Floyd Mayweather and 10 Fighters Who Could Win at a Different Weight Class
Floyd Mayweather's done it, and so have many other great champions.
It's one thing to stay in the same weight class forever and dominate it. Plenty of heavyweights and middleweights have done it, but what's impressive is to watch other lighter weight fighters move up and take on tougher challenges. Sometimes they look even better, and then some see their speed decrease significantly.
Go back in history, and obviously the successful ones include names like Oscar De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao. I could name countless others, but you get the point.
De La Hoya, however, was extremely slow and outmatched when he moved up to middleweight and lost to middleweight king Bernard Hopkins. Kelly Pavlik also fared poorly when he lost a unanimous decision to Hopkins in 2008 at a catchweight of 170 pounds.
Now, I could easily throw Mayweather and Pacquiao into the discussion, but both fighters have won multiple titles at different weight divisions. My question: Who else could move up and succeed? There's no right or wrong answer, so throw out your suggestions.
Here are my top 10:
10. Sergio Martinez
1 of 10
Before his skills start to erode, I sure would love to see him move up to super middleweight and face Andre Ward or do a catchweight fight with Bernard Hopkins. That would hold my attention a lot more than his next fight with middleweight Sergei Dzinziruk.
Who's that, you ask? That's my point.
9. Raul Martinez
2 of 10
Martinez (28-1) is one of the best young junior bantamweights around. I got to watch him regularly back when he was coming up through the golden gloves. I could easily see him moving up to featherweight, but that would be the limit.
Martinez (pictured, right) has always been an exceptionally fast boxer, and I think he would lose some of his speed if he got any heavier.
8. Juan Manuel Marquez
3 of 10
He's won titles at featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight. I think the great Mexican champion could move up to 140 pounds and still challenge for a title.
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7. Timothy Bradley Jr.
4 of 10
Bradley (27-0) had a less than stellar win over Devon Alexander over the weekend. It appears a rematch could follow, but Bradley (pictured, right) would be a tremendous opponent for Manny Pacquiao.
6. Andre Berto
5 of 10
Berto could go up to junior middleweight, and still have the same power. Anyone else love the possibility of a fight between him and Miguel Cotto?
5. Juan Manuel Lopez
6 of 10
The great Mexican featherweight (30-0) should be able to follow in the footsteps of other great lighter weight fighters and dominate in multiple divisions.
4. Fernando Montiel
7 of 10
Montiel (43-2-2) has an epic fight awaiting against one of Pacquiao's countrymen, Nonito Donaire. I think Montiel could be successful at both the junior featherweight and featherweight divisions.
3. Nonito Donaire
8 of 10
In many ways, he's the heir apparent to Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines. You have to wonder if he could move up in weight and dominate like Manny has. My bet? Yes.
2. Miguel Cotto
9 of 10
Anyone else like to see a fight between him and Sergio Martinez?
1. Andre Ward
10 of 10
Ward's one of the recent Olympians along with Andre Dirrell and Andre Berto who've carved out pretty successful careers, but he hasn't had as much attention. I think he could do quite well if he ever decided to jump to light heavyweight.
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