THE TOP FIVE BEST AND WORST WEIGHT
CLASSES, POUND FOR POUND
By Tom Dickey
So many times I have read about pound for
pound
rankings for fighters. I thought it would be
interesting to compile a pound for pound rankings list
for weight classes. Here's my top 5 best and worst
weight classes right now.
THE BEST WEIGHT CLASSES:
140 pounds - (Super lightweight)
This weight class is loaded with stars
and upcoming stars. Kostya Tsyzu is recognized as the
champion at 140, but he has many good fighters behind
him. This weight class also includes the likes of
Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti, Vivian Harris, and
Mike Stewart. With the advancement of Floyd Mayweather
Jr. to this weight class, the 140 pounds division goes over the
top and at the top of the rankings. It has good
looking rising stars in Miguel Cotto, Kelson Pinto
and Ricky Hatton. The combination of superstars, solid
veterans, and future stars puts 140 pounds at the head
of the class.
154 pounds -(Super welterweight)
Many fighters seem to be moving up to
this weight class, and there is a good reason for
this. There are many good fighters here, and good
fights are easier to find. This weight class has
adopted Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Antonio
Margarito and Vernon Forrest from
smaller weight classes. Add to this group solid
champions like Winky Wright and Verno Phillips, and
this makes this weight class very tough to beat. The
move up to middleweight by Oscar de la Hoya cost this
weight class being number one, but it still comes in a
very close second. Throw in up and comers like
Travis Simms and Kassim Ouma to solidify this weight
class even more.
126 pounds - (Featherweight)
This may be the best
weight division around. The featherweight
division has three fighters who could be Hall of Famers in Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, and
Juan Manuel Marquez. This division was hurt a little
bit when Erik Morales left, but Morales is planning a
third fight with Barrera. It's also strong after the
top 3, just not quite as deep as 154 and 140. This
division also includes the likes of tough fighters
like Scott Harrison, Injin Chi, Manuel Medina, and
Derrick Gainer. It has future stars in Rocky Juarez
and Zahir Raheem to top it out. This division comes in
a very close third.
135 pounds - (Lightweight)
A very good division, but
there's a bit of a drop off after the first three
mentioned. A very solid division headed by Jose
Luis Castillo. It also includes solid fighters like
Juan Lazcano, Stevie Johnston, Julio Diaz, and Acelino
Freitas. Juan Diaz may be the biggest talk in this
weight division, as he already won a world title in
this weight class. A very solid division, just not as
deep as the previous three.
130 pounds - (Super Featherweight) At one time many people considered this
to be the best division. It had the likes of
Mayweather, Corrales, Casamayor, and Freitas. Now only
Corrales remains, and Casmayor is still sticking
around but struggling recently. It's still a very
strong weight class, especially since Erik Morales
moved into this division. There are other solid guys
like Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez, Robbie Peden,
Jorge Barrios, and Steve Forbes. This weight class has
a good future with the likes of Barrios and Mike
Anchondo.
180 lbs. - Cruiserweight This class enjoyed a surge last year
with the great James Toney-Vassily Jirov battle, but
like so many others they moved up to heavyweight. Now
the Cruiserweight division is back to being the step
child of the heavyweight division. Its champions
include Jean-Marc Mormeck, Kelvin Davis, and Wayne
Braithwaite.
168 lbs. - Super Middleweight
One of the problems of this
weight class is that the champions don't fight
each other, because they're so spread out across the
globe. When the champions do fight, we rarely get to
see it in the States. Joe Calzaghe is a solid fighter,
but we have yet to see him against a top notch guy.
The division also has young bright spots with Danny
Green and Jeff Lacy, solid guys like Markus Beyer
and Anthony Mundine. It has some exciting fighters
with Antwun Echols, Scott Pemberton, and Omar Sheika.
But, its lack of exposure and its lack of depth hurt
this division the most.
Heavyweight -
Ever since Lennox Lewis retired the
heavyweight division has been searching for a true
champion, and it's still searching. This division
is still an intriguing and exciting division, because
anyone could beat anyone on a given night. But, the
reason for this is the lack of good fighters in this
division. The heavyweight division is in limbo right
now, and needs a true champion. This division is still
exciting, but not very good.
122 pounds - Super Bantamweight
This division has suffered from
fighters moving up to 126 and beyond. This division
once had the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik
Morales, and Paulie Ayala. Now Oscar Larios and Israel
Vazquez rule the division. These two are good
fighters, but they don't have much help. Joan Guzman
is a good prospect to watch in this division, but for
right now this division is depleted.
147 pounds - Welterweight
Another division which
has suffered from fighters moving up. This division
once had the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley,
Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest, and
Ricardo Mayorga. All these guys have moved up, and
left the welterweight division in a weak state. Cory
Spinks rules the division right now, and even though
he has done everything asked of him, most don't
consider him a superstar. Zab Judah is one of the few
known fighters in this weight class, and he has been
struggling. There is some hope in this division with
rising stars like Kermit Cintron, Jose Celaya, and
Ishe Smith. Hopefully the welterweight division will
make a comeback soon.
