World Pound for Pound Top 10
Boxing can be very complicated with all the different titles in different divisions. Here we give our view on the current top 10 best boxers in the world, regardless of weight. Once again this list is different everywhere and is generally down to a matter of opinion. Let us know if you agree.
1. Floyd Mayweather 45-0 (26KOs)
Still undefeated, with a seemingly impenetrable defence ‘Money’ is still the best boxer in the world and the biggest draw of an audience. This year Mayweather easily defeated Robert Guerrero, before, in what was billed as his toughest test in years, comfortably teaching Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez a lesson over 12 rounds in Vegas. Now 45-0, it seems unlikely there is anyone left in world boxing able to beat him.
2. Andre Ward 26-0 (14)
Andre ‘Son of God’ Ward has had a brilliant few years. He won Showtime’s Super Six tournament comfortably defeating Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch along the way, uniting the WBC and WBA titles in the process. He only fought once in 2012 after suffering from injury but he stopped light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in round ten of that bout to prove he truly belongs among the sport’s elite. Ward has remained injured throughout 2013 and needs a couple of high profile wins to justify his place so high on this list.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez 55-6-1 (40)
Marquez has been fighting at the elite level for a long time and has been embroiled in a fascinating rivalry with former p4p king, Manny Pacquiao. It is his thrilling sixth round one punch Knockout of the Filipino great that has cemented his place in boxing history and finally gives him what he felt he has deserved all along, a win against the pacman. Marquez is facing another Pacquiao conqueror, Timothy Bradley in October in another toss up fight.
4. Wladimir Klitschko 60-3 (52)
‘Dr. Steelhammer’ just appears unbeatable at Heavyweight. Having unified all of the belts except the WBC strap his brother holds, he has continually dominated all who have dared to fight him since his last defeat back in 2004. Using his great height he keeps opponents at bay before gradually wearing them down to victory. He is currently the Floyd Mayweather of the heavyweight division with a much higher KO percentage. He will however face his toughest task since beating David Haye in October when he meets undefeated WBA ‘Regular’ champion Alexander Povetkin.
5. Sergio Martinez 51-2-2 (28)
Martinez proved he’s the king of the middleweight division by schooling Julio Cesar Chavez in September 2012 to win back the WBC title he had never lost in the first place. ‘Maravilla’ has since controversially beaten tough Brit Martin Murray via a unanimous decision in his homeland of Argentina, perhaps signalling that mounting injuries have taken their toll, and he may finally be on the slide.
6. Manny Pacquiao 54-5-2 (38)
Many feel the great man is on the slide following back to back defeats in 2012. The first was highly controversial against Tim Bradley in what appeared to be a terrible error in ringside judging. However there was no mistaking his KO defeat to Marquez in December. A fight with Floyd Mayweather has so far eluded him and it remains to be seen if Pacquiao can return to his former greatness before his career is over. He is facing Brandon Rios in Macau China in November next.
7. Carl Froch 31-2 (22)
‘The Cobra’ has fought the best fighters in the world consistently now for some time and has never looked out of his depth. Since his defeat to Andre Ward in 2011, he has bounced back by destroying bookies favourite and previously unbeaten IBF world champion Lucian Bute in five rounds last May, before an absolute barnstormer in London saw him equal the score against Mikkel Kessler. Up next is young Brit George Groves in what could prove to be another classic.
8. Timothy Bradley 30-0 (12)
Has been rather inactive in recent times but has consistently beaten all he has faced. Before controversially beating Manny Pacquiao in June 2012, ‘desert storm’ had beaten all the top names in the junior lightweight division including Devon Alexander and Lamont Peterson. He recently beat Ruslan Provodnikov in a fascinating war and is facing fellow p4p superstar Juan Manuel Marquez next, a bout which should prove just how good Bradley is.
9. Guillermo Rigondeaux 12-0 (8)
A world class amateur claiming Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004, the Cuban currently stands unbeaten and is the WBO and WBA super-bantamweight champion in just 12 fights. Beating Nonito Donaire so comfortably strengthened his case to be one of the best in the current era. With slick defensive skills and accurate punching there will not be many out there with the game to defeat him.
10. Nonito Donaire 30-2 (19)
Was seen as the successor to Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines, and as perhaps the next p4p great in boxing. But a convincing beating from Guillermo Rigondeaux over 12 rounds appears to have ended the hype for now. ‘The Filipino Flash’ had a brilliant 2012, fighting four times against the best in his division, including knocking out Mexican warrior Jorge Arce and still has real power in both hands. His next fight is an unnecessary rematch against Vic Darchinyan, a man he has already KO’d in the past.