PACQUIAO STILL #1, DONAIRE NOW # 8 RING MAGAZINE POUND-FOR-POUND
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 May 2009
Donaire.
Following his thundering second-round knockout victory over Ricky Hatton, future boxing all-time great Manny Pacquiao retains his prestigious Ring Magazine pound-for-pound title as of the May 3, 2009 ratings of ?The Bible of Boxing.? He is also the new junior welterweight title holder of The Ring Magazine.
Ricky Hatton is nowhere to be found in the top ten pound-for-pound latest rankings. Before his downfall, he was listed at number 8 and was in the elite list for 23 weeks. The Hitman lost also his Ring and International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior welterweight title to The Pacman.
Now at number 8 in the latest top ten rankings is Nonito Donaire, Jr., the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and IBO flyweight champion. His impressive win over previously unbeaten Raul ?Cobra? Martinez convinced the editorial board of the respected boxing magazine to place the ?Filipino Flash? in the number 8 position. It was the first time he was listed in the exclusive roster.
Vic Darchinyan of Armenia, whom Donaire dethroned by a staggering KO, was elevated from number 10 last week to number 9 this week in the pound-for-pound list. He is the current World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA) and IBF junior bantamweight/superflyweight champion. Celestino Caballero of Panama, the WBA and IBF junior featherweight champion, dropped from number 9 last week to number 10 this week.
Juan Manuel Marquez, who is slated to face former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr., remained at number 2. Marquez is The Ring Magazine, WBA and WBO lightweight champion. Bernard Hopkins of the United States stayed at number 3. American Shane Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion rose to number 4 from number 5 last week.
Israel Vasquez of Mexico, The Ring junior featherweight titlist, slid to number 5 from number 4 last week. Rafael Marquez of Mexico remained at number 6, while Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, the WBO welterweight champion, barged into number 7 in the list from nowhere last week. Cotto was rumored to be one of Pacquiao?s future opponents.
In the junior welterweight ratings of The Ring Magazine, Hatton dropped to number 2 from his throne after the devastating loss last May 2. The number 1 contender in the division based on The Ring ratings is undefeated American Timothy Bradley. He is also the WBC and WBO champion.
The WBA champion in the junior welterweight division is Andreas Kotelnik of Ukraine. The IBF champion is Juan Urango of Colombia. Bradley, Kotelnik, and Urango are all not in the same caliber of Pacquiao. A fight with anyone of them won?t deliver the goods in pay-per-view, unlike a Pacman fight with either Marquez or Mayweather.
Although, he is still several miles away from Pacquiao?s achievements, Doniare is the only Filipino boxer in sight who can approximate The Pacman?s career success. Donaire is now rated number 1 by The Ring in the flyweight division, with the title remaining vacant. It is a rare instant when two Filipino boxers were simultaneously rated by ?The Bible of Boxing? in the top ten pound-for-pound list.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 19 Dec 2025RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025