[Chatty]

Simply put. You have five real contenders for this spot at the moment so lets look at their records over the last four/five years:

Floyd Mayweather Jnr:

Miguel Cotto - good win over a well on his way out fighter. I had Floyd winning comfortably on points but Cotto made him fight harder than usual. The Cotto names a good one but look deeper into his LMW resume and its not very impressive, his wins coming against mainly injured fighters who weren't either good to begin with, shot or old.

Victor Ortiz - fight was a shambles and Ortiz really isn't a very good boxer. Still a decent win but nothing to crow home about.

Shane Mosley - No problem with him taking this fight as it was the second biggest fight people wanted to see. Mosley was shot though and it was apparent afterwards as he lost to almost everyone he fought fairly easily (1 draw against a b-level fighter).

Juan Manuel Marquez - a really quality win marred by bringing JMM two weights up and then not making the catchweight. I still rank it highly though, he best win since his return.

Andre Ward:

Chad Dawson: Took the reigning LHW champion and destroyed him. Very good performance and victory but wasn't at Dawsons best weight.

Carl Froch: Beat the number two guy in the division convincingly with one hand - extremely good victory.

Arthur Abraham: Forced fight in the supersix, beat him with ease.

Sakio Bika: Again a fight to bide time as Dirrell pulled out, solid win, nothing special though.

Allan Green: Comfortable victory over a decent opponent.

Mikkel Kessler: Was the underdog but won with ease (although use of the head was a help), nonetheless another very good victory.

Sergio Martinez:

JCC Jnr: Won near every round but was caught, dropped and nearly stopped in the twelfth. Decent win.

Matthew Macklin: Solid win, had some problems but came through.

Darren Barker: As above.

Sergiy Dzinziruk: Destroyed the previously unbeaten Ukrainian every though Dzinziruk hasn't looked as good since. Still a very good victory.

Paul Williams: Probably his stand out win, destroyed Williams in two, a guy who had edged him previously and had proven to be a solid world level operator with a solid chin.

Kelly Pavlik: was close early but pulled away after cutting him to prove himself middleweight number one.

Nonito Donaire:

Jorge Arce: Destroyed the aged warrior, Arce wasn't near peak but was a decent victroy to cap of a year with four fights.

Toshiaki Nishioka: Very solid win. Nishioka was the number one in the division until Donaire and Mares moved up and had performed well in all his previous fights.

Jeffrey Mathebula: Unification against a solid competitor.

Wilfredo Vasquez Jnr: Another solid competitor. Didn't impress as much as usual but still won cleanly.

Omar Navaez: Won a shut out over the Argentinian in a dull fight.

Fernando Montiel: Destroyed the Mexican with ease in a big fight.

Volodymyr Sydorenko: pretty much destroyed the underrated Ukranian.

Hernan Marquez: Defeated another solid competitor with ease in Marquez

Juan Manuel Marquez:

Manny Pacquaio: easily the best win from everybody on this list, knocked the Filipino unconscious in a FOTY.

Serhiy Fedchenko: Decent win over a so so competitor.

Manny Pacquaio: Lost but most felt he won in another quality display.

Likar Ramos: Tune up over a no name.

Michael katsidis: Decent win, nothing spectacular.

Juan Diaz: Diaz was pretty much done here and came to survive. First victory over him was worth more.

For me I will have it:

Donaire
Ward
Martinez
Mayweather
Marquez.

Discuss

 

[JamieC]

ye theres a real argument for him, I'd probably have him as no1 if he beats Rigo who i feel is the toughest fight out there for him, i feel the Nishioka win gets underplayed, when this was announced it was a very very tough fight to call with many thinking Nishioka's fundamental skill would offset Donaire's explosiveness, but he made it look easy

 

[adamcanavan]

You coud definitey make a case for it, hes number 2 at the moment despite my opininion on how poor mayweathers record is and rigo>>>>>>guerrero, think if nonito wins i will push him up to my no1 spot. Although i do think rigo is going to win

 

[Lunny]

I think a lot of people will try and downplay a voctory over Rigo if it happens. Number 1 spot will be deserved though.

 

[Roe]

There's a fair case for that yeah.

Those top 5 are almost unsplittable (umm inseparable?) for me. It mostly comes down to personal preference. Mayweather is only really #1 for most people due to longevity.

 

[JamieC]

There's a fair case for that yeah.

Those top 5 are almost unsplittable (umm inseparable?) for me. It mostly comes down to personal preference. Mayweather is only really #1 for most people due to longevity.

thats the reason he's mine, i might change that from Saturday regardless of Donaire Rigo result, the best win belongs to JMM, Ward is arguably the most unbeatable now and Donaire has the best record, can't find a reason for Floyd to still occupy number 1 really

 

[Chatty]

It all depends on how you do your list as well.

I only take the last four to five years into question as I see it as a form league rather than legacy league and on that maywather slips down to about fourth (although not much between them all). On a legacy league it changes up but his wins over Oscar, hatton, Corrales, castillo etc were a pretty long time ago now so he gets no love for them from me in the P4P mix-up.

 

[BUMPY]

He has not done enough to overtake Mayweather. But well deserved second (if he isn't already).

 

[Vano-irons]

I was thinking about this last night. He is number 2 on my list (behind Mayweather), and he should be considered at leats nunber 2 on everyone's list if he beats Rigo (even tho im not convinced Rigo is that good if im honest).

I'd struggle to push Mayweather down to number 2, but if you leave him off the list completely (which you could due to his inactivity).

Ward would be above everyone else now I think. I'd say his wins were better than anyone elses

 

[JamieC]

What are people's reasons to keeping Mayweather at the top? His best wins are ages ago and his most recent win was just bettered by Austin Trout so he's not even the form guy

 

[BUMPY]

@chatty you actually have Martinez and Ward above Mayweather? Donaire I can understand but don't agree with but the other two I'm struggling with.

 

[BUMPY]

What are people's reasons to keeping Mayweather at the top? His best wins are ages ago and his most recent win was just bettered by Austin Trout so he's not even the form guy

Well Mayweather has not only more/better names on his resume than anybody else and has not lost, but he's dominated absolutely everyone he's ever been in the ring with. He took Marquez to school, he dominated Mosley who was coming off arguably his greatest performance stopping Margarito, he thrashed Cotto too, the only reason it looked competitive was because Mayweather stood and fought him and took more shots than usual, Cotto really didn't do that well.

 

[Chatty]

@chatty you actually have Martinez and Ward above Mayweather? Donaire I can understand but don't agree with but the other two I'm struggling with.

I only rank ont he last 4/5 years so yeah Mayweather hasn't really done anything exceptional in that time. Mosley and Cotto were well past prime and Ortiz isn't very good. marquez is a very good win even with the weight advantage but I'd certainly say wins over Froch/Kessler and Williams/Pavlik are combined with their other wins are better than Floyd's in that period.

Overall I wouldn't rank them higher but in that period then year, Floyd gets marked down on inactivity and poorer opponents.

 

[BUMPY]

I only rank ont he last 4/5 years so yeah Mayweather hasn't really done anything exceptional in that time. Mosley and Cotto were well past prime and Ortiz isn't very good. marquez is a very good win even with the weight advantage but I'd certainly say wins over Froch/Kessler and Williams/Pavlik are combined with their other wins are better than Floyd's in that period.

Overall I wouldn't rank them higher but in that period then year, Floyd gets marked down on inactivity and poorer opponents.

Fair enough, decent evaluation of things, personally I dont rate Martinez or Wards wins high enough to out do Mayweather.

 

[Chatty]

Fair enough, decent evaluation of things, personally I dont rate Martinez or Wards wins high enough to out do Mayweather.

I don't think theres much between all five to be honest. A couple of real good wins/losses between them and it could be switched right up. I suppose Pacquaio could get himself back in the mix with two good wins but he's just behind for now.

Legacy wise I'd have Mayweather top no doubt and as far as boxing is concerned he's the man to beat. He just hasn't took many risks the last few years and has dropped off a bit for me. A couple of good wins though and he'd be back in that spot.

 

[BUMPY]

I don't think theres much between all five to be honest. A couple of real good wins/losses between them and it could be switched right up. I suppose Pacquaio could get himself back in the mix with two good wins but he's just behind for now.

Legacy wise I'd have Mayweather top no doubt and as far as boxing is concerned he's the man to beat. He just hasn't took many risks the last few years and has dropped off a bit for me. A couple of good wins though and he'd be back in that spot.

Yeah I undestand your point of view mate, if I wasn't such a flomo I'd probably have Donaire above him but my bias clouds my judgement!

 

[JamieC]

Well Mayweather has not only more/better names on his resume than anybody else and has not lost, but he's dominated absolutely everyone he's ever been in the ring with. He took Marquez to school, he dominated Mosley who was coming off arguably his greatest performance stopping Margarito, he thrashed Cotto too, the only reason it looked competitive was because Mayweather stood and fought him and took more shots than usual, Cotto really didn't do that well.

i dont think hes tested himself to his upper limit though tbh, and i think against Cotto he just didnt have the legs he used to, we'll see against Guerrero i guess, but hopefully this 6 fight deal comes to fruition and he takes on the best again and gets back (for me) clearly to the top of the pile, as right now i think its debatable if he is the best fighter in the world right now, but like i said he can change that

 

[BUMPY]

i dont think hes tested himself to his upper limit though tbh, and i think against Cotto he just didnt have the legs he used to, we'll see against Guerrero i guess, but hopefully this 6 fight deal comes to fruition and he takes on the best again and gets back (for me) clearly to the top of the pile, as right now i think its debatable if he is the best fighter in the world right now, but like i said he can change that

No way has he got 6 fights left in him IMO. Guerrero may be the last victim, or possibly a super fight with Canelo and then he'll retire I reckon.