Roy Bennett’s Top Ten P4P List in Boxing Today
By Roy Bennett (Who else do you think it would be by?)
10. Terrence Crawford
Terrence Crawford knows how to draw a crowd. He is that rare thing nowadays. A boxer who puts actual butts in seats. The switch hitter out of Omaha, Nebraska is a throwback fighter able to fill arenas to capacity in his home constituency. The atmosphere generated by his fans during his brawl last year against Yuriorkis Gamboa reminded me of the big fight crowds of the 1980’s. Absolutely electric. His recent foray into the jr welterweight division, and the manner with which he dispatched the talented Thomas Dulorme, will only have added to his considerable stock.
9. Guillermo Rigodeaux
For my money probably the best pure boxer in the game today. To watch the Cuban star box is to see art and science in action. Heavily avoided by the fighters in and around super bantamweight he continues to look for a big fight. Ireland’s unbeaten IBF titleholder Carl Frampton has expressed an interest in a showdown with the Cuban maestro. Let’s hope it happens. Alternatively Rigondeaux might have to return to Asia if he wants to stay busy. There will be no shortage of offers from Japan.
8. Miguel Cotto
Cotto is in the twilight of a long and successful career. His lineal middleweight title win over Sergio Martinez may very well turn out to be his crowning glory. A recent multi fight deal with Roc Nation Sports reportedly netted him in excess of fifty million dollars. Fans are calling for Cotto to defend his title against Gennady Golovkin , the big punching WBC interim middleweight belt holder. Cotto has said he won’t be dictated to by anyone. Including the governing body whose title he holds. In the meantime Daniel Geale has been green lighted as his next opponent.
7. Roman Gonzalez
Gonzalez was a protégé of the late great three weight world champion, and fellow Nicraguan, Alexis Arguello and it shows. The former light flyweight and current WBC flyweight champion does everything well and has knockout power to back up his considerable skill set. He fought four times last year. All wins. All inside schedule. He won two stay busy fights, moved up in weight to win a flyweight world title, and defended it once. Thus far this year he’s had one stay busy fight in Nicuragua which he also won by knockout. He’s scheduled to defend against Mexico’s Edgar Sosa next. There is talk of a showdown with Japanese super flyweight phenom Naoya Inoue. The boxing hardcore are salivating at the prospect.
6. Sergey Kovalev
“The Krusher” continues to destroy all in his path with his concussive punching power. After dominating Bernard Hopkins and making the veteran warrior look all of his almost fifty years, Canada’s Jean Pascal was the latest victim to feel the weight of Kovalev’s heavy handed attack. A fight with his dynamite fisted rival Adonis “Superman” Stevenson is one of the most in demand match ups in boxing. If that fight does get made don’t blink.
5. Timothy Bradley
Bradley came up the hard way. In the process he has proved that he can both box smartly and have a Pier 6 brawl when the need arises. He won his first world title on the road traveling across the pond to beat England’s Junior Witter. He has outboxed Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez and endured two punishing fights with Manny Pacquiao, winning their first fight via controversial decision. Knockdown drag out wars with the likes of Kendall Holt and Ruslan Provodnikov have earned him the respect of the fans.
4. Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao was once likened to a hurricane blowing across the Pacific Ocean when he first fought on American shores. Today, fourteen years later, the hurricane isn’t blowing quite as fiercely. Nonetheless, Pacquiao has racked up three very good wins since the KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. Points wins over Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley, and Chris Algieri, the latter of whom was knocked down six times, prove the Filipino whirling dervish is still a major force to be reckoned with.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez
The stunning one punch knockout victory over bitter nemesis Manny Pacquiao has ensured this Mexican warrior his place in boxing legend alongside Hispanic greats of the past. He has nothing left to prove at this point, the tail end of a long and storied career. However, he says he wants to fight on. A possible fight with England’s IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook could be on the cards later this year.
2. Wladimir Klitschko
After suffering two crushing KO defeats, to Corey Sanders in 2003 and Lamon Brewster in 2004, Wladimir went back to basics. Under the late great trainer Emannuel Steward the younger Klitschko brother perfected his boxing style. He’s been untouchable ever since. Possessing a punishing jab with knockout power in either hand he is the standard bearer for the new age of super heavyweight. Physically huge, lean, and technically sound.
1. Floyd Mayweather, JR.
Slick, quick, and accurate, his brand of smooth boxing, defensive genius, and overall ring intelligence has yet to meet its match. Unbeaten for nearly nineteen years, he is scheduled to meet arch rival Manny Pacquiao in ring center for thereferee’s instructions on May 2nd. Mayweather has stated, “I’ve never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life.” Will this be the fight to really stretch him to the very limit of his pugilistic talent? We could be about to see the best Floyd Mayweather JR. ever.
