PACQUIAO CHOSEN PLANET?S POUND-FOR-POUND NO.1
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Dec 2008
The British newspaper The Sun has named Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao as the planet?s pound-for-pound No.1 including the superstars of the emerging Mixed Martial Arts.
The story said boxing purists and fans of Mixed Martial Arts argue over which sport has the world?s best fighters ? but just who can claim to be the planet?s pound-for-pound No1? It noted that scholars of the sweet science will claim Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr are top of the pile, but the rise of MMA ? and specifically leading promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship ? has seen opinion divided among who reigns supreme in the fight world.
Mixed Martial Artists like Anderson Silva and BJ Penn can rightly claim to be among the greatest around after straddling two weight classes with great success.
Because of this difference in opinion The Sun compiled a list of who we think are the Top 10 fighters who can currently claim to be active in their respective sports.
In naming Pacquiao No.1 The Sun said "PACQUIAO confirmed his place as boxing's pound-for-pound king when he destroyed Oscar De La Hoya earlier this month. The battered Golden Boy retired on his stool and the Filipino sensation truly has the world at his feet now. Pac-Man has lost three times but boasts an amazing 48 victories. At the age of 29, there is still plenty to come and fight fans cannot get enough of his relentless action-packed bouts."
The newspaper named Floyd Mayweather Jr No. 2 noting that the Pretty Boy has not stepped into the ring since demolishing Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas last year. But the unbeaten American is ready to call time on his 'retirement' - and he wants his pound-for-pound crown back. Mayweather has reportedly set his sights on a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, although Hatton believes he should get first crack at the Filipino. With an unblemished 39-fight record, Mayweather really is as good as he thinks.
The Sun picked middlewewight champion Anderson Silva at No. 3 noting that he has been unbeatable in the UFC since winning the title in October 2006. Two brutal wins over Rich Franklin and one over Dan Henderson saw the Brazilian step up to light heavyweight to find a stronger challenge this year. But American James Irvin fared little better and Silva won his 205lbs fight debut after just 61 seconds. A successful defense of his middleweight championship followed against Patrick Cote to cement his status as the division?s No1. And The Spider has since teamed up with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach to improve his striking in preparation for his next UFC fight.
Other boxers in the top ten were Juan Manuel Marquez at No. 5, undefeated Joe Calzaghe at No. 8 and Antonio Margarito at No. 9.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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