Pound for Pound: Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, or None of the Above?

Ranking a fighter pound-for-pound has never been easy for me.

Some fighters are exciting to watch whether they win or lose. It’s really hard to rank a fighter based on pound-for-pound.

What do you look for?

Some fighters are big punchers who knockout their opponents; then there are some fighters who are so skillful in the ring, that they can hit and don’t get hit. Meaning they give punishment, but taking very little punishment themselves, if any at all.

Should a pound-for-pound fighter be judged on how many opponents they knockout, or what kind of ring generalship they show in the ring? There have been some experts in the sport that don’t believe in a best pound-for-pound ranking. Hall of Fame Trainer and HBO boxing analyst Emanuel Steward does not believe in such a thing.

Steward feels that ranking a boxer pound-for-pound is something that’s been made up of lately. Steward has been involved in the sport of boxing for many decades and “when he’s asked that question” he quickly ops out of it. “I don’t believe in a pound-for-pound ranking,” he’d say without any hesitation.

I remember during a HBO telecast years ago, Hall of Fame Boxing Analyst Jim Lampley asked Steward to pick the pound-for-pound best fighter for that era. Steward quickly responded, “I don’t have one”. I just don’t believe in a pound-for-pound ranking. He then said, “If I had to pick a fighter, I would have to pick my all time favorite, and that is…Sugar Ray Robinson. He would be the only one worth such a title” pound-for-pound in his opinion, he said.

That same year, during a Roy Jones, JR., fight, Lampley asked Former Heavyweight Champion and HBO boxing analyst at the time, George Foreman that same question. Foreman answered saying, “trying to rank a fighter pound-for-pound is pure garbage, there should be no such thing.”

Lampley smiled and turn away.

I really share the same views as Emanuel Steward and George Foreman on this subject. Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to ranking fighters. I’m one that enjoys the “sweet science of boxing.”

I rank fighters high who display skills in the ring. No disrespect to the trainers, but–smart fighters who can think for themselves in the ring to pull off a win, gets my vote.

A fighter that is smart and can deliver punishment without taking much in return, while in the ring, and win, gets my vote.

Fighters such as; Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Aaron Pryor, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd ”Money” Mayweather. These fighters have displayed unbelievable skills in the ring. I usually can look at fighter’s face at the end of any bout and see the damage that was done in the ring

Very rarely did these guys show damage to their face after a fight.

I’ve just recently added Manny Pacquiao to these special names above; even though his defense is still a little suspect, but the excitement he always brings makes him worthy.

To place Pacquiao at the top of the current pound-4-pound list, will be based on how well he competes against Mayweather and Mosley should those fights take place.

If there is a pound for pound list, this is what it would be:

1. Floyd Mayweather, JR
2. Shane Mosley
3. Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao
4. Bernard Hopkins
5. Juan Manuel Marquez
6. Paul Williams
7. Chad Dawson
8. Israel Vazquez
9. Miguel Cotto
10. Nonito Donaire

Some may agree or disagree with my picks, but this is how I rank the best fighters in the world today.


Source: ringsidereport.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Shane Mosley has gone from ‘Grudge Match’ to ‘Drug Match’

What was once a “must see” fight, Mayweather vs. Mosley has now taken a back seat to the Olympic style drug testing. A fight that was a decade in the making has been TKO’d by all the talk and hype over drug testing. Let’s examine further.

Drug Testing Publicity
Since Mayweather shifted focus to fighting Mosley, drug testing has had an equal amount of publicity as the fight itself. Just a few days ago, GBP had a press conference officially announcing the details of the drug testing which included USADA CEO Travis Tygart who was extremely happy and excited over Floyd’s push for this type of testing. You remember how Tygart kept referring to how “courageous” Floyd was?

FMJ
This fight was supposed to settle the differences between two fighters who despised each other. Instead, we get Mayweather talking more trash about Manny Pacquiao than Mosley. Floyd has hyped up his feud with Manny more than this fight with Mosley. For a guy who was supposed to be about “the money” he really hasn’t done much to generate the hype that will draw the money.

Mosley
Shane Mosley hasn’t done much better. He can’t even make up his mind whether he’s friends with Mayweather or not. Are you serious Shane? This guy has trash talked you for 10 years now. You finally get your chance to shove your fist in his mouth and now you aren’t sure if you are friends.

Holding Hands
Just recently the two fighters appeared on HBO’s Face-Off with Max Kellerman and Floyd is saying that he rooted for Shane because he’s a “Black American”. Hey Floyd, this is the same guy that you bad mouthed for a decade and now we come to find out that you cheered for him?

I can see why the hype is shifting toward the drug testing. The two fighters can’t figure out whether they really dislike each other or not. The fight will feature a “dancer”, a “puncher”, and “drug testing”. I don’t know about you guys but I’m really excited now. I can’t wait to see if someone fails the drug test. Please realize that I’m being sarcastic.

Conclusion
Christian Wallace Sacramento, CA “Has the drug testing killed off the excitement for this fight?”

Jason McTavish Sacramento, CA “Is there more hype for the drug testing than the fight itself?”

Absolutely, this drug testing talk has put out the flames to a potentially epic encounter. I’m sick and tired of hearing about this drug testing. Does anyone actually think that either of these two fighters will get caught? With the entire Boxing world and USADA watching, it would be the biggest blunder in the history of sports if either man gets caught cheating. There’s no suspense to the drug testing. As far as the historical precedent, I’m not excited about that either.

I wanted to see a grudge match. Instead, I’m in store for two guys who root for each other and rather hype up drug testing or Manny Pacquiao. I think I will save my 50 bucks.


Source: examiner.com/