SI's Pound for Pound Boxing Ratings

SI Staff | Sep 16, 2013

SI's Pound for Pound Boxing Ratings /

SI's Pound for Pound Boxing Ratings

Floyd Mayweather

The inimitable Mayweather claimed win No. 45 -- along with a check for $41.5 million -- with another lopsided victory, this time over Saul Alvarez on September 14. Facing a younger, bigger opponent, Mayweather was masterful, showcasing his trademark elusiveness and connecting on more jabs (138) than in either of his previous two fights. Mayweather says he will return to the ring in May, with the most likely challengers being unified junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia or popular Brit Amir Khan. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Andre Ward

It has been a forgettable year for Ward, who missed the first half with a shoulder injury and has been on the shelf in the second due to a conflict with HBO over his next opponent. Ward's options at super middleweight are limited -- negotiations for a fight against Edwin Rodriguez are ongoing and after that Ward would love a matchup with Top Rank cash cow Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. At 29, Ward may find his future is at light heavyweight. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Juan Manuel Marquez

Marquez, idle since his stunning knockout of Manny Pacquiao last December, is scheduled to return in November against Tim Bradley. Despite turning 40 in August, Marquez has shown no signs of slowing down. A win over Bradley could set up a lucrative fifth fight with Pacquiao in 2014. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Wladimir Klitschko

Klitschko continued his near decade of dominance in May, stopping Francesco Pianeta in the sixth round. Next up: An anticipated showdown with Alexander Povetkin on October 5. Povetkin's manager, Vladimir Hryunov, won the purse bid for Klitschko's mandatory defense against Povetkin for a whopping $23.3 million, which finally got both sides to lock up a fight. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Guillermo Rigondeaux

Is Rigondeaux, at times, hard to watch? Yes. Is he effective? Yes there, too. In April, Rigondeaux was brilliant in outpointing Donaire, moving in and out, potshotting Donaire with blurring speed. Still, Rigondeaux's defensive style has made it difficult for Top Rank to get HBO interested in him. He simply isn't television friendly. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Abner Mares

Mares' rise up the pound-for-pound ladder came to a crashing halt in August, when hard hitting Jhonny Gonzalez flattened him in the first round. Mares' success against elite opponents--from the Showtime bantamweight tournament to quality wins over Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce De Leon--keeps him from slipping too far, and he will get a chance to avenge his loss, quickly: Mares exercised his rematch clause and will fight Gonzalez again in the next few months. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Gennady Golovkin

Yup, I'm officially on the Golovkin train. Golovkin wiped out veteran title challenger Matthew Macklin in June, a one-sided drubbing that ended with one of the most crushing body shots in recent memory. In the amateurs, in the pros and probably in street fights as a kid, Golovkin has dominated. He is powerful and skilled, and it's hard to see too many of the current 160-pounders hanging with him. He will face his biggest-punching opponent to date on Nov. 2, when he defends his middleweight belt against Curtis Stevens. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Carl Froch

Froch won an entertaining slugfest against Mikkel Kessler in May, positioning himself as perhaps the most appealing 168-pounder out there. Froch brings a huge British fan base and a lorry-load of TV money, and there are no shortage of options (Ward, Kessler, Bernard Hopkins) for him to fight. First, though, a mandatory title defense against countryman George Groves in November. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Adrien Broner

The outlandish Broner irritates many with his out-of-the-ring antics, but there's no denying his talent. Last June, Broner climbed two weight classes to claim a welterweight belt with a decisive decision over Paulie Malignaggi. There are shades of Mayweather in Broner -- most notably his shoulder roll defense -- and an aggressive style that has made him television-friendly. Next up: a showdown with Argentine slugger Marcos Maidana in December. <italics>All records through Sept. 15</italics>

Published Sep 16, 2013

SI STAFF