From Manny Pacquiao to Amir Khan: Ranking the 10 best boxers today

1. Manny Pacquiao(52-3-2, 38 KOs)

WBO welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao is scheduled to defend his crown against former three-division champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley May 7 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, the first fighter to capture 10 world titles in eight different divisions, is currently rated by Ring Magazine as the preeminent pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Last January, “Pac-Man” was justifiably honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) as the “Fighter of the Decade” for the 2000s. There is the “Fighting Pride of the Philippines,” and then everyone else.

2. Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs)

WBC and WBO middleweight king Sergio Matinez pulverized previously undefeated WBO super welterweight titlist Seriy Dzindzirk en route to an eighth round TKO victory to successfully defend his belts March 12 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.

The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) deservedly named Martinez their 2010 “Fighter of the Year” in late January for his dominance in the squared circle. “We’re going to have a problem making the next fight because that’s how good he is,” said Martinez promoter Lou DiBella, a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School. There is no doubt “that’s how good” Martinez is.

3. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KOs)

IBF, IBO and WBO king “Dr. Steelhammer” Wladimir Klitschko is scheduled to battle WBA titlist David “The Hayemaker” Haye in a heavyweight unification bout July 2 at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany.

Klitschko, who captured a Gold medal as a super heavyweight at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is consistently overlooked and disrespected because his competition is as tough as Clay Aiken.

“Wladimir Klitschko can be beat,” said Mike Cappiello, the owner of Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym in Brockton, Massachusetts. Klitschko absolutely “can be beat.”

Nevertheless, Klitschko has triumphed in 13 consecutive bouts, and he hasn’t been defeated in the squared circle since being TKO’d by Lamon Brewster in April 2004. That statistic demands Klitschko’s lofty ranking on this list.

4. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (41-0, 25 KOs)

Mayweather, a nine-time titlist in five separate weight classes who was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1998 and 2007, is an absolute defensive wizard and one of the most talented prizefighters ever.

Nevertheless, Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), who earned a bronze medal as a featherweight at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, has only fought on two occasions in approximately four years.

“Come on, Floyd,” said Roger “Pit” Perron, 73, a respected boxing trainer from Brockton (Mass.) who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training. “Fight or shut up.” To ascend in this list, Floyd needs to “Fight or shut up.”

5. Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs)

Lopez, a past WBO super bantamweight titlist, is currently rated by Ring Magazine as the No. 9 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Although a virtual unknown, Lopez is a spectacularly skilled fighter and, at only 27, the southpaw will be a force in the squared circle for years to come. 

6. Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs)

WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight king Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire destroyed Fernando “The Rooster” Montiel with a second-round TKO to claim his WBO and WBC Bantamweight belts February 19 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Donaire, who hasn’t fallen since he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rosendo Sanchez in March 2001 in his second professional bout, is currently rated by Ring Magazine as the number four pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Donaire, a past IBF and IBO world flyweight champ, is constantly compared to his fellow Filipino countryman, WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao. “It’s a great honor to be compared to Manny Pacquiao,” said Donaire, 28. “I mean the guy has done what no one has ever done before. So for someone to throw a name at you like that, that’s a big compliment. It’s like if you’re starting out in basketball, and someone is calling you the next Michael Jordan. I’m like, thank you.’”

Boxing fans should “thank” Donaire for being able to watch him perform in the ring.

7. Bernard Hopkins (55-5-2-1, 32 KOs)

The legendary Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will battle WBC, IBO and light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal May 21 in a rematch at a location to be determined. Hopkins’ initial December 18 bout with Pascal ended in a controversial majority draw.

At 46, Hopkins has aged gracefully and he is the antithesis of the character Randy “The Ram” Robinson from The Wrestler. “Hopkins is not in it for the money,” said Mike Cappiello, a native of Brockton who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6. “He loves to fight.”

Hopkins “loves to fight” and he will become the oldest champion in boxing history when he dissects Pascal in six weeks.

8. Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs)

WBA world light welterweight champion Miguel Cotto successfully defended his crown with a 12^th round TKO against former WBA and WBC welterweight titlist “El Matador” Ricardo Mayorga March 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cotto, a Puerto Rican icon, has only lost as a professional to Antonio Margarito and Pacquiao. However, Margarito is a documented cheater and the Mexican only managed to beat Cotto because he fought with loaded gloves.

In actuality Cotto has only been defeated once as a professional to the dynamic Pacquiao. Hence, Miguel Cotto is one of the 10 best boxers in the world today.

9. Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs)

WBC welterweight champion Andre “The Beast” Berto demolished fringe contender “El Riel” Freddy Hernandez with a brutal first-round TKO victory November 27 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), a two-time National Golden Gloves winner who captured 22 state titles in Florida, Berto is talented enough to overwhelm any boxer in the world on a given evening and, at only 27, “The Beast” will only get scarier in the ring.

10. Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KOs)

WBA world light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan successfully defended his crown against current WBA interim super lightweight titlist Marcos Maidana with a unanimous decision victory in December at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Khan, a Pakistani-British boxer who became the youngest Englishman to win an Olympic medal when he captured a silver as a lightweight at the 2004 games in Greece, is a prizefighter who possesses unlimited potential and abilities in the ring.

Khan doesn’t have any glaring warts in his arsenal and he will soon be the absolute “King” of the light welterweight division.

* Honorable Mentions- Juan Manuel Marquez, Lucian Bute and Andre Ward