Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: World's Top Fighters Pick Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao has done the extraordinary by winning eight division world titles in as many divisions.

He has been fighting bigger fighters since Juan Manuel Marquez pushed him to 12 rounds in 2008.

Manny has topped every pound for pound ranking list since beating Miguel Cotto in November of last year.

Most of his fanbase considers his legacy to be complete, and some even feel he is the greatest boxer of all time. Ironically he is labeled with that honor despite not facing the best in his own time.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have been No. 1 and 2 on every boxing ranking list generated this year. Originally Mayweather was the heavy favorite to win in a head-to-head clash. Now since Manny tops the pound for pound boxing rankings, it’s a smart assumption the odds should be in his favor, right? Surely, the boxing experts see Pacquiao as the clear winner, especially since he is ranked higher.

Power rankings are created by sports analysts and writers, and most of them lack boxing experience or balance as to how they generate their opinions. The rankings have become more of a popularity contest than a balanced judgment of fighting ability. The boxing media has mistakenly been labeled experts despite biased coverage and limited fight knowledge.

I must commend HBO and ESPN for recruiting more and more trainers and retired fighters to be their odds makers and analyst. People like Teddy Atlas, Emanuel Steward, Lennox Lewis and Roy Jones Jr. are those that should be considered the experts. Each has been in the trenches as a fighter or trainer and possesses the knowledge to critique a fight independent of his emotional preference.

Lately what has become a popular trend is to get the opinion of other fighters. During recent interviews Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams and Bernard Hopkins have all given Floyd the nod.

What is an even more reliable source are those opponents shared by the two fighters. Ricky Hatton, Manuel Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya have all been in the ring against both these guys, and all three of them picked Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Hatton said, "If I had to put money on it I'd tip Mayweather though. He has the style and sets up shop so you can't nail him.

"Mayweather is so good he doesn't let you get any punches off. If he makes Pacquiao miss he'll take the sting out of him.”

Marquez: “No question, Mayweather is the best fighter in the world. He is just better skilled than Pacquiao.”

After Floyd Mayweather embarrassed Shane Mosley, De La Hoya simply said, “Floyd is the best I’ve ever seen.”