SI's Pound for Pound Boxing Ratings

SI Staff | Dec 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>

Manny Pacquiao

The relentless, pressuring Pacquiao that terrorized boxing from 2007 to 2010 is gone, and he isn't coming back. But the '13 version that wiped out Brandon Rios this month is pretty good, too. Pacquiao looked sharp in his first fight since getting knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez. A rematch against Tim Bradley or a fifth fight with Marquez could come in April. All records through Nov. 25

Sergio Martinez

Martinez looked ordinary in a decision win over Martin Murray, and members of his team have acknowledged that Martinez's time in the sport is limited. Still, one bad win doesn't diminish what Martinez has accomplished. A knee injury, though, will keep the Argentine middleweight star out of the ring until early next year, when he could be in line for a lucrative showdown with Miguel Cotto. All records through Nov. 25

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>

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>

Timothy Bradley

Say what you want about Bradley-Pacquiao, but Bradley now officially owns wins over Pacquiao, Marquez and Devon Alexander and was in a Fight of the Year candidate against Ruslan Provodnikov. Bradley made a guaranteed $4.1 million to fight Marquez and is in line for another big payday against Pacquiao, Brandon Rios or Mike Alvarado sometime next year. All records through Nov. 25

Nonito Donaire

In stopping Vic Darchinyan this month, Donaire created more questions about his future than answers. Against an aging Darchinyan?who had lost two of his previous four fights?Donaire struggled, possibly saving himself from a decision defeat with a ninth-round knockout. Donaire says he wants a rematch with Guillermo Rigondeaux, but he may need another fight first. All records through Nov. 25

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>

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>

Danny Garcia

Too young? Ask Erik Morales. Too one-dimensional? Check with Amir Khan. Can't box? Ask Zab Judah. No chin? Go see Lucas Matthysse. Garcia has made a habit of quieting his critics, most recently with a win over Matthysse on Sept. 14. The unified junior welterweight champion, Garcia says he is headed to 147 pounds, where a fight with Mayweather could eventually be in the offing. All records through Nov. 5

Roman Gonzalez

The flyweight star continues his romp through the sport, wiping out Oscar Blanquet in two rounds this month. There has not been a huge market for fighters in Gonzalez's weight class(es), but at 26, Gonzalez could make new fans, and quickly. Up next could be a rematch with unified titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada, whom Gonzalez outpointed last year. All records through Nov. 25

Mikey Garcia

There are not many weaknesses to Garcia. Technically sound with potent one-punch power, Garcia can win in a variety of ways. He pushed his streak of stoppages to 11 this month with an eight-round beating of Roman Martinez that netted Garcia a super featherweight belt. Top Rank is angling to match Garcia with lightweight Yuriorkis Gamboa early next year. All records through Nov. 25

Erislandy Lara

Like his Cuban countryman, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Lara has a style that isn't particularly pleasing. But it is effective. In December, Lara dominated former junior middleweight titleholder Austin Trout, dropping him once in a lopsided decision. Lara is a brilliant counterpuncher, accurate with surprising power. He hopes to fight Saul Alvarez in his next fight. All records through Dec. 15, 2013

Published Dec 16, 2013

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