyweight. Wladimir Klitschko is one of them, no doubt.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - There don't seem to be too many challenges left for him at middleweight (Arthur Abraham, maybe?). But how about moving up to face Joe Calzaghe?
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Hasn't captured the hearts of American fans. But they love him back home.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - It almost seems sacrilegious to say it, but Pacman doesn't seem like the force of nature he once was. That may be even more apparent as he moves up to lightweight.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 15.60 - Oscar De La Hoya says he's got the strategy to beat Floyd when they face off again this fall. I'm not so sure.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.30 - Hopefully this guy is enjoying some well-deserved down time. He had one of the ugliest faces I've ever seen on a winning boxer after his third fight with Rafael Marquez.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - He's staying active, though it's against boxers I don't know. Or anyone knows, for that matter.
9. Ricky Hatton - 14.76 - Give his team credit for understanding that his style doesn't lend itself to longevity. Hopefully the Hitman gives us a few more fights worth of thrills and then walks away.
10. Samuel Peter - 13.10 - Through no fault of his own, has little chance to get a shot at unifying the heavyweight titles. He can thank Vitali Klitschko for that.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz, Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Arthur Abraham, Cristian Mijares, Lucian Bute
Our rankings reflect who's done well recently (defined as three years back from today) against opponents with good records. For more, read this.
On to the May rankings...
1. Miguel Cotto - 25.50 - If you read a site like this, you're definitely looking forward to seeing Cotto fight Antonio Margarito in July. You are excited, right?
2. David Haye - 24.15 - Now that he's signed to Golden Boy, he should be able to get the fights he wants at heavyweight. Wladimir Klitschko is one of them, no doubt.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - There don't seem to be too many challenges left for him at middleweight (Arthur Abraham, maybe?). But how about moving up to face Joe Calzaghe?
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Hasn't captured the hearts of American fans. But they love him back home.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - It almost seems sacrilegious to say it, but Pacman doesn't seem like the force of nature he once was. That may be even more apparent as he moves up to lightweight.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 15.60 - Oscar De La Hoya says he's got the strategy to beat Floyd when they face off again this fall. I'm not so sure.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.30 - Hopefully this guy is enjoying some well-deserved down time. He had one of the ugliest faces I've ever seen on a winning boxer after his third fight with Rafael Marquez.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - He's staying active, though it's against boxers I don't know. Or anyone knows, for that matter.
9. Ricky Hatton - 14.76 - Give his team credit for understanding that his style doesn't lend itself to longevity. Hopefully the Hitman gives us a few more fights worth of thrills and then walks away.
10. Samuel Peter - 13.10 - Through no fault of his own, has little chance to get a shot at unifying the heavyweight titles. He can thank Vitali Klitschko for that.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz, Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Arthur Abraham, Cristian Mijares, Lucian Bute
29.4.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - April 2008
We've been doing these rankings for a minute now, but for those new to the party, here's the disclaimer: this is not a pound-for-pound list. Instead, it's a pseudo-scientific measure of who's hot right now, with points earned for activity, winning decisively and facing opponents with good records. For another view, read one of our first posts: How Our Rankings Work.
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's a fresh batch of power rankings that's been shaken up a bit from all of the big fights over the past two months. Even so, there's a familiar name on top...
1. Miguel Cotto - 24.74 - He's probably not the best boxer in the world, but he does put in consistently excellent performances against tough competition. He'll have to do that again to get past Antonio Margarito in July.
2. David Haye - 24.15 - The Hayemaker has knocked out his last four foes and currently rules the cruiserweight division with two iron fists. Time will tell if he's biting off more than he can chew by moving up to heavyweight.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.51 - The Ghost should only increase his score in June when he steps in against Gary Lockett. Who? Exactly.
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Tony Thompson is up next for the heavyweight champ. It can't possibly be as dull as the Ibragimov fight... can it?
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - He got past Juan Manuel Marquez, but just barely. Pacman could flash his KO power of old against David Diaz in June.
6. Joe Calzaghe - 16.00 - A victory over Bernard Hopkins is impressive, no matter how razor-thin the margin. Calzaghe's immediate future seems to hold several lucrative possibilities.
7. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - What's the world's best boxer doing all the way down here? Not enough boxing, that's what.
8. Samuel Peter - 15.27 - The Nigerian Nightmare slugged his way past Oleg Maskaev and is all of a sudden looking scary good.
9. Israel Vazquez - 15.16 - This guy really needs to think about fighting someone other than Rafael Marquez. Not because we wouldn't love to see them go for four - we would - but because doing that on a regular basis can't be good for his health.
10. Chris John - 15.05 - Perhaps someday this guy will fight here in the U.S. so we can see if he's really as good as his record makes him appear.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Nate Campbell, Antonio Margarito, Junior Witter, Shane Mosley
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's a fresh batch of power rankings that's been shaken up a bit from all of the big fights over the past two months. Even so, there's a familiar name on top...
1. Miguel Cotto - 24.74 - He's probably not the best boxer in the world, but he does put in consistently excellent performances against tough competition. He'll have to do that again to get past Antonio Margarito in July.
2. David Haye - 24.15 - The Hayemaker has knocked out his last four foes and currently rules the cruiserweight division with two iron fists. Time will tell if he's biting off more than he can chew by moving up to heavyweight.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.51 - The Ghost should only increase his score in June when he steps in against Gary Lockett. Who? Exactly.
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Tony Thompson is up next for the heavyweight champ. It can't possibly be as dull as the Ibragimov fight... can it?
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - He got past Juan Manuel Marquez, but just barely. Pacman could flash his KO power of old against David Diaz in June.
6. Joe Calzaghe - 16.00 - A victory over Bernard Hopkins is impressive, no matter how razor-thin the margin. Calzaghe's immediate future seems to hold several lucrative possibilities.
7. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - What's the world's best boxer doing all the way down here? Not enough boxing, that's what.
8. Samuel Peter - 15.27 - The Nigerian Nightmare slugged his way past Oleg Maskaev and is all of a sudden looking scary good.
9. Israel Vazquez - 15.16 - This guy really needs to think about fighting someone other than Rafael Marquez. Not because we wouldn't love to see them go for four - we would - but because doing that on a regular basis can't be good for his health.
10. Chris John - 15.05 - Perhaps someday this guy will fight here in the U.S. so we can see if he's really as good as his record makes him appear.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Nate Campbell, Antonio Margarito, Junior Witter, Shane Mosley
2.3.08
20-20 Hindsight: Vazquez-Marquez III Lives Up to the Hype, Should They Go for Four?
As excited as I was for Saturday's "Tiebreaker" between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, there was just a small twinge of anxiety mixed in. Since the first two fights in their series were so good, I thought there was a chance they wouldn't take it to the same level for a third time.
I shouldn't have worried. Thrilling, breathtaking... pick any superlative you want and it applied to the third chapter. Vazquez and Marquez showed the same skill, guts and determination that made their 2007 meetings so compelling, and this time they did it for a full 12 rounds.
While the recent Klitschko-Ibragimov fight was one you wouldn't want to show to your non-boxing fan friends, Vazquez-Marquez III was a perfect example of one that you could use to sell the sport. This bout had something for everyone: a frenetic pace, several shifts in momentum, and even a thrilling finish with a knockdown in the closing seconds that proved to be the difference in Vazquez's razor-thin margin of victory.
And speaking of the finish, I didn't see the controversy that some seemed to see. Vazquez was dominating the final round in a manner that may have had the judges thinking about a 10-8 round even without a knockdown, and referee Pat Russell made the correct call anyway, as the ropes were the only thing keeping Marquez from hitting the canvas. He's too proud and fought too hard to admit it, but he was going down.
One thing Saturday's fight did not provide is a definitive end to the rivalry. Some, like ESPN.com's Franklin McNeill, feel that Marquez gives away too much in strength and power to Vazquez, and that a fourth fight would automatically go Vazquez's way. Marquez did fade late in the fight, but take away the point he had deducted for a low blow and he's got a draw - or even a win if he doesn't go down late in the twelfth round.
So with little question about whether fans would enjoy seeing them fight again, the question becomes whether health considerations should prevent them for going for four, because the 12 rounds we just witnessed are the type that can easily shorten careers. One look at Vazquez's face after the fight - one of the ugliest winning faces I've seen since becoming a boxing fan - was proof enough of that.
I'll admit that I'd love to see a fourth bout, but it was nice to hear common sense prevail as December was thrown out as a possible date. Both men could use the time to heal up, and quite frankly, the rest of the boxing world needs a chance to catch up.
I shouldn't have worried. Thrilling, breathtaking... pick any superlative you want and it applied to the third chapter. Vazquez and Marquez showed the same skill, guts and determination that made their 2007 meetings so compelling, and this time they did it for a full 12 rounds.
While the recent Klitschko-Ibragimov fight was one you wouldn't want to show to your non-boxing fan friends, Vazquez-Marquez III was a perfect example of one that you could use to sell the sport. This bout had something for everyone: a frenetic pace, several shifts in momentum, and even a thrilling finish with a knockdown in the closing seconds that proved to be the difference in Vazquez's razor-thin margin of victory.
And speaking of the finish, I didn't see the controversy that some seemed to see. Vazquez was dominating the final round in a manner that may have had the judges thinking about a 10-8 round even without a knockdown, and referee Pat Russell made the correct call anyway, as the ropes were the only thing keeping Marquez from hitting the canvas. He's too proud and fought too hard to admit it, but he was going down.
One thing Saturday's fight did not provide is a definitive end to the rivalry. Some, like ESPN.com's Franklin McNeill, feel that Marquez gives away too much in strength and power to Vazquez, and that a fourth fight would automatically go Vazquez's way. Marquez did fade late in the fight, but take away the point he had deducted for a low blow and he's got a draw - or even a win if he doesn't go down late in the twelfth round.
So with little question about whether fans would enjoy seeing them fight again, the question becomes whether health considerations should prevent them for going for four, because the 12 rounds we just witnessed are the type that can easily shorten careers. One look at Vazquez's face after the fight - one of the ugliest winning faces I've seen since becoming a boxing fan - was proof enough of that.
I'll admit that I'd love to see a fourth bout, but it was nice to hear common sense prevail as December was thrown out as a possible date. Both men could use the time to heal up, and quite frankly, the rest of the boxing world needs a chance to catch up.
1.3.08
Round by Round: Vazquez-Marquez III - The Tiebreaker
Sly Stallone and Jack Nicholson are in the house. It is a chilly 55 degrees.
Round 1
Lots of jabs. Bomb uppercut by Vazquez. Serious action both ways. This is going to be near impossible to score.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise - Marquez 10-9
Round 2
Vazquez the aggressor.
Slightly more tactical. Still heavy shots both ways. Some good uppercuts from Vazquez.
Uatu - 10-9 Marquez
Franchise - 10-9 Vazquez
Round 3
Jabbing contest. But these are power jabs. Rough body shot from Marquez and a possible warning for lowness for it. Lots of punches but no real standout punch.
Uatu - Marquez - 10-9
Franchise Marquez 10-9
Round 4
Big right Marquez, big reply Vazquez. Left Hook, straight right. Down goes Vazquez! Big shots were exchanged and Vzaquez got the worst. Vazquez wastes no time going right back! Huge rights both ways! Marquez stunned. Tremendous action! Marquez throwing bombs in the final seconds.
Uatu - Marquez 10-8
Franchise Marquez 10-8
Round 5
Close in fighting. Crowd very into the fight. Marquez working body. Marquez great right. Vazquez closes the round with a good combo. Another action round which is tough to score.
Uatu - Vazquez - 10-9
Franchise Marquez 10- 9
Round 6
Big right from Vazquez. Tons and tons of jabs both ways. More rights stunning Marquez. Vazquez pushing the issue. Another low blow from Marquez. Warning #2.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise Vazquez 10 -9
Round 7
Not as many punches landing here. Still very close in fighting. Sill mostly Vazquez as aggressor. Marquez lands some nice combos to close the round and possibly steal the round.
Uatu - Marquez 10 -9
Franchise - Marquez 10 -9
Round 8
High activity, big trading shots in the middle of the ring. Vazquez doing all of the chasing. Big left hook from Marquez. Big right from Vazquez. Momementum going back and forth between salvos. Two big rights in the last 15 seconds from Vazquez. This is a barnburner. Nonstop action, impossible to tell who is winning in the eyes of the judges.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise Vazquez 10 -9
Round 9
Marquez moving more this round. He is being careful and doing more boxing than any other time. Do you prefer the ring general or the aggressor? Vazquez stunned slightly from a punch.
Uatu - Vazquez 10 -9
Franchise - Vazquez 10 -9
Round 10
Big right from Marquez. Low from Marquez! Point deduction! Could be huge. Marquez trying to steal rounds. Seems to be employing a Oscar De La Hoya like last ten second flurry.
Uatu - Marquez - 9 - 9
Franchise Marquez 9 -9
Round 11
Announcers seem to think Marquez is having vision problems with his left eye. Mostly Vazquez, but Marquez is jabbing like a mad man. Toe to toe trading to end the round.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise - Vazquez 10-9
Round 12
It's anyone's fight.
Huge right from Vaz in the first 5 seconds. Another one mintue in. Vazquez is an animal this round. Marquez is eating big time. Vazquez is trying for the KO! Marquez holding on for dear life. Vazquez knocks him down with 10 seconds to go!!! Marquez falls into the corner with only the ropes holding him up! Marquez keep his feet but it's a knockdown. It was all Vazquez in the 12th! Could have been 10-7 maybe even.
Uatu Vazquez 10-8
Franchise Vazquez 10-8
Uatu - 114 - 111 Vazquez
Franchise - 113-112 Vazquez
Judges 114-111 Vazquez
114-111 Marquez
113-112 Vazquez
Vazquez wins by split decision!
Postfight: as it turns out, the knockdown in the final round may have determined the fight. Marquez is angrily disputing whether that should have been scored a knockdown. Also, he thought the low blow call was B S.
Marquez wants a rematch.
All smiles for Vazquez. He would take a rematch.
Uatu says better trilogy than Barerra Morales.
Press row all for Vazquez.
Bernstein has it a draw.
The ref gets an interview and defends his calls. The knockdown looked like the right call for sure.
Round 1
Lots of jabs. Bomb uppercut by Vazquez. Serious action both ways. This is going to be near impossible to score.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise - Marquez 10-9
Round 2
Vazquez the aggressor.
Slightly more tactical. Still heavy shots both ways. Some good uppercuts from Vazquez.
Uatu - 10-9 Marquez
Franchise - 10-9 Vazquez
Round 3
Jabbing contest. But these are power jabs. Rough body shot from Marquez and a possible warning for lowness for it. Lots of punches but no real standout punch.
Uatu - Marquez - 10-9
Franchise Marquez 10-9
Round 4
Big right Marquez, big reply Vazquez. Left Hook, straight right. Down goes Vazquez! Big shots were exchanged and Vzaquez got the worst. Vazquez wastes no time going right back! Huge rights both ways! Marquez stunned. Tremendous action! Marquez throwing bombs in the final seconds.
Uatu - Marquez 10-8
Franchise Marquez 10-8
Round 5
Close in fighting. Crowd very into the fight. Marquez working body. Marquez great right. Vazquez closes the round with a good combo. Another action round which is tough to score.
Uatu - Vazquez - 10-9
Franchise Marquez 10- 9
Round 6
Big right from Vazquez. Tons and tons of jabs both ways. More rights stunning Marquez. Vazquez pushing the issue. Another low blow from Marquez. Warning #2.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise Vazquez 10 -9
Round 7
Not as many punches landing here. Still very close in fighting. Sill mostly Vazquez as aggressor. Marquez lands some nice combos to close the round and possibly steal the round.
Uatu - Marquez 10 -9
Franchise - Marquez 10 -9
Round 8
High activity, big trading shots in the middle of the ring. Vazquez doing all of the chasing. Big left hook from Marquez. Big right from Vazquez. Momementum going back and forth between salvos. Two big rights in the last 15 seconds from Vazquez. This is a barnburner. Nonstop action, impossible to tell who is winning in the eyes of the judges.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise Vazquez 10 -9
Round 9
Marquez moving more this round. He is being careful and doing more boxing than any other time. Do you prefer the ring general or the aggressor? Vazquez stunned slightly from a punch.
Uatu - Vazquez 10 -9
Franchise - Vazquez 10 -9
Round 10
Big right from Marquez. Low from Marquez! Point deduction! Could be huge. Marquez trying to steal rounds. Seems to be employing a Oscar De La Hoya like last ten second flurry.
Uatu - Marquez - 9 - 9
Franchise Marquez 9 -9
Round 11
Announcers seem to think Marquez is having vision problems with his left eye. Mostly Vazquez, but Marquez is jabbing like a mad man. Toe to toe trading to end the round.
Uatu - Vazquez 10-9
Franchise - Vazquez 10-9
Round 12
It's anyone's fight.
Huge right from Vaz in the first 5 seconds. Another one mintue in. Vazquez is an animal this round. Marquez is eating big time. Vazquez is trying for the KO! Marquez holding on for dear life. Vazquez knocks him down with 10 seconds to go!!! Marquez falls into the corner with only the ropes holding him up! Marquez keep his feet but it's a knockdown. It was all Vazquez in the 12th! Could have been 10-7 maybe even.
Uatu Vazquez 10-8
Franchise Vazquez 10-8
Uatu - 114 - 111 Vazquez
Franchise - 113-112 Vazquez
Judges 114-111 Vazquez
114-111 Marquez
113-112 Vazquez
Vazquez wins by split decision!
Postfight: as it turns out, the knockdown in the final round may have determined the fight. Marquez is angrily disputing whether that should have been scored a knockdown. Also, he thought the low blow call was B S.
Marquez wants a rematch.
All smiles for Vazquez. He would take a rematch.
Uatu says better trilogy than Barerra Morales.
Press row all for Vazquez.
Bernstein has it a draw.
The ref gets an interview and defends his calls. The knockdown looked like the right call for sure.
Live Round by Round Coverage of Vazquez-Marquez III: The Tiebreaker on BoxingWatchers.com Tonight
If you are a boxing fan, you're going to try to do anything possible to get to a TV set that carries Showtime by 9 pm Eastern time tonight. But if you can't, make sure you bookmark us here at BoxingWatchers.com for live round by round updates on all the action (and there should be plenty) as Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez write the third chapter of their epic series.
29.2.08
Predictions: Vazquez vs. Marquez III, "The Tiebreaker"
Uatu says:
After watching the first two Vazquez Marquez fights again today, it is tough to know what to think. Uatu thinks Marquez is the better fighter, but even if that is true, it is not by a large margin. Marquez appears to have the hand speed advantage, but it is not an overwhelming one.
Can Marquez win by controlling the action with a jab and right and maintaining distance and not making the fight a war?
Would Marquez elect to go that route if he could?
Can Vazquez fight through the incoming fire of Marquez and physically wear down Marquez, a fighter who has been stopped before on more than one occasion?
Either way, there is going to be a lot of drama and suspense headed into the fight. The first two fights were as good as it gets. They were right up there with the Barrera-Morales fights and the Corrales-Castillo fights. They were a combination of high skill level, excellent conditioning, heart and guts.
A pick still has to be made. It's Marquez.
The Franchise says:
Boxing fans should be absolutely ecstatic these guys are meeting for the third time. I think the fight's tagline - The Tiebreaker - is absolutely fitting because these are two fighters who are unusually evenly matched.
Both men have hand speed and power in both hands. Both can take a punch and rally back after getting hurt. And while they both have excellent technique, neither is a defensive wizard, leading to lots of landed punches during their first two meetings.
There are differences, too. Marquez seems to have more options at his disposal on the outside and is a bit sharper with his combinations. Vazquez has a slight edge in raw power and has the edge when the fight is in close.
I almost hate to make a pick because this fight could play out any number of ways. Either man could hit the canvas, and it would not be surprising in the least if they both end up on the mat. It should be a fitting end to the trilogy, and though my head agrees with Uatu that Marquez us the better overall boxer by the slimmest of margins, my heart says Vazquez has the best chance of connecting with the one bomb that changes the fight. I'm going with Vazquez by KO.
After watching the first two Vazquez Marquez fights again today, it is tough to know what to think. Uatu thinks Marquez is the better fighter, but even if that is true, it is not by a large margin. Marquez appears to have the hand speed advantage, but it is not an overwhelming one.
Can Marquez win by controlling the action with a jab and right and maintaining distance and not making the fight a war?
Would Marquez elect to go that route if he could?
Can Vazquez fight through the incoming fire of Marquez and physically wear down Marquez, a fighter who has been stopped before on more than one occasion?
Either way, there is going to be a lot of drama and suspense headed into the fight. The first two fights were as good as it gets. They were right up there with the Barrera-Morales fights and the Corrales-Castillo fights. They were a combination of high skill level, excellent conditioning, heart and guts.
A pick still has to be made. It's Marquez.
The Franchise says:
Boxing fans should be absolutely ecstatic these guys are meeting for the third time. I think the fight's tagline - The Tiebreaker - is absolutely fitting because these are two fighters who are unusually evenly matched.
Both men have hand speed and power in both hands. Both can take a punch and rally back after getting hurt. And while they both have excellent technique, neither is a defensive wizard, leading to lots of landed punches during their first two meetings.
There are differences, too. Marquez seems to have more options at his disposal on the outside and is a bit sharper with his combinations. Vazquez has a slight edge in raw power and has the edge when the fight is in close.
I almost hate to make a pick because this fight could play out any number of ways. Either man could hit the canvas, and it would not be surprising in the least if they both end up on the mat. It should be a fitting end to the trilogy, and though my head agrees with Uatu that Marquez us the better overall boxer by the slimmest of margins, my heart says Vazquez has the best chance of connecting with the one bomb that changes the fight. I'm going with Vazquez by KO.
28.2.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - February 2008
Back after a month off - because there were no big name fights to speak of at the very end of 2007 or the very beginning of 2008 - it's the February edition of our very own boxing power rankings. If you haven't read the post about "How Our Rankings Work," go ahead and do so. I'll wait...
And if you don't want to do that, here's a disclaimer: this is not a pound-for-pound list of which boxers are "the best." Since lots of other sites do that, this is more of a measure of who's had the most success over the past three years against the toughest competition in their weight class, regardless of what that might be. Fighting often against other good boxers helps, and knocking out your foes is better than winning by split decision.
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's the list for the end of February:
1. Miguel Cotto - 22.40 - He stays in the top spot with eight victories over the last three years, including six knockouts. Expect him to add another one when he faces Alfonso Gomez in April.
2. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - I may have to modify the formula to account for boredom after a stinker decision victory over Sultan Ibragimov. Steelhammer is fighting his division's best, it's just that they aren't very good.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - The Ghost may have rocketed all the way to the top of the heap had he KO'ed Jermain Taylor again. But there was nothing wrong with his unanimous decision, and he probably displayed more all-around skill than in any previous outing.
4. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - The top boxer in the world may not fight again until September. And no, he won't get any points here if he beats Paul Wight at WrestleMania.
5. Joe Calzaghe - 15.50 - He got his wish: a bout with Bernard Hopkins in April. And boxing fans got their wish, as it won't be pay-per-view.
6. Chris John - 14.91 - Is this the best boxer I've never seen fight? Could be.
7. Manny Pacquiao - 14.78 - Pac Man's life is like a soap opera, creating numerous possible distractions. When he hits the ring, though, it's all business.
8. Israel Vazquez - 14.33 - Shame on you if you missed his fights with Rafael Marquez last year. Fortunately, you get another chance to watch the two of them collide this Saturday.
9. Juan Diaz - 13.87 - Think Nate Campbell will prove much of a challenge for the Baby Bull? Me neither.
10. Ricky Hatton - 13.19 - Tough to say what the future holds for Hatton, but the safe money says his fans won't stop all those chants just because he lost a fight.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Clinton Woods, Juan Manuel Marquez, Kermit Cintron, Junior Witter
And if you don't want to do that, here's a disclaimer: this is not a pound-for-pound list of which boxers are "the best." Since lots of other sites do that, this is more of a measure of who's had the most success over the past three years against the toughest competition in their weight class, regardless of what that might be. Fighting often against other good boxers helps, and knocking out your foes is better than winning by split decision.
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's the list for the end of February:
1. Miguel Cotto - 22.40 - He stays in the top spot with eight victories over the last three years, including six knockouts. Expect him to add another one when he faces Alfonso Gomez in April.
2. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.00 - I may have to modify the formula to account for boredom after a stinker decision victory over Sultan Ibragimov. Steelhammer is fighting his division's best, it's just that they aren't very good.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - The Ghost may have rocketed all the way to the top of the heap had he KO'ed Jermain Taylor again. But there was nothing wrong with his unanimous decision, and he probably displayed more all-around skill than in any previous outing.
4. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - The top boxer in the world may not fight again until September. And no, he won't get any points here if he beats Paul Wight at WrestleMania.
5. Joe Calzaghe - 15.50 - He got his wish: a bout with Bernard Hopkins in April. And boxing fans got their wish, as it won't be pay-per-view.
6. Chris John - 14.91 - Is this the best boxer I've never seen fight? Could be.
7. Manny Pacquiao - 14.78 - Pac Man's life is like a soap opera, creating numerous possible distractions. When he hits the ring, though, it's all business.
8. Israel Vazquez - 14.33 - Shame on you if you missed his fights with Rafael Marquez last year. Fortunately, you get another chance to watch the two of them collide this Saturday.
9. Juan Diaz - 13.87 - Think Nate Campbell will prove much of a challenge for the Baby Bull? Me neither.
10. Ricky Hatton - 13.19 - Tough to say what the future holds for Hatton, but the safe money says his fans won't stop all those chants just because he lost a fight.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Clinton Woods, Juan Manuel Marquez, Kermit Cintron, Junior Witter
30.12.07
BoxingWatchers.com 2007 Fight of the Year: Vazquez-Marquez II
Since boxing history is full of exciting rematches and trilogies, it's hardly surprising that two men could put on a pair of Fight of the Year candidates in a single calendar year. That being said, there's no question that something special happened each time Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez faced off in 2007.
Far too often today's fights seem to please either action fans or purists while alienating the other group, but the first Vazquez-Marquez showdown in March was a treat for everyone. Closely fought from the get-go, Vazquez seemed to hold a narrow lead after seven rounds. One problem: a Marquez punch smashed his nose, and Israel was unable to continue.
When the rematch was scheduled for August, the obvious but inevitable question became whether or not the sequel could live up to the original. Both men delivered in spades, trading shots over six hard-fought rounds until Vazquez avenged his defeat with a KO. It was, as my brother Uatu put it, pretty rare to see two boxers with such high skill levels hit each other so hard and so often.
Naturally, the rubber match scheduled for March 2008 is highly anticipated, and with two close, exciting fights already in the books, it's really anyone's guess what might happen. That should pretty much sum up why Vazquez-Marquez II is BoxingWatchers.com's 2007 Fight of the Year.
Honorable Mention: If you wanted to hear 10,000 fans sound like 100,000, all you needed to do was be inside Boardwalk Hall for Taylor-Pavlik. A sizable contingent of The Ghost's supporters were on hand, but plenty of people cheered when the then-undefeated middleweight champion sent Pavlik to the mat early in the fight.
Of course Pavlik and his fans cheered last, and everyone on hand agreed it was a hell of a fight. And lest we dismiss it as just a slugfest, let's not forget that Taylor showed some nice boxing skills as well - he was ahead on all three cards when he was knocked out in the seventh. The return engagement will take place in Vegas in February, and the MGM Grand can only hope for the same atmosphere.
Another fight that paired two talented boxers in their primes but simply lacked the drama of the two fights above was Calzaghe-Kessler. The two undefeated Europeans squared off in a very well-fought bout, and the four and five-point margins on the judges' cards may not entirely reflect how hard Kessler made Calzaghe work for his win. Joe may need any lessons he learned if he ever lands the fight he wants with Bernard Hopkins.
Special "Most Like a Video Game" Honor: Bika-Codrington - Contender Season 3 Finale. I love EA's Fight Night series of video games, but the two-way bombs that land in the electronic world simply don't happen in real life. At least that's what I thought until I watched Sakio Bika and Jaidon Codrington connect with an insane number of power shots. No one watching learned anything about the fundamentals of boxing, but the fight completely blew away expectations and was absolutely enthralling television.
Far too often today's fights seem to please either action fans or purists while alienating the other group, but the first Vazquez-Marquez showdown in March was a treat for everyone. Closely fought from the get-go, Vazquez seemed to hold a narrow lead after seven rounds. One problem: a Marquez punch smashed his nose, and Israel was unable to continue.
When the rematch was scheduled for August, the obvious but inevitable question became whether or not the sequel could live up to the original. Both men delivered in spades, trading shots over six hard-fought rounds until Vazquez avenged his defeat with a KO. It was, as my brother Uatu put it, pretty rare to see two boxers with such high skill levels hit each other so hard and so often.
Naturally, the rubber match scheduled for March 2008 is highly anticipated, and with two close, exciting fights already in the books, it's really anyone's guess what might happen. That should pretty much sum up why Vazquez-Marquez II is BoxingWatchers.com's 2007 Fight of the Year.
Honorable Mention: If you wanted to hear 10,000 fans sound like 100,000, all you needed to do was be inside Boardwalk Hall for Taylor-Pavlik. A sizable contingent of The Ghost's supporters were on hand, but plenty of people cheered when the then-undefeated middleweight champion sent Pavlik to the mat early in the fight.
Of course Pavlik and his fans cheered last, and everyone on hand agreed it was a hell of a fight. And lest we dismiss it as just a slugfest, let's not forget that Taylor showed some nice boxing skills as well - he was ahead on all three cards when he was knocked out in the seventh. The return engagement will take place in Vegas in February, and the MGM Grand can only hope for the same atmosphere.
Another fight that paired two talented boxers in their primes but simply lacked the drama of the two fights above was Calzaghe-Kessler. The two undefeated Europeans squared off in a very well-fought bout, and the four and five-point margins on the judges' cards may not entirely reflect how hard Kessler made Calzaghe work for his win. Joe may need any lessons he learned if he ever lands the fight he wants with Bernard Hopkins.
Special "Most Like a Video Game" Honor: Bika-Codrington - Contender Season 3 Finale. I love EA's Fight Night series of video games, but the two-way bombs that land in the electronic world simply don't happen in real life. At least that's what I thought until I watched Sakio Bika and Jaidon Codrington connect with an insane number of power shots. No one watching learned anything about the fundamentals of boxing, but the fight completely blew away expectations and was absolutely enthralling television.
13.12.07
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - December 2007
With no important fights until January, consider these the final rankings for 2007. I made some adjustments to the formula to more accurately reflect (hopefully) the level of competition each fighter has faced over the last three years. Thus, some fighters may have moved down even without fighting (sorry Punisher!). It's a work in progress, no doubt.
Please remember that these rankings reflect a boxer's recent body of work more than his skill level - that's why B-Hop is absent, for example. For a more thorough explanation of how our rankings work, check out the post helpfully entitled How Our Rankings Work.
Without further ado...
1. Miguel Cotto - 22.38 - Won some more admirers by beating Shane Mosley. He's tough, has power and underrated boxing skills. Oh yeah, he also knocks a lot of people out. Welcome to the top spot.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 18.10 - Surprised many (including this writer) by knocking out Hatton. The win was no surprise, though, and it doesn't look like he has much interest in fighting the gentleman above him here. Shame.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 17.98 - Downgraded slightly for his level of competition, but that doesn't make his KO of Jermain Taylor any less impressive. A repeat performance in '08 could put him right back on top.
4. Israel Vazquez - 17.78 - The lightest guy on this list. Hey, we had to draw the line somewhere.
5. Wladimir Klitschko - 16.50 - Uatu doesn't like that he's on this list at all. He deserves it because of his performances, but the heavyweight division is still sad.
6. Juan Diaz - 16.38 - Don't sleep on his upcoming bout with Michael Katsidis.
7. Manny Pacquiao - 14.45 - Getting ready for a monster rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. I thought he lost the first one, but he's improved a lot since then.
8. Joe Calzaghe - 14.21 - Calling out The Executioner is a pretty dumb move for most boxers. But most boxers aren't as good as Calzaghe...
9. Chad Dawson - 14.14 - "Bad Chad" has the misfortune of being in a fairly crappy weight class - depending on whether or not you consider Hopkins a light heavyweight. Dawson may get some more love if he knocks out Glen Johnson in his next fight.
10. Antonio Margarito - 13.34 - Rebounded nicely from his loss to Paul Williams.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Paul Williams, Junior Witter, Chris John, Kermit Cintron, Juan Manuel Marquez
Please remember that these rankings reflect a boxer's recent body of work more than his skill level - that's why B-Hop is absent, for example. For a more thorough explanation of how our rankings work, check out the post helpfully entitled How Our Rankings Work.
Without further ado...
1. Miguel Cotto - 22.38 - Won some more admirers by beating Shane Mosley. He's tough, has power and underrated boxing skills. Oh yeah, he also knocks a lot of people out. Welcome to the top spot.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 18.10 - Surprised many (including this writer) by knocking out Hatton. The win was no surprise, though, and it doesn't look like he has much interest in fighting the gentleman above him here. Shame.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 17.98 - Downgraded slightly for his level of competition, but that doesn't make his KO of Jermain Taylor any less impressive. A repeat performance in '08 could put him right back on top.
4. Israel Vazquez - 17.78 - The lightest guy on this list. Hey, we had to draw the line somewhere.
5. Wladimir Klitschko - 16.50 - Uatu doesn't like that he's on this list at all. He deserves it because of his performances, but the heavyweight division is still sad.
6. Juan Diaz - 16.38 - Don't sleep on his upcoming bout with Michael Katsidis.
7. Manny Pacquiao - 14.45 - Getting ready for a monster rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. I thought he lost the first one, but he's improved a lot since then.
8. Joe Calzaghe - 14.21 - Calling out The Executioner is a pretty dumb move for most boxers. But most boxers aren't as good as Calzaghe...
9. Chad Dawson - 14.14 - "Bad Chad" has the misfortune of being in a fairly crappy weight class - depending on whether or not you consider Hopkins a light heavyweight. Dawson may get some more love if he knocks out Glen Johnson in his next fight.
10. Antonio Margarito - 13.34 - Rebounded nicely from his loss to Paul Williams.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Paul Williams, Junior Witter, Chris John, Kermit Cintron, Juan Manuel Marquez
7.11.07
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - November 2007
- Kelly Pavlik -23.90 - If knocking out an undefeated champion who had beaten some serious competition gets you to the top of this list, it's working the way we want it to. If The Ghost scores another KO in a rematch, he should stay up here.
- Miguel Cotto - 23.65 - He has his doubters, but you can't knock the results. A decisive victory over Shane Mosley could win over some more fans.
- Manny Pacquiao - 17.65 - His last fight against Marco Antonio Barrera lacked the usual Pac-Man thrills, but another showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez could bring them right back.
- Wladimir Klitschko - 17.17 - It took a few years, but it seems like Klitschko may have stabilized his place atop the heavyweight division. If only there was some more compelling competition waiting for him...
- Juan Diaz - 17.09 - So young, so good. Are there any challenges left for the Baby Bull at lightweight?
- Israel Vazquez - 16.30 - Avenged his loss to Rafael Marquez in impressive fashion.
- Paul Williams - 15.82 - The Punisher's height and activity level are entertaining as hell to watch. It should be a treat when he faces Kermit Cintron.
- Ricky Hatton - 15.10 - We'll be learning a lot more about Hatton very soon. A victory over Pretty Boy Floyd would catapult him up this list.
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 14.40 - Speaking of PBF, he'd also be moving up with a decisive win on December 8. I don't mind typing nice things about him if he deserves them.
- Joe Calzaghe - 14.17 - Showed a good chin and a lot of craftiness against Mikkel Kessler. But could he really beat Bernard Hopkins?
The Next 7: Chad Dawson, Shane Mosley, Chris John, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael Marquez, Kermit Cintron Jermain Taylor
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