The last time I made a pound for pound top 10 boxers list was in September. But as we know, the boxing landscape can change rapidly, and as such, pound for pound lists need to be constantly updated. There have been several major fights since that list, and in fact, the majority of the fighters in that pound for pound list have fought since then.

Manny Pacquiao moved up to welterweight and dominated Oscar De La Hoya, Joe Calzaghe bested a faded Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins routed Kelly Pavlik in an upset and more. With all of those big names fighting, I'm sure there are some changes brewing in the pound for pound top 10 boxers list!

Let me also add that it is a great sign for boxing and the health of the boxing game, that the best in the business are staying active and for the most part are participating in meaningful matches. As boxing fans we know that isn't always the case.

Top 10 Pound for Pound Boxers December 2008

1. Manny Pacquiao - 48 (36) - 3 - 2

What can one say about the marvel that is Manny Pacquiao? Everyone, including myself, wrote him off against Oscar De La Hoya. Was De La Hoya way past his prime? Yes. Was he most likely drained from cutting down to welterweight for the first time in a decade? Yes. But nobody cited those things as reason for a loss beforehand, so they can't be taken for excuses after the fact.

Manny Pacquiao has stormed through the weight divisions, fighting just once at lightweight in capturing a title against overmatched David Diaz and then conquering and dismantling Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight in a way nobody else has before him. And that's what being the pound for pound best fighter in the world is all about, Manny Pacquiao bests men larger than he is through his unbridled energy and his unmatched heart and passion. While the rumors are that a Ricky Hatton match is in the works, there are two fights that we all should want to see more: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao and Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III.

Find Manny Pacquiao memorabilia and merchandise here.

2. Joe Calzaghe - 46 (32) - 0

If you're an undefeated champion for a decade, coming off another victory where some in the boxing public doubted your chances, how do you fall down from the number one pound for pound spot to number 2? Well, Manny Pacquiao has been doing more than just winning; he has been invigorating the entire sport through his explosive fighting and his dynamic performances. Calzaghe may be set to call it quits, but if he really wants to establish himself as an all time great, the only fight for him is with undefeated young American Chad Dawson. Beating Dawson would propel Calzaghe back to the top of the pound for pound list, and he could retire in peace, legacy bolstered and secured. That fight, however, is unlikely to happen.

3. Juan Manuel Marquez - 49 (36) - 4 - 1

For most of his career, Juan Manuel Marquez has been the man left out of the picture. His fellow countrymen, in the same weight classes - Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera - rose to great fame, due in large part to their fights with each other and their avoidance of Marquez. It was not until his first fight, a draw, with Manny Pacquiao that Juan Manuel Marquez became a somewhat brighter name on the marquee. But here he is again, left out of the spotlight as Manny Pacquiao, the man most people feel that he beat in their second encounter, is breaching the threshold of superstardom.

What else can Marquez do? He chased Manny Pacquiao to lightweight, and won a decisive victory over a respected titleholder. Now that the Golden Egg (Oscar De La Hoya) is out of the way for Pacquiao, one would hope that the trilogy between these two great fighters can be completed. Until then, Marquez can further improve his standing by cleaning out the lightweight division.

4. Bernard Hopkins - 49 (32) - 5 - 1

The ageless wonder has just toppled then undefeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik over a lopsided 12 rounds in Atlantic City. The one question left in my mind is: Why, Bernard? Why do you try so hard and fight so effectively when you feel the world is against you, but disappoint and fail to show up at other times? After losing an ugly decision to Joe Calzaghe, in which he embarrassed himself by faking low blows in order to buy extra time to rest, Hopkins relished and thrived in the underdog role he acquired against the Youngstown native, as he took on the task of chopping him down a bit.

That he did, and while the fight was above Pavlik's best weight, the performance was one for the ages - the middle ages, the close to pension eligible ages, the rising health insurance premium ages - and yes, the boxing ages. But what's next? A rematch with Roy Jones, the only man Hopkins will admit to losing to (he has lost to three men since he lost his first professional fight), may satisfy his ego, but will do little to inspire mainstream interest, or my own.

5. Israel Vazquez - 43 (31) - 4

Vazquez has been taking some much deserved time off following his legendary and triumphant trilogy with Rafael Marquez. The looming question is how much did those amazing fights take out of the proud warrior? No fighter is immune to the effects of battle in the squared circle, and Vazquez has had more than his share of battles. A fourth match against Marquez is likely in the future, although the two men would be better off veering off in separate directions, at least for a bit.

6. Rafael Marquez - 37 (33) - 5

Marquez has also taken most of 2008 to recover from that memorable trilogy. Although Marquez came up short in the trilogy, he is the smaller man of the two and could have won every single bout with just a slight change of luck or tactics, or if not for a gutsy, all-century 12th round by Vazquez in their third meeting. But so it goes, and Marquez has nothing to be ashamed of. The super bantamweight division is extremely packed with talent, with not just these two great fighters, but rising star Juan Manuel Lopez (see below) and accomplished titleholder Celestino Caballero. So both Marquez and Vazquez have options on the table they could and should pursue. A fourth match between them will never go away, and so it can wait.

7. Paul Williams - 36 (27) - 1

Paul Williams is truly making a case for himself on the pound for pound list, in a similar fashion as Manny Pacquiao. Not being able to secure a large fight at welterweight, with Antonio Margarito seeking ways around a rematch with the man that previously beat him and Miguel Cotto needing to rebuild himself, Williams has been jumping around several weight classes. He moved up to middleweight and scored a knockout over a modest opponent and then went to junior middleweight and won a title from cagey veteran Verno Phillips.

Since his defeat to Carlos Quintana, Paul Williams seems to have found his stride, sitting down on his punches more and hurting opponents rather than merely outworking them. Can the guy please get a major fight in which he can further prove himself? He has shown he's willing to take on all comers, and in the process he's scared off any potential suitors, all of whom have taken a collective "I'll pass" on that dangerous option.

8. Antonio Margarito - 37 (27) - 5

Antonio Margarito destroyed Miguel Cotto this summer, but since has fallen under much of the same criticisms that he liked to lay on the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and other top names in and around his division. Now a larger name himself, Margarito has avoided several tougher and more clamored for fights in favor of taking on Shane Mosley. Mosley is no slouch, but is very much on the downside of his career, without a big win in some time and having been beaten by Miguel Cotto, the man Margarito broke down so perfectly in their clash. If Margarito really wants the recognition of being the best welterweight fighter in the world, he cannot continue to avoid a rematch with Paul Williams, a fighter in his division, who beat him and has only continued to improve since.

9. Chad Dawson - 27 (17) - 0

Chad Dawson completely outclassed Antonio Tarver, but some of us knew that would happen all along. There are lingering concerns over his defense and his chin, but his offensive repertoire is nearly unmatched. Hand speed, power in both hands, flowing combinations, strong body punching, timing, unpredictability... there is nothing you can say is missing from Dawson's attack. After surviving against Glen Johnson and embarrassing Antonio Tarver, the two men against whom he could continue to make his mark are also aging or aged veterans as well, in fellow top 10 pound for pound members, Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins. Neither is likely to take on the huge risk and low reward showdown with Bad Chad though.

10. Juan Manuel Lopez - 24 (22) - 0

Some may feel that Juan Manuel Lopez, or JuanMa is still too unproven to be worthy of a pound for pound entrance. While he is still very young, he captured his title in destructive fashion and has since defended it several times. There has been some clamoring for a fight between him and division ruler Israel Vazquez. Unless Vazquez is officially shopworn following his Marquez wars, a step up that high this quickly could result in a loss for the still improving Lopez. The thing you have to love about JuanMa is not only the power of his punches, but the technical skill and relative ease with which he dishes them out. He could be a mainstay on the pound for pound list for quite sometime.

Fighters I ran out of room for: Arthur Abraham, Ivan Calderon, Miguel Cotto, Vic Darchinyan, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik

Check back in 2009, after the next batch of important contests, for an updated pound for pound list and the latest news on the best boxers in the world, including upcoming plans for Manny Pacquiao, the possible retirement of Oscar De La Hoya and the potential return to the ring for Floyd Mayweather Jr.