Nothing happened in July that changed our pound-for-pound rankings. But you still need to read them. How else will you know what is in the future for the top 10? How else will you know what fight to watch in August? You really don’t want to be the person that has nothing to talk about around the water cooler tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and make the click.
Inside Fights Pound-for-Pound Rankings
1. Manny Pacquiao
Last Month: 1
You may have heard that Manny has signed to fight Miguel Cotto in November. It’s a compelling matchup and the biggest fight scheduled for the remainder of the year.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr
Last Month: 2
Floyd will be meeting Juan Manuel Marquez in September. The winner of this fight positions himself for a superfight against the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez
Last Month: 3
Marquez faces Mayweather in September in the biggest fight of his career. He is motivated to become the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world and a win over Mayweather will go a long way in helping Marquez achieve that goal.
4. Bernard Hopkins
Last Month: 4
After trying for months to get fights that were unattainable, Hopkins says he now wants to face the winner of November’s fight between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson. Hopkins shouldn’t have a problem getting that fight.
5. Paul Williams
Last Month: 5
Williams should be signing his next fight contract sometime this month. He’s been rumored to be in negotiations with numerous fighters, most notably Kelly Pavlik.
6. Israel Vazquez
Last Month: 6
Vazquez has been cleared to return to the ring and hopes to fight in September. Boxing fans look forward to his return.
7. Shane Mosley
Last Month: 7
Where does Mosley go now that Pacquiao is fighting Cotto? He doesn’t have a lot of options. Andre Berto and Kermit Cintron are the best remaining fighters without dance partners.
8. Miguel Cotto
Last Month: 8
Cotto takes on our #1 ranked fighter, Manny Pacquiao, in November. It will be his biggest fight to date and a chance to dismiss the sentiment that he is damaged goods.
9. Chad Dawson
Last Month: 8
Dawson fights Glen Johnson in November. A win will put Dawson in line for a huge fight with Bernard Hopkins.
10. Arthur Abraham
Last Month: 10
Abraham has entered the 6-man super middleweight tournament set to air on Showtime. He faces Jermain Taylor in October.
August Fight to Watch
Staff Pick: Timothy Bradley vs. Nate Campbell
Aug 1st on Showtime
Boxing has been making sports headlines on a daily basis this summer. Unfortunately, it’s been for all the wrong reasons with the deaths of Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti, Marco Nazareth and Vernon Forrest, rather than good fights taking place. August packs some good but not really any great fights, the best being Nate Campbell challenging Tim Bradley for the WBO Junior Welterweight Championship. Bradley is still trying to become a superstar, and he’s making all the right moves by taking on tough competition. Campbell needs to redeem himself after failing to make weight to defend his 135-pound titles, so it will be interesting to see how he handles a new weight class. Neither guy can afford to lose this one if they want a big fight against Ricky Hatton, should he fight again. Expect Bradley to try to box his way through, but Campbell will make him fight and turn it into a good show. – Corey Willinger
