Boxing Power Rankings: Top 5 Trainers in the World

The year is drawing to a close, but there are still several big fights to come.

Read on for the updated power rankings for the top five boxing trainers in the world (with some honourable mentions).

As usual, the rankings are based on criteria from the month of October 2011 such as:

1. Recent fighters trained

2. Recent fights/titles won

3. Current fighters

4. Importance of upcoming fights

Honourable Mentions

Roger Mayweather:

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s outing against Victor Ortiz was always going to be memorable in some way. Controversy reigned when Mayweather knocked Ortiz out in the second round, an incident of which many have varying opinions.

The fight did not cover Mayweather or his trainer, Roger Mayweather, in much glory. Yet the boxer did claim the WBC Welterweight title in a division stacked with talent. How long will it be until "Money" fights again?

Roger Mayweather has also helped train welterweight fighter Jessie Vargas. Will the protege of Mayweather Promotions be the next big thing?

Trainer Power Ranking - 6/10  (Last Month - 6/10)

Teddy Atlas:

Teddy Atlas is the trainer of regular WBA Heavyweight Champion Aleksandr Povetkin. Although Povetkin is a paper champion at the moment, his crown could be validated to some extent if Atlas ensures that his fighter takes on decent opposition.

Time is on Povetkin's side. He could be a force for the future—if and when the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, retire.

It's unlikely that Povetkin will be fighting either brother in the near future, but that should not worry Atlas. If Povetkin fights one of the Klitschko brothers, then his paper reign will be a short one and Atlas will be back to square one.

Povetkin should be fighting American heavyweight Cedric Boswell on December 3rd, 2011.

Atlas should encourage Povetkin to challenge Robert Helenius, Eddie Chambers, or even Chris Arreola in 2012.

Trainer Power Ranking - 5.5/10  (Last Month - N/A)

5: Naazim Richardson

Naazim Richardson just manages to remain in the top five after a difficult month for his two main fighters.

Steve Cunningham lost his IBF World Cruiserweight title to Yoan Pablo Hernandez on October 1st, 2011. The fight was controversial for both boxers. Cunningham was knocked down in the first round and survived a very long count. After recovering well, Cunningham soundly beat Hernandez for the next five rounds until the two boxers clashed with their heads and Hernandez received a large cut.

Hernandez was declared the winner on the scorecards and became the new champion. It remains to be seen where Cunningham goes from here.

Bernard Hopkins fought Chad Dawson on October 15th, 2011. After a whirlwind few days following his controversial defeat, Hopkins was reinstated as the WBC Light-Heavyweight champion. Officials declared the result a technical draw.

It seems that a rematch may be inevitable. Hopkins appears to be struggling with injuries which could bring his long career to an end.

Trainer Power Ranking - 6.5/10  (Last Month - 6.5/10)

4: Emanuel Steward

Wladimir Klitschko takes on Jean-Marc Mormeck on December 10th, 2011. No disrespect to Mormeck, but this is a poor choice of opponent for Klitschko. It will be hard for the boxing public to get excited about the fight.

Like David Haye, Mormeck is a natural cruiserweight and a good fighter at that level. Unfortunately, Mormeck will provide little in the way of firepower and is no threat to Klitschko.

Expect the Frenchman to show a lot more heart than Haye did, however. Mormeck will not go down without a fight.

I predict that the fight will essentially be a replay of Vitali Klitschko vs. Tomasz Adamek. The two fights are pointless—they simply reassert the dominance of the Klitschko brothers.

As Wladimir Klitschko's head trainer, Steward knows that his fighter needs to do better.

Steward has said as much in recent interviews, that he would much rather his top fighter chase opponents such as Chris Arreola, Robert Helenius and Alexander Dimitrenko.

Steward will need to convince his fighter to think big for 2012. Otherwise, audiences will likely continue to shy away from the heavyweight division.

In the meantime, it was a big mistake for Miguel Cotto to drop Steward as his trainer. Cotto will soon be fighting Antonio Margarito and needs an experienced head in his corner. Without Steward, Cotto may struggle that little bit more.

Middleweight boxer Andy Lee is also trained by Steward and, like Klitschko, needs to be thinking big. With any luck, title fights may come his way soon.

Trainer Power Ranking - 7.5/10  (Last Month - 8.5/10)

3: Ignacio Beristain

Ignacio Beristain is currently preparing Juan Manuel Marquez for the fighter's third bout with Manny Pacquiao on November 12th, 2011.

The legendary trainer operates out of the Romanza Gym in Mexico City and is optimistic about Marquez's chances against Pacquiao. Hopefully, the third encounter will provide a decent fight after the disappointing headline bouts that have been held over the past few months.

In the meantime, 'Nacho' shows no signs of slowing down. Another of his top fighters, Juan Carlos Salgado, retained the IBF Super-Featherweight title against Argenis Mendez on September 10th, 2011. Salgado will defend his title on December 10th, 2011 against contender Daniel Brizuela.

With Salgado and WBC Silver Super Featherweight Champion Eduardo Escobedo in Beristain's stable, the future looks promising.

Can Marquez pull off the big one?

Trainer Power Ranking - 8/10  (Last Month 7.5/10)

2: Roberto Garcia

Roberto Garcia must have been pleased that Nonito Donaire came through his latest challenge undamaged. The easy nature of the victory, though, has disappointed many boxing fans.

Donaire is a terrific boxer but needs to move up through the divisions to fight more experienced and dangerous opponents. It would be sensible for Garcia, and promoter Bob Arum, to consider that with bigger risk comes greater glory.

Donaire is ready for a major challenge. 

Could super bantamweight world champions Guillermo Rigondeux, Toshiaki Nishioka or Jorge Arce be next for 'The Filipino Flash?'

Donaire is one of several top fighters who Garcia usually trains at his boxing academy in Oxnard, California. At the moment, Garcia is training in Mexico with two of his top stars. 

At the request of Antonio Margarito, Garcia has moved to Mexico to help the fighter prepare for his WBA Light Middleweight Title Fight against Miguel Cotto. For Margarito, the December 3rd, 2011 fight could be his last shot at redemption. It will also be his last chance to prove that he can beat Cotto fairly. 

On the same bill, WBA World Lightweight Champion Brandon Rios will defend his title against British fighter John Murray. Rios has also relocated to Mexico to train with Garcia. Like Donaire, Rios has picked a relatively half-decent challenger to test him. Expect a late stoppage or a win for Rios on points.

The Garcia family has several active boxers within their ranks; Roberto Garcia's brother, Miguel Angel Garcia, remains a decent Featherweight contender. His nephew Javier Garcia is another family fighter in the lightweight ranks. 

Trainer Power Ranking - 8.5/10  (Last Month - 7)

1: Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach retains his number one spot with several of his top fighters in major contests over the next few months. 

His most prized asset is obviously Manny Pacquiao and confidence is high in training camp that the pound-for-pound king will finally dispatch Juan Manuel Marquez once and for all on November 12th 2011.

Will Pacquiao finally fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr in 2012?

Multiple title holder Amir Khan is fast on the road to super stardom. It is becoming obvious that some fighters are avoiding the light-weltweight king. But Marcos Maidana is one fighter that will not go away.

A second win over Maidana would prove beyond doubt that Khan is the real deal but the Brit is likely to move up to Welterweight after his December fight with Lamont Peterson. Will Maidana move up in weight in order to chase him? Will Maidana prove to be Khan's equivlent to Pacquiao's problem with Juan Manuel Marquez?

But alternatively could Khan be the man to challenge the great Floyd Mayweather Jnr?

Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr currently holds the WBC Middleweight crown. The Mexican is beginning to prove he is the real article after defeating tough German Sebastian Zbik in his last fight. Chavez Jnr will take on Peter Manfredo on 19th November 2011 in his first title defence.

Freddie Roach's current top fighters seem unbeatable. Will Pacquiao, Khan and Chavez be shocked in their upcoming fights?

Trainer Power Ranking: 9/10  (Last Month: 9.5/10)