Floyd Mayweather's dominating win Saturday night over DeMarcus Corley in his 140-pound debut gives the former Olympian a strong claim as the world's mythical pound-for-pound champion.
But does the win make him No. 1?
As tough as Corley is, a quick knockout might have. Despite knocking him down twice officially and surviving a jarring attack in the third round himself, Mayweather's performance was very good, but not great.
Of course, Mayweather is claiming the win makes him No. 1, filling an opening created when Tampa's Antonio Tarver one-punched Roy Jones Jr. down the charts.
Mayweather, however, hasn't quite climbed the mountain.
Here are the Times' top 10 pound-for-pound fighters:
1. Bernard Hopkins, 160 pounds, 43-2-1 record: He's getting old, but the undisputed middleweight champ hasn't lost in 11 years since Jones beat him, and his work in the middleweight boxing tournament, including the 160-pound unifying win over Felix Trinidad, and since proves he is the best in the game.
2. Mayweather, 140, 32-0: Fights an impressive schedule and continues to win. His defensive posturing early in his career turned him off to many boxing fans, but he's become an exciting puncher to watch.
3. Tarver, 175, 22-2: Might be a little high, considering that Tarver's professional resume is not all that impressive. But when was the last time a world champion was knocked out with one punch? Still thinking? Me too.
4. Jones, 175, 49-2: Knocked from top spot after loss to Tarver. Or is it two losses to Tarver? If Jones manages to avenge the loss, his standing could be restored.
5. Manny Pacquiao, 125, 38-2-2: Maybe the most exciting, devastating fighter in the sport. His battle with Juan Manuel Marquez was fight-of-the-year material and he destroyed Marco Antonio Barrera in November, just one in a long string of crushing knockouts.
6. Winky Wright, 154, 47-3: St. Petersburg's finest dominated Shane Mosley, once thought to be the best pound-for-pound fighter, in March and will try to again in the fall. If that was the Wright in their first meeting, a possible showdown with No. 1 Hopkins would be huge.
7. Oscar De La Hoya, 154, 36-3: Every one of his losses has been by razor-thin margins and disputed. Plans on fighting Hopkins later this year.
8. Erik Morales, 130, 46-1: Since a 2002 loss to Barrera, Morales has won five fights in impressive fashion, including handing Paulie Ayala his first loss in winning the WBC featherweight title. Will try to unify against Carlos Hernandez in July.
9. Marquez, 125, 42-2-1: The IBF and WBA featherweight champ got up from the canvas in the first round three times against Pacquiao this month, and won in many people's eyes going away. The rematch should be a doozy.
10. Cory Spinks, 147, 33-2: Unified welterweight champ, but probably just keeping the spot warm until Kostya Tszyu, Vernon Forrest or Trinidad get back in the ring.
COMEBACK BEGINS?: Hundreds packed into Pensacola's historic downtown district for a rally for hometown hero Jones, who skipped his gig as HBO analyst to attend. Jones told the crowd he would be back, but whom he's back against remains to be seen. If it's money he wants, then a move back to heavyweight is in order. If it's his pride and dignity, then Jones should look to get Tarver in the ring one more time.
END OF THE ROAD: The long career of legend Julio Cesar Chavez may have come to a close Saturday when he defeated nemesis Frankie Randall in Mexico City. Chavez, 41, said it was his last fight, ending a 24-year career that featured memorable bouts with De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor. Chavez (106-5-2, 86 KOs) was one of the best fighters of his generation and for many years was considered by some to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He was World Boxing Council champion in three divisions - super-featherweight, lightweight and light welterweight.
- Information from other news organizations was used in the report.[Last modified May 25, 2004, 01:15:22]
