1. Manny Pacquiao
Manny further solidified his legendary status in the sport by dismantling Miguel Cotto with a 12th round TKO. There really is no one else left for Pacquiao to fight other than a mega blockbuster fight with our number 2 which looks like it will happen March 13th (pending the drug testing issue).
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
After a perfect shutout against the smaller Juan Manuel Marquez, there are still lingering unanswered questions about Mayweather's desire to fight a truly legitimate challenger. That's not to say Marquez wasn't legitimate. It's just that Marquez was much smaller. Now is the time for Floyd to step up and fight Manny Pacquiao which is what he seems to be doing (despite the drug testing distraction).
3. Bernard Hopkins
Bernard's most recent win showed that he still has a lot left. He dismantled solid journeyman Enrique Ornelas after a long lay of since his wipe out of Kelly Pavlik. However, an expected showdown with Roy Jones Jr. will not happen since Jones was KO'd in the first round by Danny Green. Hopkins options now are Lucien Bute, Danny Green and Tomasz Adamek. All are decent fights so lets hope one of them gets made.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez
Marquez doesn't lose much after a tough loss to Floyd Mayweather in a fight way beyond his weight class against a fighter who came in two pounds over the agreed upon limit. Not to mention - his opponent was the former pound for pound king and current number 2. Marquez will now need to stay busy and take an easier fight. Ricky Hatton looms but he will need time to get back into shape.
5. Paul Williams
Despite his close fight with Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams is still underrated. Although that is slowly changing with his victories over Winky Wright, Antonio Margarito, Verno Phillips and Martinez along with his versatility across weight divisions. Williams' biggest challenge is to attract fights with top opposition given his lack of drawing power and the risk he poses in the ring. Kelly Pavlik is a great example of the difficulty Williams faces in getting top fighters in the ring. Pavlik has been seemingly ducking Williams for most of 2009.
Despite his close fight with Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams is still underrated. Although that is slowly changing with his victories over Winky Wright, Antonio Margarito, Verno Phillips and Martinez along with his versatility across weight divisions. Williams' biggest challenge is to attract fights with top opposition given his lack of drawing power and the risk he poses in the ring. Kelly Pavlik is a great example of the difficulty Williams faces in getting top fighters in the ring. Pavlik has been seemingly ducking Williams for most of 2009.
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