Updated P4P: Pacquiao still Top - Mayweather Grabs #2 Spot

With the successful return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., it's time (okay, it was probably time last week, but we've just got around to getting the votes tabulated now) for The Boxing Bulletin to update our P4P rankings.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

The two main questions facing our voters this time...

How far should Juan Manuel Marquez drop, and did Mayweather do enough to knock Manny Pacquaio off the top spot?

Also in action since our last update were Nonito Donaire, Ivan Calderon and Mikkel Kessler.

1. Manny Pacquiao (vs Miguel Cotto - November 14) The Pac-Man remains atop the Bulletin's P4P list simply because he is willing to take on all comers, and is out there not only to dominate, but destroy. 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (NEW, UD over Juan Manuel Marquez - September 19) "Money" looked like the same guy who retired almost two years ago. Not surprising really, considering his natural talent and obsessive work ethic. Now that he's back, the question is, who's next? Mosley, or the Pac/Cotto winner? 3. Bernard Hopkins This might be the last time you'll be seeing The Executioner on our list, as it's getting close to 12 months since he dominated Kelly Pavlik. Also, his future plans include a tune-up and then a possible match-up with Roy Jones. Neither fight does anything for is P4P status. 4. Shane Mosley Sugar Shane STILL can't get a big-fight, or even a suitable TV date. Unreal. He blasts out the scariest welter around and then sits out a year??? Seems like he'll have to face young Andre Berto to keep his name out there while the big money names decide whether they want some or not. Probably not. 5. Paul Williams (vs Kelly Pavlik - December 5) "The Punisher" is scheduled to face off against Kelly Pavlik for the Middleweight Championship Of The World, December 5th. I call this remarkable fighter Mr. Pound For Pound because he is a true threat to anyone from 147 to 160, and it says here that he'll be removing Mr. Pavlik from his throne when all is said and done. 6. Juan Manuel Marquez (down 4, lost UD to Floyd Mayweather Jr. - September 19) The magnificent Marquez probably came in too heavy, too slow and too old for the defensive genius, Mayweather. If he wasn't already declining going into that megafight, he is now. He showed all of the heart and guts that made him a future Hall of Famer in surviving 12 rounds, but was just outgunned. It's hard to figure out where he goes from here, but it was a helluva ride while it lasted. 7. Chad Dawson (vs Glen Johnson - November 7) "Bad" Chad has a lot of tools to work with, and now he has the support of the major networks, so the sky is the limit for the speedy southpaw. We'll get a better sense of exactly where he stands as a potential great when he laces them up for a second time against iron-willed Glen Johnson, who pushed him to the brink last year. 8. Nonito Donaire (up 1, UD over Rafael Concepcion - August 15) Since his demolition of Darchinyan, Nonito has done little. It's quite frustrating as a fan because he's a young, fast, exciting and well-schooled fighter who can create some buzz for the little guys in boxing. Perhaps the move up to 115 lbs will open some new doors for him. Maybe now's the time for Donaire-Darchinyan II? 9. Juan Manuel Lopez (down 2, vs Rogers Mtagwa - October 10) Juan Ma is another young fighter with the world at his feet. Great speed, accuracy and killer instinct are his main assets, but he's also developed some of the most shocking counter punching in the sport. We know he can dish it out, but can he take it? His promoter, Bob Arum, is planning a showdown between Lopez and undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa. That match-up should deliver some answers. 10. Miguel Cotto (down 1, vs Manny Pacquiao - November 14) Whatever your opinion of Cotto, you have to respect his schedule. He's faced off against 3 welters no one else wanted any part of in Mosley, Clottey and Margarito. You can make the argument that he didn't really "win" any of those, but to be right there with those guys is admirable. He's earned the paycheck that comes with fighting Pacquiao. Should be an all out war for as long as it lasts. 11. Ivan Calderon (Technical SD over Rodel Mayol - September 12) The tiny Puerto Rican is still regarded as perhaps the most pure boxer out there, but it looks like Father Time is catching up quickly. If he wants to remain a P4P player, he's got to sign a significant fight soon because he's starting to settle into a cautious matchmaking pattern. 12. Mikkel Kessler (TKO4 over Gusmyl Perdomo - September 12, vs Andre Ward - November 21) With the managerial issues hopefully behind him, Kessler is set to prove that he belongs among the elite. The first step is defeating Andre Ward in the brilliant 168 tournament hosted by Showtime. 13. Timothy Bradley (vs Lamont Peterson - December 12) While his last fight with Nate Campbell proved little, we were probably a little bit late in including "Dessert Storm" as one of the 15 best out there. At first glance, it's easy to miss a lot of what makes him a very difficult guy to beat. He doesn't have crazy speed, or monstrous power, but he is solid at every facet of the game. While it may not make him the most exciting fighter out there, he just may be the most dangerous guy at 140. 14. Carl Froch (vs Andre Dirrell - October 17) The hard man from Nottingham is proof that boxing is no beauty contest. There's nothing "pretty" about him, except his undefeated record. He's made up for athletic deficiencies against Pascal and Taylor with grit and conditioning. He'll need the same kind of effort when he meets undefeated Andre Dirrell in the first round of the 168 lb tourney. 15. Hozumi Hasegawa (NEW) Those who closely follow the Asian scene may be thinking "it's about time" the Japanese destroyer gets some P4P love. None of his last 4 opponents have seen the end of the 2nd round. Included among those is a fellow named Alejandro Valdez, who beat up Fernando Montiel just a few weeks ago. Just missing the cut... Vic Darchinyan, Lucian Bute, Rafael Marquez, Celestino Caballero & Wladimir Klitschko Also receiving votes... Kelly Pavlik, Jean Pascal, David Haye, Arthur Abraham, Chris John, Fernando Montiel, Glen Johnson & Tomasz Adamek Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

Read more!

One More Round With Mark Lyons: Klitschko/Arreola, Jean Pascal, Duran vs Jackson, etc...

Mark Lyons is back with his weekly take on the previous weekend's boxing action, as well as a look ahead to what's coming up.

Last week we saw a couple of over matched challengers get beat up and unfortunately I didn’t see a bang up brawl between former lightweight champions. Not a whole lot on the docket for this week, but lets get to it.

My take on this past weekend's action...

- As I mentioned last week, Arreola gave it his all in a losing effort. Only surprise for me was that he displayed even more toughness than I thought he had. Unfortunately for the challenger, his skill set and conditioning were lacking. While I applaud his effort, smashing your face into Vitali’s gloves for ten rounds isn’t going to bring back much interest in the Heavyweight division.

- With Cristobal’s style, he needs to be not only in great shape, but better shape than the guy he is fighting. There is no other way to put it. He wasn’t in nearly the shape he will need to be in to accomplish his goals. Lets hope the whole situation was a wake up call. But I’ll just let time be the judge of that.

- Vitali did everything he needed to dominate. That is something you can pretty much count on. While his resume is on what I would call invisible paper at this point, he is always in great shape and thrashes whoever is put in front of him. The older Klitschko would likely be a handful for just about any of histories great Heavyweights, but his lack of credible opponents - which is not at all his fault - will leave him well short of any kind of historical standing.

- Jean Pascal breezed his way through an older and out gunned challenger. Silvio Branco has been pretty much a gate keeper to alphabet straps for many years and this was probably his last dance at that level. With the foot and hand speed to stick and move, the Canadian once again showed a desire to be exciting.

- In a fight I sadly didn’t see. David Diaz returned from a long layoff to edge Jesus Chavez in a fight you know had to be packed with action.


Looking Ahead...

Not a whole lot going on this week. So I’m going to peak into my crystal ball and we will see if it is working properly, or if I need to send it back to the shop.

- One fight I would love to see is tonight's battle between Nobuo Nashiro & Hugo Cazares for a Jr Bantamweight strap. I only have seen Nashiro’s win over Martin Castillo for his first swing through alphabet corner. But I came away impressed that he had such poise in only his seventh fight. Cazares was always huge for Jr flyweight, so it’s yet another intriguing lower weight contest in Japan. They seem to pop up frequently.

- I’ll believe David Tua is fighting when he and Shane Cameron touch gloves

- Paul Williams is in position for a Hopkinsesque run at Middleweight. I’m sure he will go searching up in weight for a challenge, but I see him holding the Middleweight belts for the next four or five years. Yes, I realize he doesn’t have them yet. But his challenge of Pavlik will buy my Christmas presents

- Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal will hook up in a hard core fans super fight within two years.

- Arthur Abraham over Carl Froch in the Super Middleweight Tourney finals.

- Wladimir Klitschko will never again face anyone with power. EVER.

- The buy rate for Mayweather/Marquez ensures that we will never see Mayweather vs Pacquiao... and it wont be because of Floyd.

- Timothy Bradley, Edwin Valero & Ivan Calderon will all lose their titles before the end of 2010.

- Erislandy Lara & Guillermo Rigondeaux will both be belt holders by mid 2011

- Ravens 28 Patriots 20

A fight I’ve been thinking about...

Julian Jackson vs Roberto Duran

The Hawk was relentless and one of histories most punishing punchers. That’s just the way Roberto Duran liked them. He would take the best Jackson threw at him and counter with his patented right hand. I imagine Jackson would win the first few rounds during some furious exchanges and then the old master would take over behind a brutal body attack and laser right hands. Give me Duran by stoppage in eight or nine.

You don’t tug on Supermans Cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
And you don’t try to knock out Duran

e-mail Mark Lyons Read more!

The Man to Beat Floyd Mayweather Jr....

Jeff Pryor takes a look at what it will take to beat Floyd Mayweather, and who might be the man to do it.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Against a smaller, older, slower, lighter punching man in his last bout, Mayweather looked virtually unbeatable. However like all fighters, he is not invincible.

Even for all his world class athletic attributes there are areas to exploit against Mayweather, it is a credit to his skill and choice in opponents that no fighter he has faced has yet had exactly the right tools to take advantage of the chinks in his armor.

So, what is there to exploit you ask? First off, Floyd pulls straight back. His Fred Astaire feet make him hard to reach and his right glove is usually by his chin... but he pulls straight back. And his left hand is forever dangling at his waist when he does it. The shorter, slower man, with much less reach, Marquez was able to clip him a number of times as Mayweather pulled back.

Secondly Mayweather still allows himself to get caught on the ropes at times. Whether bravado, break taking or a comfort zone, when Floyd's back is on the ropes he is far less effective than when he can escape out the back door and move freely. Marquez landed some of his cleanest blows while Floyd languished on the threads. Delahoya too, was allowed to bang away and score significant blows with Mayweather back on his heels and hemmed in.

Third, his style is almost entirely based on reflex and speed. Those leaping left hooks that first caught Marquez off guard, rarely landed as the fight went on. Juan Manuel didn't have the speed to do more than dodge them once he had the timing figured, but no matter how fast, leaping in with shots like Floyd does is dangerous business and one well timed blow could change a fight seemingly in hand.

Lastly there is the matter of volume. Mayweather is economical and though his speed tends to make opponents think twice about letting their hands go, he can be outworked. The trick is getting that output to land (see above).

With those points in mind, there are several fighters within Mayweathers own weight class who would provide a true litmus test for Mayweathers unbeaten record.

Here we'll run down the most likely suspects:


Manny Pacquiao

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Debatably, he isn't even in Mayweather's weight class, yet so dynamic has Pacquiao's rise been that size considerations have been all but written off when it comes to the division hopping Filipino. An explosive combo of power and aggression, with a galvanized skill set, Manny seems to be the odds on favorite to face Mayweather should he get past Cotto.

With hand and foot speed, as well as reflex reaction on par with Mayweather this would be a tight wire tension drill for both men. Pacquiao would have a hard time reaching Mayweather as he pulls back, but he would be able to react and counter, get Floyd on the ropes and get shots in with his frenetic attacks.

Floyd would be able to pick his spots and counter, potshot at times and would strain to keep the fight at his pace, while Manny bounces at him furiously pouncing with a flurry of blows at every available opportunity. The crux of this matchup really would be whether Manny has real power at 147 or if his recent blowouts of Hatton and DeLaHoya were slightly misleading due to the condition of his foes.

If Manny really does pack the punch he seems to, and we'll know for sure after he faces Cotto in November, then this fight pits an absolute offensive monster against an all time defensive master. Somethings gotta give.


Miguel Cotto

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

The written off man, it would seem, in the Mayweather sweepstakes. To my mind there is a very good chance for him to beat Pacquiao despite the sports apparent willingness to presume Manny's victory before it's happened. Should he defeat Pacquiao, his widespread Puerto Rican and east coast fan base would likely be enough of a cash cow to lure Mayweather into a bout.

Cotto showed he had hand speed the equal of Mosley in their fight and the skill to outbox him for a majority of the bout. Whether it be brawling or boxing, Cotto's defining trait is that he just has the innate ability to do what it takes to win.

The aforementioned hand speed would give Cotto a good chance to land a significant amount on Floyd, and he is a punishing puncher, particularly to the body, where Floyd has had rib problems. The landscape for Miguel to succeed in this bout would be when he has Floyd on the ropes. Cotto's swarming punches would come in a flurry and he's skilled enough to place them well.

The styles matchup would be less daunting for the Puerto Rican than some of his recent bouts as well. Cotto's weakness would seem to be relentless bigger guys he can't hurt. Floyd certainly isn't relentless. And he isn't going to pressure Cotto in the least. If Cotto could cut off the ring well, he just might be the guy to corral Mayweather and make it ugly for the Pretty Boy.

Antonio Margarito

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

His wrap scandal aside, Margarito has in the ring business to attend to in order to repair his reputation after his dismantling at the hands of Mosley. Beyond that, Margarito at his best would still pose issues for Floyd. His length would allow him to reach Mayweather on the way out, and his punch output would be impossible for Floyd to match.

Though Mayweather would likely be able to strafe Margarito at will, should the cement headed Mexican be back in full force, this would do little to discourage him. The sheer number of punches Antonio would hurl, would make it likely that a fair amount would batter into Floyd, and Margarito does a good job of cutting off the ring and tracking down opponents.

Floyd would outclass and out speed him, but he wouldn't be able to resist unloading on the easy to hit Margarito at times. And in those moments he has to stand still and punch. Margarito would bomb with him and make it interesting. If there is a head in boxing to crack Floyd's fragile hands Margarito's is surely the one.


Paul Williams

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

The freakish nature of Paul Williams size almost certainly negates any chance of Floyd ever excepting Williams as an opponent, so I'll keep this short; Williams reach would be a nightmare for Mayweather's usual style.

If Mayweather committed to working inside the giant wingspan of Williams he could find real success, but his comfort zone is on the outside, and Paul's size would allow him to clip Floyd as he pulled out and keep him at bay on the ropes with his long arms.

My guess is Williams never fights at 147 again so this is almost a moot point. Still, Williams presents the type of high risk, low reward challenge Mayweather has never been willing to entertain. In fairness it would be a lot asking Floyd to take this fight. Still, for as highly as Floyd talks of himself, this match-up should be fair game.


Shane Mosley

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Probably the most qualified opponent to face Floyd, with probably the best chance to win. His speed may not quite equal "Money's" flashing fists, but it's close enough to do the trick, and behind Mosley's speed there is considerable power. Zab Judah was able to knock Floyd down with a similar combination of attributes and Shane brings more punching prowess to the table. His strength and stamina would tax Floyd in close and his willingness to throw-down would likely force Floyd into exchanging more than he would be comfortable with.

Mosley is a total welterweight package, the likes of which Floyd has never dared to face before. Of the points I outlined above, Mosley would be the one man that could likely take advantage of all of them.

What makes the fight so intriguing however is the fact that Miguel Cotto was able to outbox Mosley in the home stretch of their bout to pull off the win. As good as Mosely's skills are, at times he just wants to fight and that mentality would keep things interesting and open up both great opportunities and liabilities for Mayweather.

Mosley the hunter. Mayweather the elusive potshotter. A great fight and the real matchup to be made at welterweight.


Each of these men has strengths that they could leverage against Mayweather. And each has weaknesses that Floyd could exploit.

The fact is, to beat Floyd Mayweather, you can't just be a great fighter, you've got to have particular attributes that can take advantage of his few weaknesses. You must be able to push the action and make him engage. When he is throwing punches, he is far more available to be hit.

You must have some combination of comparable speed, rangy reach and/or reactive reflexes to counterbalance his own otherworldly athleticism.

You must have a good chin, because he's going to hit you clean and fast at times.

You must be consistent and put in a full fight of indefatigable work.

And you probably need an X-factor. If you're going to do something special, you have to bring something special to the table. Could be unbelievable fortitude and determination, or it could be game changing power, unusual length or matching speed.

Make no mistake, beating Floyd Mayweather is a task that few welterweights on the planet would have any hope of achieving. At best, if we are lucky, one... maybe two, might get the opportunity to take up the challenge.

To many hardcore boxing fans Floyd Mayweather is unbeaten with an asterisk; some feel he flat out lost to Jose Luis Castillo, others feel his handpicked opposition has been the chief factor in his unblemished brocade of victories.

Whatever each individual detractors quibbling preference may be, it would appear that for the man who has proclaimed himself "the greatest of all time", many a fan still feels Mayweather has long avoided readily available challenges that could at least make such self indulgent hyperbole less of an arrogant assertion without merit and into a semi-reasonable, if still self aggrandizing, proclamation.

The point is, if we can feel he's done everything he humanly can to prove he's the best, and succeeded, we can live with him stamping himself with approval. But as there have been multiple tough and worthy fighters he has shied away from in favor of seemingly easier opposition, fans have had a natural backlash.

Mayweather is in the drivers seat and he can go some ways down that road to all time greatness if he wants to. Any of the men listed above would be solid choices as opponents.

There's a good chance for one or more of these fights to get made and with all the factors that go into any bout, it's almost impossible to predict exactly who or how someone may beat Mayweather. It may happen next time out for Money May. It may never happen.

All that most of the sports observers ask is that Floyd challenges himself to be as great as he already claims he is.

The man who has what it takes to beat Mayweather is out there. It may take a special night for this man. It may take a lucky break. Or it may just take an opportunity to step into the ring with him.

He's out there. Whether he gets an opportunity to prove it, with Mayweather's notorious aversion to risk as a barrier, is a question we'll have answered over the relatively short remainder of Floyd's career.

The double edged sword here is that those same men who could snatch his unbeaten record away and upend Mayweather's argument for GOAT ascendency, could also provide the nudge into GOAT-like possibility, should he conquer a few of these worthy challengers available to him.

The truth is, the men to beat Mayweather, should he face them, are also the men who will beat Mayweather should he choose not to. The specter of match-ups avoided could loom larger than a true loss on Mayweather's record as the years go by and with a rogue's gallery of dangerous opponents at hand, failing to rise to meet those challenges is as big a defeat as succumbing in the squared circle.

Floyd Mayweather is so good, he may not lose to Mosley, Pacquiao, Margarito, Cotto or Williams inside the ring were he to fight them, but if he doesn't face down one or two in a prize fight, those men will claim a bigger victory over Mayweather's legacy. Defining it, even in their absence.

e-mail Jeff Pryor Read more!

Kelly Pavlik vs Paul Williams is a Done Deal... Now Let's Look at the Match-up

by Lee Payton

Photo Credits: Pavlik vs Hopkins © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com,
Williams vs Wright © Ray Kasprowicz

Kelly Pavlik will defend the Middleweight Championship against Paul Williams, October 3, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The two camps were finally able to come to an agreement after weeks of grueling negotiations. At times it looked like they would never come together, but HBO made it worthwhile for those involved so we have ourselves a fight.

Now that it's a done deal we can start to seriously think about how it will look in the ring. Both are long, thin fighters who would rather use their stature to deliver pain than avoid it. One is a heavy right hand puncher, the other is a quick southpaw who just won't stop. The ingredients are there for a memorable evening worthy of the title on the line, which is why fight fans love it.

Questions will be answered. How is the champion going to deal with the challenger's effortless combination punching and fighting heart? Can Williams take Pavlik's "A" punch? Who is the best middleweight in the world?

I've given some thought to how these two men match up, so allow me to take a stab at determining the most significant factors on my way to picking a winner. The final result may surprise you, but that's boxing, isn't it?

Those who are backing the champ to successfully defend his title seem to be going all in on that idea that Williams will not be able to take Pavlik's punch. Given the fact that we've never seen him take a shot from a strong 160 pounder, I'd say that's fair. However, it hardly guarantees that Paul will fold when he gets tapped on the chin.

One of the biggest problems for Kelly is actually finding the homerun shot on a quicker, more athletic southpaw, who is sure to throw more punches. He may just be too busy defending himself to line up the bomb that changes everything. I'm also not convinced that his favourite shot is all that accurate (he whiffs on it quite often), nor am I sure that it's going to be there with any consistency against a tall left-hander, because it's really more of a right cross than a straight punch.

I have never seen The Ghost in there with a southpaw before, but I just have a hunch that his feet are going to be a little slow for this one.

Another strike against him is the fact that he rarely ever counters. When the opponent lets go with some offense, he responds by covering up. That's just not going to work against the whirlwind from Georgia. He loves it.

I've heard the argument that Antonio Margarito landed some good shots on Williams, so Pavlik should be able to as well because he's bigger and his punches aren't as wide. The problem with that theory is it leaves out too many details.

Margarito was never the sharpest hitter around, but he applies heavier pressure and is just plain tougher than Kelly. I think it's important to remember that Paul was in his first big fight, and has probably improved at least a little since then.

Pavlik will not go to the body or walk through punches like the gritty Mexican did. That's not his kind of fight anyway.

When all is said and done I believe we will have a brand new Middleweight Champion of the World. I think Paul Williams is going to dominate Kelly Pavlik. He has too much going for him in this particular match-up not to be considered the favourite going in.

Paul has nearly every physical advantage to go with his difficult style, but it's his fighting heart that will allow him to shake off whatever does land only to come back like an unforgiving storm.

The bottom line is that Kelly will struggle against the salvos that are headed his way. I'm going with Paul Williams to take the title with a violent late stoppage.

e-mail Lee Payton


Read more!

The Boxing Bulletin Pound-For-Pound Top 15

By Lee Payton

Photo © Justin McKie

It's time for another update to The Boxing Bulletin's list of the best fighters in the world.

With none of the top 5 in action since our last vote, there are no changes to the upper third of our list, but Vic Darchinyan who was number 6 last time has slipped all the way down to 15 after his unanimous decision loss to Joseph Agbeko.

There are also a couple names appearing for the first time as Timothy Bradley (pictured) and Carl Froch have cracked our top 15.

Bradley got a boost from his abbreviated and controversial victory over Nate Campbell this past weekend, while Froch benefited from my instruction to our writers to go with their gut this time out. I think it usually takes most P4P lists a little bit of time to catch up with the current reality, as past accomplishments are given too much weight relative to present ability.

Also effected by those instructions have been Ivan Calderon who slipped from 8 down to 11, and Juan Manuel Lopez who jumped from 10 up to 7.

1. Manny Pacquiao (vs Miguel Cotto - November 14) He's used to this spot by now. Negotiations for a fight with Miguel Cotto are currently ongoing, although it seems certain that the fight will get done. Pacquiao is the fastest fighter on this list. Thinking about it, I'm struggling to come up with someone who ever had faster fists. 2. Juan Manuel Marquez (vs Floyd Mayweather - September 19) Boxing's Maestro is set to show off his stuff against slippery former P4Per, Floyd Mayweather. Don't be surprised if he adds Money's '0' to his trophy case. 3. Bernard Hopkins Hard 'Nard can do it all, even well into his 40's. Apparently, he's ready to square off with the winner of the Dawson-Johnson rematch next time he steps into the ring. A true master in all things fistic, including picking his big money (and glory) spots. 4. Shane Mosley Perhaps the hardest hitter on this list. Shane is nothing more than a tank these days. He's got brutal power, a titanium chin and a willingness to war. That seems to be enough to scare the big names away. 5. Paul Williams(vs Kelly Pavlik - October 3) Many feel Paul Williams is the most dangerous guy on the block. They may be right. The details haven't been finalized, but word is he'll be doing battle with Kelly Pavlik in October, and in my opinion he should probably be the favourite. 6. Chad Dawson (up 1, vs Glen Johnson - November 7) Bad Chad is in for another gut check against a guy who gives you no choice but to fight. Will it be the same thing we saw last year, or has the young man learned a thing or two along the way? If he can convincingly beat Glen Johnson, he could very well find himself in the top 5. 7. Juan Manuel Lopez (up 3, vs Rogers Mtagawa - October 10) The big punching Puerto Rican is here more on style and potential than anything else. One of the very best things about this fighter is how often he fights compared to the others on the list. When the next big fight comes, he'll be ready. 8. Nonito Donaire (up 1, vs Rafael Concepcion - August 15) Finally seems to be getting his career back on track. This is a guy who has all the physical tools, he just needs the opportunity to prove his worth. We haven't forgotten what he did to Darchinyan, but the memory is getting a little fuzzy. 9. Miguel Cotto (up 3, vs Manny Pacquiao - November 14) Some would argue that he is the most vulnerable fighter on the list right now based on how he looked vs. Clottey last time out. The opponent deserves a lot of credit for that, but there might be something to the Margarito theory. He has a massive opportunity in front of him in Pacquiao... 10. Fernando Montiel (up 1) Another guy who can do plenty in the ring, but whose career has been rather frustrating. He's got a lot of miles out of the win over Martin Castillo, but you wonder how long that will last. It seems further away with each list we do. 11. Ivan Calderon (down 3, vs Rodel Mayol - September 12) Had a tough one last time out. He can clean that up with a rematch that is on the table. Probably the best pure boxer on here. He hits and doesn't get hit as well as anyone in the sport. 12. Mikkel Kessler (up 1, vs Gusmyl Perdomo - September 12) We rejoiced when his participation in the Super Six tournament became official. It's recently come out that some old promotional issues have resurfaced, but let's all hope he remains a part of the awesome event. 13. Timothy Bradley (NEW, TKO3 over Nate Campbell - August 1) The Campbell fight was far too short to get a real handle on, but it's possible that we were too late in adding him to the top 15. What he lacks in power he makes up for in conditioning, quickness, a solid jab and a good head on his shoulders. Those attributes combined mean more than the ability to end things quickly. 14. Carl Froch (NEW, vs Andre Dirrell - October 17) The Cobra is going to make you earn it. There is no easy way out against him. He'll be there for 12 and he swinging to take your head off. He takes on young, undefeated Andre Dirrell in the first round of the 168 lb tourney. If he's a true P4P player, he'll introduce the newcomer to a whole new realm of pain. 15. Vic Darchinyan (Down 9, Lost UD to Joseph Agbeko - July 11) Vic manages to stay on the list after his failed attempt to add a title at 118 lbs. However, that doesn't erase his quality work to this point. He can still be a beast at 115, and could also probably beat some other top bantamweights not named Agbeko. Just missing the cut... Celestino Caballero, Lucian Bute, Rafael Marquez, Wladimir Klitschko & Kelly Pavlik Also receiving votes... Hozumi Hasagawa, Glen Johnson, Jean Pascal, David Haye, Ricky Hatton, Tomasz Adamek, Chris John, Joshua Clottey, Arthur Abraham & Juan Diaz Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez & Floyd Mayweather To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

Read more!

The Boxing Bulletin Pound-For-Pound Top 15

With nearly two months worth of fights in the book since our last P4P list, we decided it was about time to update our top 15.

With many of the top names inactive since our last update, there isn't too much movement, but you'll notice there are some changes in position from #6 on down, as well as the reappearance of Rafael Marquez who returned to action after more than a year off.

Photos © Ray Kasprowicz

1. Manny Pacquiao The Filipino Fighting Machine looks unstoppable right now. In May he added The 140 lb World Title to his collection with a spectacular 2 round destruction of Ricky Hatton and made himself the biggest star in boxing. Reported to be up next for Pacquiao is another P4Per in Miguel Cotto, who will have a significant size advantage over the Pacman when they meet. 2. Juan Manuel Marquez (vs Floyd Mayweather - September 19) Marquez proved that fighting the Pacquiao even over 2 contests was much more than a style thing when he became the first to knock out both Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz. The World's Lightweight Champion now has his sights set on Money. He'll be taking on former P4P #1 Mayweather in September at 144 lbs. He's the best Floyd has fought in years. 3. Bernard Hopkins He's got it all. Perhaps the most complete fighter to come along in the last 2 decades. We haven't seen the old master since his complete handling of Kelly Pavlik last year, but it seems like he's shopping around for a farewell. 4. Shane Mosley Old Sugar Shane has some of the same stuff that made the old version of Sugar Ray Robinson so great. He's hitting like a truck right now and still has that granite jaw. You're not going to beat this guy with firepower. Sadly, he's stuck in a familiar spot- coming off a huge win with nowhere to go for another splash. 5. Paul Williams You know what's scary about The Punisher? He hasn't even reached his peak yet. His mix of size, energy, body attack and will make him a dangerous opponent for anyone from 147-168. If he continues to improve, we could be looking at the future of P4P. I certainly think so. 6. Vic Darchinyan (up 1, vs Joseph Agbeko - July 11) Darchinyan wasted no time rebounding from his first loss to Donaire. He got right back on the horse, took on the best available opponents, and that's why he's as high on the list as he is. In July we'll see his special brand of violent offense against a rugged bantamweight, King Kong Agbeko. 7. Chad Dawson (up 1, UD over Antonio Tarver - May 9) Bad Chad has rare athletic talent that makes you think of a prime Roy Jones. He's loaded with gifts and appears to have a good head on his shoulders. The man knows his game, but he'll dig down and scrap with ya too, as we saw in his fight with Glen Johnson. We get to see it again later this year! 8. Ivan Calderon (down 2, Draw vs Rodel Mayol - June 13) Iron Boy dropped a couple of notches after his 6 round technical draw against Rodel Mayol last month. Despite being so good for so long, he'll have to do better in his next outing to keep his name on the list. Still, no one else on here does the "hit and don't get hit" thing better than this guy. At 34, he's lasted longer than most fighters around his weight thanks to his impeccable defensive skills. 9. Nonito Donaire (up 1, vs Rafael Concepcion - August 15) He destroyed #6, but hasn't done much since. Donaire is scheduled to fight for some interim strap in August against a guy he should definitely beat. Far from inspiring stuff. He's young and full of talent, but he'll need to get a little busier against better opposition if he's to keep moving up the list. 10. Juan Manuel Lopez (up 2, TKO 9 over Olivier Lontchi - June 27) Lopez has had all the right moves so far. Earlier in the year he went loco on the cranium of Gerry Penalosa, and just pounded out the formerly undefeated Olivier Lontchi last Saturday night. While guys like Marquez and Vazquez are far more grizzled, and perhaps more respected, there are many who would pick the young stud to upset either man in the ring. 11. Fernando Montiel Montiel made his debut on the P4P lists with a shocking blowout of Martin Castillo at 115 lbs a year and a half ago. Since that time he's moved up to bantamweight, but hasn't really done much more. At 30 years old, now is the time to make a serious move if he's going to make some good money and create a legacy. 12. Miguel Cotto (down 3, SD 12 over Joshua Clottey - June 13) Cotto did just enough to eek past Clottey, and his reward is 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao later this year. Many feel that perhaps Cotto has fallen off a little since the Margarito fight. While it's possible, I think you have to give Clottey's defense a lot of credit for shutting the Puerto Rican down. Either way, he's going to need all his ammo to deal with Manny. 13. Mikkel Kessler Maybe the most frustrating situation in boxing. Kessler sits atop the absolutely loaded 168 lb division, yet he doesn't fight. Think of all the fun to be had at super middle right now... he might miss out on it because of some managerial issues that have kept him on the shelf for way too long now. UGH! 14. Rafael Marquez (NEW, TKO3 over Jose Mendoza - May 23) The younger Marquez got back into the ring after a year or so, stopping his first opponent in 3 rounds. We're still not exactly sure where he's at, but his deadly power makes him dangerous for anyone. While a fourth fight with Vazquez is possible, I'm not sure it's for the best or if I'll be able to watch. The trilogy is as perfect as it gets in boxing. Let's leave it at that for their sake. 15. Celestino Caballero His last effort was not his best at all. The struggle to make 122 lbs finally caught up with the lanky Panamanian bomber, who is now moving up to 126. Perhaps he's not the most popular choice in this "what have you done for me lately" business, but you can't argue with his overall resume. I think he'll do just fine at featherweight, and I'm looking forward to his debut there. Caballero-Gamboa anyone? Just missing the cut... David Haye, Lucian Bute, Glen Johnson, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham & Timothy Bradley Also receiving votes... Wladimir Klitchko, Ricky Hatton, Nate Campbell, Kelly Pavlik, Chris John, Jean Pascal, Hozumi Hasagawa, Joshua Clottey & Juan Diaz Not ranked due to inactivity... Israel Vasquez & Floyd Mayweather To make our top 15, a fighter must have had at least 1 bout during the previous 12 months.

Read more!

Mark's Top 40 at 40: (7-6)

Mark Lyons is back, and he's down to numbers 7 and 6 on his top 40 favorite fighters countdown.

If you've just stumbled upon Mark's list for the first time, make sure to check out his previous entries (links at the bottom of this one).

7. Paul Williams Career Record: 37-1 (27) Three favorite Fights: Antonio Margarito UD12, Carlos Quintana LUD12 & KO1 Photos © Ray Kasprowicz Heading into the final round, down on the cards, blood streaming down both eyes, yeah I'm going to get him now. That might be my favorite Paul Williams moment, and its from his only loss. He took it like a man ten times over. No excuses about taking him lightly, no excuses about the last second change in opponents, just lets run it back. And when they ran it back Quintana got crushed like a bug. I pinpointed this guy for stardom long before he fought Margarito. But his appeal for me goes far deeper than that...this guy will face anybody, anywhere, anyplace, no excuses from a loss and just the overwhelming desire to run it back. Paul Williams picture should be next to boxer in the dictionary. Supreme bad ass with every intangible you could possibly invent. The criticisms are loud and the dissection of his faults are even louder. But if you look closely, the guy has IT. He will overcome any weakness and stare any challenge in the face. There may be more talented fighters and there definitely are more charismatic fighters. But there isn't another man in the fistic world willing to dig down as deep as Paul Williams. And when you really get down to it, that is probably the most difficult skill for an opponent to overcome. "Antonio Margarito throws 100 punches a round!" "LOL, not against me he doesn't. I throw 100 punches a round against everyone and I'll fight anybody spanning across four weight classes!" Anybody that doesn't like that attitude, has taken one too many shots to the head. Recently Bernard Hopkins, one of history's greatest fighters, expressed an interest in meeting Paul. That would be until he saw Paul treated Winky Wright like the wrong side of the pillow. The reality is Paul Williams throws 100 punches a round against everybody and Bernard Hopkins forgot his name one second after the Wright fight was over. I don't blame Hops for stepping away or anybody else, because this kid is the best thing going and will retire any older champion or stifle any aspiring one. Quite simply he is the best fighter in the world and is going to set his own rules. I reserve the right to move Paul up this list at anytime.

6. Pernell Whitaker Career Record: 40-4-2 (17) Three Favorite Fights: Diosbelys Hurtado TKO11, Julio Cesar Chavez D12, Jose Luis Ramirez II UD12 1/24/97 & 2/20/99 are really the two dates that tell you all you need to know about Pernell Whitaker. That's not when he was making the world's best look second rate and it's not any of the dates of his out of the ring troubles. The first is when he needed a knockout to win against Diosbelys Hurtado and he went out and got it with devastating efficiency. The second is when he fought Tito Trinidad, he didn't win, didn't even come close to it, but he walked through one of the welterweight divisions most violent assassins to try and secure that one last victory. That's what Pea was all about, winning the damn fight. In today's internet age, there are a ton of experts at every turn. Many spit out Whitaker as a boring fighter that danced and tentatively boxed his way to wins. Those "fans" couldn't get laid in a whorehouse with a $1,000 bill. Pernell was a punching machine. He routinely landed in the neighborhood of 500 punches. This man has absorbed more corrupt decisions in big fights than any fighter I can think of. His first title shot against Jose Luis Ramirez he maybe lost 2 rounds and somehow dropped the decision. No sweat, brush the dirt of your shoulder and shut him out in the rematch. Chavez? LOL, that was like a man vs a child. The best part was when Pea drilled him with a hard left mid fight and had Chavez hurt.That was the beauty of Whitaker, no knockout record, can't punch? ask his opponents to tell you that. He always discouraged everyone he faced to step to him. Say what you will, that means something when Chavez is afraid to advance. The Golden Boy, blaaaaaaaaaah, ridiculous decision, Pernell dominated that fight from start to end. Yeah, he gave away the last round, because he could afford to. Funny that he needed a knock out to win. That decision is one of the sickest I have ever seen. Whitaker threw more, landed more and landed harder, yet he got robbed by the BS side of the sport. Pernell Whitaker was all man, if you wanted to box or brawl, no matter what state of mind he was in, he was one of the greatest to ever lace them up in this or any other era. Hit him clean. I dare you. And if you do, he will fire right back. War Sweet Pea!

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8.

e-mail Mark Lyons Read more!

Topic of the Week: Paul Williams

With his dominating win over Winky Wright last Saturday, Paul Williams sent a message that he's a legit middleweight threat. Should he go after Kelly Pavlik? Or take care of unfinished business at 147? Or try and settle in at 154?

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

We asked our writers to give their thoughts on what they would like to see next from the talented southpaw.

What would you like to see next from Paul Williams? "I want to see him get his chance at Kelly Pavlik. While Williams has never been in with a big hitting middleweight, or even a real power puncher at any weight, Pavlik would actually have to hit him more than a few times, and that's not going to be easy when you consider the athletic difference between the two and the champ's unproven counter punching ability." - Lee Payton "I don't have much interest in seeing Williams at welterweight anymore. While there's plenty of talent at 147, I think he's just too big for those guys. If a fight with Pavlik or Abraham can be made, I'd like to see it, but since they are rumored to be fighting each other later this year, perhaps looking at 154 would be best. I'd love to see Williams against either Kirkland or Angulo. He's a little ahead of those guys in terms of experience, but they're both strong as hell and I think will push him harder than anyone at 147 could." - Andrew Fruman "I agree that Williams should look at 154 since Pavlik's locked up for the rest of 2009 and Abraham will likely move up a division after fighting Pavlik. Fighting the winner of Dzinziruk/Kirkland would be a good move, and how well they perform against each other will tell us more on what their chances are against P-Will. I believe Angulo will handle Kermit Cintron easily and his performance should drum up some interest for a matchup with him. Daniel Santos is a dangerous opponent as well. Most of these guys are hungry so Paul has options." - Michael Nelson

Read more!

Impressive Williams Batters Wright

By Lee Payton

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Middleweight contender, Paul Williams was too big and too fresh for 37 year old Winky Wright. He dominated a fighter who has made a career of hanging with the very best in the business, living up to his claim as the most dangerous man in boxing.

Wright displayed a champion's heart, but was a step behind all night against his ultra-gifted opponent. As hard as he tried to turn it into his kind of fight, the younger man just wouldn't sit still long enough. The result was the first lopsided loss in an excellent career.

The first round saw the two determined fighters going at it in a struggle for control and the stubbornness of the fighters made for heated action. Williams let loose with over 100 punches, while Wright pressed forward steadily in search of opportunities to counter.

"The Punisher" grabbed rounds 2-5 with superior quickness and output, not worrying about whether his punches landed clean. He just kept throwing leather, with some of it finding it's way around Wright's famous high guard and the rest keeping him busy. Not only was Paul throwing and landing more, but by the 4th, he was also finding openings for his hardest shots.

Wright was able to pick his spots more effectively in the 6th. He smacked right hooks upstairs and down during many sustained toe to toe exchanges. It was probably Winky's best round of the fight, and the last he would win on my card

From there it was "The Paul Williams Show". He showcased all of the elements that make him a complete fighter, not just another tall, ballsy fighter. The man has some slick moves, knowledge of angles, the ability to vary the velocity on his punches, and some snappy combination punching. Pound-for-pound stuff. Wright had never seen anything like it.

Though obviously way down on the cards, the former Jr. Middleweight Champion never folded. In fact, when Williams came out for the 10th round with what he hoped would be a fight-ending assault, Winky just kept his hands up and grinned, as if to say "Who do you think you're in with, son?"

It was an honest effort from a real professional who passed the "fighter to avoid" torch to a worthy successor.

Two judges had it 11-1, while the other scored a shutout for Williams.

So what's next for these two?

Winky was better than many people expected last night, and while I feel he still has something left, it might be best for him to retire. He's been to the top already, and took the hard road to get there, does he really need to get back in line at this stage? Sure, he's still good enough beat some of the other contenders at 160, but how many big money options does he have left?

I guess he could win a couple fights and be back in line for one of the belts. Maybe he should gun for Felix Sturm.

The man loves boxing, so he'll be back. I would expect to see him on ESPN2 later in the year.

As for Williams, the sky's the limit. In the ring, he seems to have it all and now he has the backing of HBO, which will make it a lot harder for the big players at 147-160 to just look the other way. Hopefully they put pressure on Bob Arum to give Paul a shot at his Middleweight Champion, Kelly Pavlik, but don't hold your breath. Bob is a smart guy.

Personally, I think Williams would dominate Pavlik. What edge does the champ have, other than one shot power? He'd be up against a real fighter, and a much better athlete, who is sure to get off first with the most all night long.

Of course there are those who will say "Williams gets hit, and Pavlik is a true middleweight with power"

True. But I think that if Paul had chin issues, they'd have shown up by now. He's taken some very good shots right on the button without blinking in past fights, so I have faith in his ability to take a shot.

Don't forget, Kelly actually has to land his right hand, and he won't have an easy time finding the target against this guy. In my opinion he's not quick or accurate enough to win. If the fight comes off, you can bet Paul will send Top Rank back to the drawing board.

What about Arthur Abraham? I'm not sure this will ever happen, but I'd take Williams here too. The German title holder hasn't shown the fire necessary to be the boss in that fight. He'd be playing defense for 2 minutes and 30 seconds of every round. I suppose there is a small possibility that Art ends it out of nowhere.

Some are beating the drum for Williams to face hard-charging lefty, James Kirkland. While Kirkland would surely make it fun for as long as it lasts, he's too green to deal with the incoming. Williams by KO.

Paul Williams has arrived, and he's willing to fight anyone. The man is a mix of old-school warrior mentality and modern athleticism that is pure hell for anyone from welter to middleweight. I've been a believer for quite awhile now. If you're still not convinced, it's simply a matter of time. He's the goods.

Cris Arreola opened the show by knocking out an old and ill-prepared Jameel McCline. A left uppercut-right hand combo hurt McCline, and a follow-up right sent him to the canvas for the ten count in the 4th round.

Arreola is a fun guy who can make some noise and money in today's heavyweight division, but I'm not sure why anyone should take him seriously as a possible heavyweight champion at this point. He needs to lose some weight and fight a live body.

Larry Merchant was great, as always, but he's never been shy about his quest for another decent American Heavyweight Champion. Remember how in love he was with Michael Grant?

e-mail Lee Payton
Read more!

Williams vs Wright Predictions

On Saturday night, Paul "The Punisher" Williams takes on tough and crafty former World Champion, Winky Wright. Can Paul handle this class of fighter? Does Winky still have some fight left?

Here are our predictions...

I've seen deterioration in Wright since he fought Soliman. I can't imagine 20 months off is what he needed to cure his rapid decline. Couple that with the fact that an active fighter has always posed problems for Wright and I see a complete white washing.There is no possible scenario for a Wright victory in my view. Williams wins every round until the corner stops it in the late rounds. -Mark Lyons

If Wright hasn't lost much during his long layoff I think he has what it takes to beat Williams. Williams is good, but I'm not sure he's ready for a guy with an educated jab who's never been knocked out. I see a close decision in Wright's favor because Williams throws with enough volume to keep it tight. - John Vaci

I've always had a soft spot for Wright but I can't see him winning this fight. Williams is the younger, hungrier, more athletic fighter. If you add Williams' height and reach advantages and Wright's inactivity into the mix, then it makes for a one-sided fight. I think Wright's experience and mental toughness will be enough for him to make it to the final bell but I envisage a wide points decision in favour of Williams. -David Oakes

Paul Williams of today against the Winky Wright of 3-4 years ago would be a pick-em fight. Now, with Wright getting older and coming off a nearly two year hiatus, I'd give the definitive edge to Williams. How much of the old Winky's left is a bit of a mystery. But he's never been dominated or anywhere close to getting stopped since the Vasquez fight 15 years ago, and he's been in against tough opposition for the last 3rd of his career. That means something. I think he'll put a good fight. I wouldn't be shocked if Wright continued the recent trend of old fighters beating young volume punchers who were penciled in to conquer them. But with a 21 month layoff, I see Williams outworking him for a 116-112 decision. -Michael Nelson

The fight really depends on what Winky shows up and how old that Winky is. If it's the Wright who doggedly sticks to his defensive, jab and turtle shell style whether it's working or not, he will lose. But if it's the Wright who came forward and worked inside on Jermain Taylor, then I think he has a chance to make it a good fight and maybe pull the mild upset. Winky takes a lot of crap at times for his safety first approach, but he can actually be pretty gritty. I wouldn't necessarily be surprised to see Winky win the fight, but I think at this stage of the game he's not hungry enough to do what it takes, and his recent flat footed style is going to be a tough sell against Williams' bunches of punches. For Williams, he just needs to swamp Wright and keep him at bay. I expect Winky to have some moments, but for Williams to win by decision as the older man just can't keep up. -Jeff Pryor

The age and lay-off will have Winky stuck in the mud enough for Paul to beat him 9-3. He'll have to fight hard to win those rounds, and will learn a few things along the way. -Lee Payton

Williams is an exciting fighter with a ton of talent, but he's still not polished enough for me to pick him here, even against what is reasonable to assume will be a somewhat diminished version of Winky Wright. I'm taking the cagey vet in a close one. - Andrew Fruman

Read more!

Can Winky Ruin Paul's Big Plans?

By Lee Payton

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Winky Wright was the kind of fighter manager's feared most. His southpaw jab, craft and tendency to make otherwise special fighters look ordinary was enough to convince many big time players look the other way.

A decade after making a name for himself in the US, Wright finds himself in with another of the sport's very best. This time it's 6'2 fellow lefty Paul Williams, a banger from Georgia, who was thought of as the best welterweight in the world until he left the division in search of meaningful fights.

Both of these men know what it is to be "too good", and it was the familiar reluctance of others that drove the two camps toward an unlikely agreement.

At first glance it would be perfectly understandable to conclude that the younger Williams will just be too fresh for a 37 year old who hasn't fought in about a year and a half, and while I agree that Paul should be heavily favored, I'm not sure we're in for the domination many fans expect. In the 13 years he has competed on the top level, not one opponent has shined against Wright, and many others didn't even bother taking the chance.

Of course, age and inactivity create special circumstances. We've seen time play tricks with what used to be trusty legs and a sturdy chin. Sometimes the stuff that a fighter has counted on in the past just isn't there anymore, and that's the danger for an aging athlete.

However, this is a guy who has seen it all in boxing. He fought extensively on the French circuit during the early part of his pro career. In 1997 he retained his belt in South Africa against unbeaten Harry Simon, only to have it taken away in the locker room minutes later because of a "scoring error". Fernando Vargas saw his KO streak come to an end when he was enjoying his prime years. Wright was able to hush the crowd that came to see him get flattened by Felix Trinidad, and just being in the trenches with Bernard Hopkins probably means the older man has forgotten more about boxing than his young opponent knows.

For as good as the man they call "The Punisher" is, fighting someone with this kind of skill and experience is new to him. Sure, Verno Phillips was a tough nut, and a fighter I've got loads of respect for, but he's certainly never been in the same class as Wright and wasn't capable of giving Williams anything new to think about. And even though Antonio Margarito had more fights, the problems he presented were almost strictly physical.

He's gone up against one other tricky southpaw, named Carlos Quintana, and the results were wildly mixed. A sluggish effort that saw him eating way too many clean punches, was avenged in sudden fashion with a KO in 1. While blasting away a guy that had bested him 4 months earlier is obviously impressive, it doesn't wipe away the defensive lapses that have shown up in virtually all of his fights.

Wright has only one stoppage in his last 15 fights, so there is little worry of getting clipped on the sweet spot. Not that Paul's chin appears to be a concern, as it seems to be right up there with confidence as his best assets. If he needs to worry about any punch in particular, it's that bothersome right jab.

Stylistically, it's quite interesting. Neither fighter is into giving too much ground without getting something in return, which leaves you to wonder who will command the space and the pace of the combat. If they end up standing in front of each other, chipping away behind a high guard, the veteran will be getting what he wants out of the action. That said, I don't think Williams will be all that uncomfortable with what's going on, so it's up to Wright to stay with him.

As professional as he has been, it's a fighter's hubris that keeps me from picking another seasoned underdog. There have been moments like the 12th round against Jermain Taylor, and the free shot he gave Shane Mosley, that force you to wonder about his concentration. There was also a less than desperate showing in final round of a tight one with Vargas. How deep is he willing to dig at this point?

Winky is a tough guy. He's not going out easy to anyone. In fact, if I was confident that the same guy who fought Taylor was going to show up, I'd roll with him to win a close one, but how do I know that he hasn't been splitting his free time between the gentleman's club and his favorite Krispy Kreme?

I'm one of those fans who happens to think Paul Williams has "it". He's not the most technically sound or careful pug in the world, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a guy with more heart. A talented kid with a scrapper's ticker is a dangerous proposition for anyone, even a proud spoiler. With the fight on the line, I have more faith in Williams to take it, and that's enough this time.

The young, hungry man knocks off the old-timer, who teaches him a thing or two along the way.

e-mail Lee Payton
Read more!

Flash Forward to 2012: Top 3 P4P

The title of "pound-for-pound king" brings no belt or official prize, but the financial rewards that come with it are definitely real. It also looks really good on a fighter's resume.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

The boxing landscape goes through some pretty harsh changes every year and we thought it would be interesting to see just how different things could look at the very pinnacle of the sport in three years time.

We've put our heads together and decided that perennial elites like Hopkins, Calzaghe and Marquez are likely to be out of the picture by 2012, so who will be replacing them on the P4P lists by then?

(The votes were totaled based on lists submitted by each member of The Boxing Bulletin panel - Lee Payton, Jeff Pryor, Michael Nelson, Andrew Fruman, Mark Lyons and John Vaci)

Juan Manuel Lopez (4 votes) “Another youngster who has been dynamic against the limited elite competition we've seen him in with, Lopez announced his arrival last year by blasting out Ponce De Leon in the first round. Wielding a rare combination of blazing speed and concussive power, the 25 year old Puerto Rican has begun to garner the kind of attention in his home land that suggests he may be the true successor to Trinidad's throne. Most recently, pitted against Sergio Manuel Medina (33-1), who was to provide a stern test and extend Lopez, he instead blasted out his opponent, again within the first frame. Lopez's team got on him for his listless performance against Hugo Dianzo on the Morales-Diaz undercard. Since then he's been all action and high intensity. It is that kind of ability to adjust and utilize criticism that may propel "Juanma" to the pinnacle of sport.” - JP “The 122 lb titlist from Puerto Rico has the talent to be a great fighter, but it is timing that gives him a real chance at rising to the top of the pound-for-pound lists. The junior featherweight division has a lot of character. Mexican legends Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez are thought of as two of the best fighters in the world thanks to their epic trilogy, and Celestino Caballero is a cobra waiting to strike. These fighters are extremely dangerous, but Lopez has something over all of them - time. At 25 years old, he has lots of it. We don't know just how much the two Mexicans have left after taking part in three of the most brutal fights in recent boxing history. In another year or two, they will have gotten older, while Lopez gets stronger. He's got a powerful promotional firm, tons of talent, a growing fan base and he fights in a division where the top guys might be a little long in the tooth. The opportunity is there for this little lefty.” – LP “It looks like Lopez has serious power and skills. He just hasn’t had much tough competition yet. He’s young enough where he’ll probably still be at the top of his game in 2012---and blowing out Ponce De Leon was impressive.” – JV “If he’s as durable as he is skilled, the sky’s the limit for the quick handed, explosively powerful junior featherweight. Hopefully he’ll soon get a chance to prove himself against some of high level talent around 122.” - AF

Paul Williams (3 votes) “The Punisher has a built-in pound-for-pound edge given his height. This 6'2 left-hander has the body to fight effectively at 147-168 lbs, and has shown a willingness to fight anyone in those weight classes. Paul's physical gifts are obvious upon one look, but it's his fighting spirit that has me convinced that he will be a major player for years to come. While he's not the most technically proficient guy out there, his durability and guts make him a nightmare for pretty much everyone. Up next is Winky Wright. A win there will have the major networks even more interested.” – LP “Out of the young fighters I find most promising, Paul Williams is the most tested. His chin and durability aren't in question after his heated 2007 battle with Antonio Margarito, but what’s most striking is the ability he has shown to learn and improve. Since the slick Puerto Rican southpaw Carlos Quintana defeated him in an early 2008 upset, Williams went from an awkward, swarming fighter who wasn't considered to be a big puncher to a more conscientious knockout artist, thoughtful of where he places his shots. His last three fights are a testament to his adaptability, which will be needed to remain on top of his game for years to come. His willingness to fight tough opponents doesn't hurt either.” – MN “For my money Paul Williams is the toughest man in the game. I honestly don't see anyone from 147-160 beating him anytime soon. Seeing him sit down on his punches more and fight tall has to be giving any possible opponents nightmares. Putting knockout power with the overwhelming activity and his granite chin makes the future inevitably bright for the Punisher.” – ML

Jorge Linares (3 votes) “A relative unknown until his dismantling of perennially underrated Oscar Larios, Jorge Linares is already an awe inspiring, technically impressive boxer at age 23. His precision combination punching is a rival to any fighter's in the sport. It's time to ratchet up the competition for Linares and see just how good he can be, but from everything seen so far the "Golden Boy" has shown little in the way of weaknesses. A bout against Rocky Juarez, Chris John or Humberto Soto might kick start the kid into the recognized elite and start building the necessary resume for a pound for pound run.” – JP “With his size, quickness, and explosive power, Jorge may be the fighter with the most potential on the list, but the lack of activity and progress in his career since his dominant victory over Oscar Larios in July of 2007 is a point of concern. It's not hard to envision a scenario where we don't see Linares against a name opponent until 2010. Regardless, junior lightweight and its surrounding divisions is laden with talent, so he should be able to lock down big fights eventually. Don't be fooled by the 65% knockout ratio, Linares can pop. I've seen him knock at least five fighters out cold with a single punch; a type of power that I think gives him an edge against prospective elite opponents.” - MN “He certainly looks like he has all the tools for big time stardom. He just needs to stay active, but unfortunately injuries have limited Linares to only 2 fights since his American debut against Larios back in June of 2007. If he can stay healthy – and right now he is – very big things await the smooth boxing, big punching Japanese based junior lightweight.” - AF

Chad Dawson (2 votes) “The 26 year old southpaw has already displayed some of the important intangibles that make fighters great. This might be slightly blasphemous to some, but I think Bad Chad has some Roy Jones in him. He's a fabulous athlete who is capable of throwing stinging combinations with great speed. He was defensively responsible and cool-headed while defeating Tomasz Adamek, and was able to come up with the answer when he was dropped late by a fantastic right hand. He showed that he could stick to a plan all night when he beat up Antonio Tarver for 12 rounds. And his fighting heart was on display in a war with the stubborn warrior, Glen Johnson. Interestingly, it's his willngness to fight that has some holding off when it comes to the declaration of Chad Dawson as the future, but I see it as a plus. I was impressed with how he responded to being put through the meat grinder against Johnson. He acted like a champion, and that's not something he was taught. This guy is going to be fun to watch for years.” – LP “This guy has everything you could want in a fighter. I believe my thoughts on him have already been expressed here: The Future P4P King" – ML Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Manny Pacquiao (1 vote) “Sure, he'll be thirty three in 2012, but it's not so far fetched to see Pacquiao's continuing progression as a fighter extend his longevity with the help of Freddy Roach's tutelage. Over the next few years I could see the Filipino bouncing between 135-147, taking on and taking out well chosen marquee names, before settling into 147 and riding out the remainder of his career there. He will have the fodder to maintain his lofty status, in the form of plentiful and meaningful opposition, and I think he's a fighter who can hang around the top of the pound for pound list for several years to come.” - JP

Timothy Bradley (1 vote) Photo © Justin McKie “Like Linares, Timothy Bradley has only had one test: his split decision over Junior Witter to win the WBC light welterweight title last year. Impressive in his poise and defense, I didn't view the fight as being that close. Certainly not as close as the 112-115, 114-113, 115-113 scorecards indicated. His head movement, jab, quick right hand, and dedicated body punching would be hell for anyone. The only factor I see inhibiting his rise to the top is his size; he'd be a small welterweight, should he decide to move up for more lucrative bouts.” – MN

Juan Diaz (1 vote) “The way Juan responded against Michael Katsidis after a very hard loss to Nate Campbell showed me all I needed to know about the mental strength in this young warrior. Critics have gone on for quite sometime about many "weaknesses" in the Baby Bull. I don't see it. I see a nasty body puncher with very fast hands and the toughness to remain at the top for a lengthy stretch. I think his accent on these lists will begin later this month.” - ML

Victor Ortiz (1 vote) “He’s kind of a long-shot, but he’s got the talent. He has plenty of power and if he can improve his overall skills a little, he could be quite dominant.” - JV Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Devon Alexander (1 vote) “He looks to have the slickness and skill to be world class. Still a very big question mark in terms of his elite potential as he hasn’t yet faced top opposition, but to be P4P, you need at least one very solid dimension, along with some complementary skills, and his boxing skills are looking very good up to this point.” – JV

Mikkel Kessler (1 vote) “So far, a decision loss in Cardiff against one of the sport’s best fighters is the only blemish on Kessler’s record. Before that fight, the 168 pound Dane found himself in the lower half of many P4P lists, but a hand injury has limited his activity since then. As the best fighter in a stacked division, Kessler will get plenty of chances against quality opposition to re-affirm is status as one of the world’s best.” - AF

What's your opinion? Who do you think the best of the best will be 3 years from now?

Our list is dominated by young fighters, but perhaps some savvy veteran that we had written off, or never fully recognized will earn an overdue spot near the top of the pound for pound list, like Calzaghe, Marquez and Hopkins before him.

No matter who ultimately perches atop the 2012 pound for pound list, no doubt we'll all be watching, punch for punch, as they stake their claim for greatness. The old axiom of story telling holds true for boxing too; the joy is in the journey, not so much the destination.

Contact the Boxing Bulletin

Read more!