DONAIRE OVERTAKES PACQUIAO; MAYWEATHER IS NO. 1 IN ALL POUND-FOR-POUND RATINGS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Dec 2012
Nonito Donaire surged ahead of Manny Pacquiao in all prestigious pound-for-pound ratings when he knocked out Jorge Arce in the third round of their WBO superbantamweight championship on December 15. All famous magazines and websites who updated their P4P rankings placed the ?Filipino Flash? now ahead of the ?Pacman.?
Due to his brutal knockout loss in the sixth round to Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8 Pacquiao dropped remarkably in all rankings. Pacquiao once ruled as pound-for-pound king for several months until the controversial majority decision win over Marquez in their third bout where he skidded a little bit. His contentious loss to Timothy Bradley did not affect his rating though.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who has not fought since a unanimous decision win over Miguel Cotto last May 5, 2012, is now the number one pound-for-pound boxer in all ratings. Arguably ?Money? is the most popular fighter in the world today if P4P ratings are the basis.
Pound for pound is the term used in boxing to illustrate a fighter's worth in comparison with the other boxers in different weight divisions. Since most of these boxers could not face each other they are judged according to their popularity and quality of opponent that they defeated. Every website or magazine has their own criteria so their rankings may be subjective and may differ.
In boxing, the term was traditionally linked with legendary fighters like Benny Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson who were extensively considered as the most accomplished fighters during their time. The rankings used to differentiate them from the highly paid and more prestigious champions in the heavyweight division, the most popular weight class during those days. The Ring Magazine, considered as the Bible of Boxing, has maintained a pound for pound rank of renowned fighters since 1990. Other famous magazines and websites followed later.
The Ring pound-for-round ratings: 1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 2. Andre Ward, 3. Juan Manuel Marquez, 4. Sergio Martinez, 5. Nonito Donaire, 6. Adrien Broner, 7. Manny Pacquio, 8. Wladimir Klitschko, 9. Timothy Bradley, 10. Robert Guerrero.
Yahoo! Sports top ten boxers: 1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 2. Andre Ward, 3. Juan Manuel Marquez, 4. Sergio Martinez, 5. Nonito Donaire, 6. Manny Pacquiao, 7. Wladimir Klitschko, 8. Timothy Bradley, 9. Vitali Klitschko, 10. Carl Froch.
Sports Illustrated pound-for-pound list: 1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 2. Andre Ward, 3. Juan Manuel Marquez and Sergio Martinez, 5. Nonito Donaire, 6. Manny Pacquiao, 7. Wladimir Klitschko, 8. Timothy Bradley, 9. Abner Mares, 10. Yuriorkis Gamboa.
ESPN pound-for-pound rankings: 1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 2. Andre Ward, 3. Sergio Martinez, 4. Juan Manuel Marquez, 5. Wladimir Klitschko, 6. Nonito Donaire, 7. Manny Pacquiao, 7. Wladimir Klitschko, 8. Timothy Bradley, 9. Vitali Klitschko, 10. Carl Froch.
Boxrec.com pound-for-pound list: 1, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 2. Juan Manuel Marquez, 3. Wladimir Klitschko, 4. Andre Ward, 5. Vitali Klitschko, 6. Timothy Bradley, 7. Sergio Martinez, 8. Saul Alvarez, 9. Carl Froch, 10. Bernard Hopkins, 11. Nonito Donaire, 12. Austin Trout, 13. Robert Guerrero, 14. Adrien Broner, 15. Manny Pacquiao.
About.com pound for pound list: 1. Floyd Mayweather Jr., 2. Andre Ward, 3. Sergio Martinez, 4. Nonito Donaire, 5. Juan Manuel Marquez, 6. Manny Pacquiao, 7. Wladimir Klitschko, 8. Timothy Bradley, 9. Yuriorkis Gamboa, 10. Vitali Klitschko.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026