Saturday, September 20, 2008

Pacquiao is Yahoo Sports pound-for-pound king

The Philippine's boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was voted the no. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world accoring to polls conducted by Yahoo Sports.

Pacquiao garnered 18 of 23 first-place votes from a panel of boxing writers and broadcasters around the world. He tallied a total of 217 points with interestingly, Jjuan Manuel Marquez taking the no. 2 spot with 187 points, crediting to his remarkable demolition demolition of Cuban legen Joel Casamayor recently.

Pacquiao and Marquez had two previous fights, the first one ended in a draw and the second fight concluded with Pacquiao stealing Marquez's superfeatherweight belt with a split decision.

Here's the complete list of Yahoo Sports top pound-for-pound boxers for this month.

1. Manny Pacquiao
Points: 217 1/2 (18 of 23 first-place votes) 
Record: 47-3-2 (36 KOs) 
Title: WBC lightweight champion
Last outing: TKO9 over David Diaz on June 28
Previous ranking:: 1
Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Oscar De La Hoya
Analysis: Should be unanimous No. 1 if he overcomes size disadvantage against De La Hoya

2. Juan Manuel Marquez
Points: 187 (1 of 23 first-place votes) 
Record: 49-4-1 (35 KOs) 
Title: The Ring lightweight champion
Last outing: TKO11 over Joel Casamayor on Sept. 13
Previous ranking:: 3
Up next: Possibly Ricky Hatton or Juan Diaz
Analysis: Longs for third bout with Pacquiao

3. Joe Calzaghe
Points: 186 1/2 (4 of 23 first-place votes) 
Record: 45-0 (32 KOs) 
Title: WBA, WBO and The Ring super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion
Last outing: W12 over No. 9 Bernard Hopkins on April 19
Previous ranking:: 2
Up next: Nov. 8 in New York vs. Roy Jones Jr. 
Analysis: Announced he’ll retire after Jones fight

4. Israel Vazquez
Points: 143
Record: 43-4 (31 KOs) 
Title: WBC and The Ring super bantamweight champion
Last outing: W12 over No. 7 Rafael Marquez on March 1
Previous ranking:: 4
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Likely done for the year

5. Kelly Pavlik
Points: 135
Record: 34-0 (30 KOs) 
Title: WBC, WBO and The Ring middleweight champion
Last outing: TKO3 over Gary Lockett on June 7
Previous ranking:: 5
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. No. 10 Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City, N.J. 
Analysis: High-quality fighter in a low-quality division

6. Antonio Margarito
Points: 115
Record: 37-5 (27 KOs) 
Title: WBA welterweight champion
Last outing: TKO11 over No. 8 Miguel Cotto on July 26
Previous ranking:: 6
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Won’t fight again until early 2009

7. Rafael Marquez
Points: 80
Record: 37-5 (33 KOs) 
Title: None
Last outing: L12 to No. 4 Israel Vazquez on March 1
Previous ranking:: 7
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Part of boxing’s finest brother tandem

8. Miguel Cotto
Points: 61
Record: 32-1 (26 KOs) 
Title: None
Last outing: TKO by 11 to Antonio Margarito on July 26
Previous ranking:: 8
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Won’t fight again until early 2009

9. Ivan Calderon
Points: 30 1/2
Record: 32-0 (6 KOs) 
Title: WBO light flyweight champion
Last outing: TD7 over Hugo Cazares on Aug. 30
Previous ranking:: 10 
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: The game’s finest pure boxer

10. Bernard Hopkins
Points: 34
Record: 48-5 (32 KOs) 
Title: None
Last outing: L12 to No. 3 Joe Calzaghe on April 19
Previous ranking:: 9
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. No. 5 Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City, N.J. 
Analysis: Will this be his last fight?


No comments: