The beautiful thing about a fight, however, is that come fight night all of the hype can be put aside. There's no more time for life stories and goals. No more time for big mouthed trainers. It's just two men staring each other down in that ring. The better man will almost always emerge.

Meet the Combatants

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Height: 5'7" Reach: 67"

48 (36) - 3 - 2

Recognized Number 1 Pound for Pound

Best Wins: KO3 & TKO10 Erik Morales; TKO11 & UD Marco Antonio Barrera), SD Juan Manuel Marquez, TKO8 Oscar De La Hoya

Last 5 fights: 5-0, 3 knockouts, spanning 3 weight classes

Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton

Height: 5'7" Reach: 65"

45 (32) - 1

Recognized Junior Welterweight Champion

Best Wins: TKO11 Kostya Tszyu; KO4 Jose Luis Castillo; TKO11 Paulie Malignaggi

Last 5 fights: 4 -1, 2 knockouts, spanning 2 weight classes

Pacquiao vs. Hatton Preview

Manny Pacquiao is the dynamo. He has been storming up through the weight classes and toppling every foe he faces. Ricky Hatton is the rebounding champion looking for redemption. He has fought one pound for pound champion before and he got knocked out. He has a chance to fix that stain on his record. How will this fight between respected champions play out?

Going into his fight with Oscar De La Hoya, many people were counting Manny Pacquiao out. He had only had one fight above 130 pounds in his career, and that was a stoppage win over the dreadfully overmatched titleholder David Diaz. Meanwhile, De La Hoya had been taking on middleweights and junior middleweights for a decade.

Ultimately, that would his downfall as he drained himself cutting weight and was but a shadow of himself on fight night. Regardless, Pacquiao put on an overwhelming show, beating Oscar to the punch and beating him up, out of the fight and out of the boxing world for good.

It's easy to forget after that performance that it was but a year ago when the majority of people who saw the fight felt that fellow 130 pound fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, out-boxed Pacquiao to an easy decision win only to have the decision be handed to the thrilling, action brawler.

Could it be possible that a win over an aged and weight drained De La Hoya has left the world overestimating the abilities and capabilities of Manny Pacquiao? Surely he can't keep on moving up in weight and taking out champions indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Ricky Hatton is the underdog in a fight despite being the recognized number one man in the division. His move up to welterweight was a failed venture. He had a scare against Luis Collazo and then was knocked out by then pound for pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr. Since, he looked less than stellar in beating Juan Lazcano before regaining some form en route to stopping Paulie Malignaggi last November.

The two men share a common weakness: slick, counterpunching boxers. Pacquiao met his in Juan Manuel Marquez and Hatton his in Floyd Mayweather. Neither faces such a problem in one another. So how will their styles clash?

Both fleet of foot and both packing power, their styles are still contrasting. Pacquiao, the southpaw, focuses on throwing his right jab followed by his thunderous straight left. Hatton throws quick half-jabs before jumping inside to throw hooks to the body. Hatton, also a dedicated clincher and mauler on the inside, holds after he throws punches to stymie his opponents' counterpunching.

That brings us to the first major question of the fight, will Hatton able to catch Pacquiao and hold onto him, throwing him off his game? Or will Pacquiao be able to dart in and out as he did against De La Hoya?

The second major question in the fight is how each man will cope with the other's power. Pacquiao will be facing a legitimately hard punching junior welterweight, something he has never seen before. While Pacquiao's power may not be as daunting as Kostya Tszyu's, it combines with his speed to make his punches an altogether different and more dangerous weapon set for Hatton to face as well.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton Prediction

Expect the early rounds to see Pacquiao jumping in and landing a few good 1-2 combinations. He will attempt some flurries but will miss a good deal of the shots, although the crowd will think otherwise. Hatton will have some success, missing most of his powerful body punches but getting a hold of Pacquiao enough to make the rounds close.

As Pacquiao picks up his pace after three or four rounds, he will begin opening up his repertoire of punches beyond his standard jab-left combo. Incorporating his uppercut will prove to be a decisive factor, as Hatton's leaps inside will leave him vulnerable to Pacquiao's powerful and quick shots.

Hatton's hopes rest on his ability to land a game changer. Either a thudding left hook to the body or head could leave Pacquiao reeling. Unfortunately for Hatton, Pacquiao fights hardest when in trouble, and Hatton would not want to see a wounded, fire breathing, 20-punch-at-a-time throwing Manny Pacquiao.

By round 5 or 6, Hatton will begin to cut and bruise. The round by round accumulation of punishment will start to slow him down. Powered on by his rowdy, chanting group of traveling supporters he will still prove to be dangerous, never giving up. However, the damage will eventually build up to an insurmountable degree.

After soldiering on through rounds of punishment, landing only minimal punches, the ref, or the corner, will step in to save Hatton in round 10.

Pacquiao TKO10 Hatton

Next up for Manny Pacquiao should hopefully be a monster of a fight against Floyd Mayweather. The fight would be a dream contest of opposing styles featuring the last two pound for pound champions. Be sure to catch the Pacquiao Hatton fight on May 2nd to see what happens.

The last time I took a list at the top 10 pound for pound boxers in the world was in December. Manny Pacquiao was fresh off of his destruction of Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins was enjoying his extended reemergence as a dominant fighter after thoroughly dominating Kelly Pavlik.

Since then a lot has changed. Joe Calzaghe has announced his retirement, joining the likes of Floyd Mayweather as fighters who retired at the top of the game with an undefeated record but are likely to be drawn back to the sport for the right fight. Antonio Margarito was suspended for using illegal hand wraps, and Shane Mosley emerged as the best welterweight in the world. Let's take a look at the current top 10 pound for pound boxers.

1A. Manny Pacquiao - 48 (36) - 3 - 2 - After jumping up to welterweight and trouncing Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao's next fight is scheduled for May against junior welterweight Ricky Hatton. Hatton fought the last pound for pound king, Floyd Mayweather, in December of 2007 and suffered his only defeat. He faces an entirely different beast in Manny Pacquiao, but perhaps one he is better suited to. Will Pacquiao's speed and power enable him to avoid Hatton's inside mauling tactics?

1B. Juan Manuel Marquez - 50 (37) - 4 - 1 - Marquez established himself as the best lightweight on the planet when he knocked out Juan Diaz. After which he called out the retired Mayweather, while still clamoring for another shot at Manny Pacquiao. Marquez, like Pacquiao, has been able to take both his speed and his power up to higher weight classes. As one of the most technically sound fighters in the game he has a chance to pull out any fight that he enters. The Diaz performance was a dynamic one, and Marquez needs big fights at this stage of his career. He's following Pacquiao and the money to the junior welterweight ranks.

3. Bernard Hopkins - 49 (32) - 5 - 1 - After Hopkins embarrassed the middleweight champion, he has taken some time to survey the scene. With Calzaghe retiring, and the prospects of facing the quick and powerful Chad Dawson in a Jermain-Taylor-nightmare-redux scenario (younger, physically gifted fighter in his prime) awaiting him, Hopkins instead may be opting to jump to cruiserweight to challenge champion Tomasz Adamek. Dawson was able to outbox Adamek, so one would have to give the crafty Hopkins a solid chance at out pointing the best cruiserweight on the planet.

4. Israel Vazquez - 43 (31) - 4 - Now inactive for a year, Vazquez has been eyeing several return bouts. The possibilities include a fourth fight with Marquez and battles with young stars such as Juan Manuel Lopez. However, if he doesn't return to the ring soon, he risks losing his status as one of the best warriors in the game. One has to wonder how much the Marquez fights took out of him at this point.

5. Rafael Marquez - 37 (33) - 5 - Ditto for Marquez.

6. Paul Williams - 36 (27) - 1 - Williams finally has his next fight scheduled. After not being able to secure a bout with any of the top welterweights, Williams will be taking on veteran tactician Winky Wright. Wright hasn't fought since he jumped to 170 and looked out of shape in a losing effort to Bernard Hopkins a year and a half ago. Williams, who has been jumping around weight classes from welterweight to middleweight, would make a statement by beating Wright, who is returning to a more natural weight.

7. Shane Mosley - 46 (39) - 5 - Antonio Margarito and his hand wraps didn't phase Shane Mosley. The former welterweight champ made a long awaited return to the top of the welterweight division. He showed why he is still a fan favorite, a head first style, power in both hands and a willingness to take on seemingly all comers, which has in the past cost him his perch atop the boxing world. Mosley was narrowly out pointed by Miguel Cotto, and now that Margarito is suspended and Cotto has returned from his loss via the possibly tainted hands of Margarito, a rematch between the two seems the logical decision.

8. Chad Dawson - 27 (17) - 0 - Dawson's rematch with Antonio Tarver was postponed after he suffered an injury in training. It would be much better if the rematch was cancelled. In its place could be a rematch of a fight that was actually close and disputed, with Glen Johnson. Dawson could also jump to cruiserweight to fight a man he has also already beaten (a win that looks more impressive in each passing day), Tomasz Adamek. Of course fights against Hopkins and Calzaghe would be interesting, but both seem to want to go in another direction.

9. Tomasz Adamek - 37 (25) - 1 - Perhaps the fighter on the best streak in boxing is Tomasz Adamek. After suffering his lone loss to Chad Dawson, Adamek jumped up to cruiserweight and emerged as an unstoppable wrecking ball. He dispatched former unified champion O'Neil Bell and then dispatched champion Steve Cunningham. Since, he knocked out Johnathon Banks seemingly out of nowhere, and a rematch with Cunningham awaits, as long as he accepts the challenge.

10. Vic Darchinyan - 32 (26) - 1 - 1 - After being knocked out against Nonito Donaire, the cocky Armenian went back to the gym and honed his craft. He returned with a crisp jab and enough head movement that the word "defense" can now be counted as being included in his vocabulary. A three fight win steak over Dmitri Kirillov, Cristian Mijares and Jorge Arce is as good as any active fighter's not named Tomasz Adamek. However, continuing to move up in weight and challenging the fighters at 122 lbs could be a case study in fatal hubris.

Bubble Fighters: Arthur Abraham, Ivan Calderon, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Lopez

Oscar De La Hoya was Boxing's Biggest Earner

The pending retirement from boxing by Oscar De La Hoya would leave a massive gap in the financial workings of the sport and in the amount and quality of public attention given to the sport. For better or worse, an Oscar De La Hoya boxing match was an event. It brought out the celebrities and the major media outlets, and millions of fans routinely tuned in at steep prices just for a glimpse.

The lights shined their brightest on the sport when Oscar De La Hoya was involved in a major fight. This not only lined his pockets, but provided opportunities for many other fighters not just for one big payday, but for a shot at establishing themselves as major household names. Fighting the Golden Boy was akin discovering a Golden Egg under your pillow the next morning. All of the sudden the public knew you and wanted to see more of you.

Taking heavyweights out of the picture, all of the financial records and milestones in boxing belong to Oscar De La Hoya. The biggest live gates, largest pay-per-view audiences, total revenues earned for fights and for an entire career. Oscar De La Hoya has almost single-handedly kept boxing in the mainstream's focal point, even if only for passing moments. So what happens if Oscar De La Hoya retires?

With the UFC on the rise, who will Replace Oscar De La Hoya when he Retires?

Unfortunately for the sport of boxing, there is a lack of maj or names available. Floyd Mayweather Jr., who went from pound for pound king to major American commodity after this win over De La Hoya is in his own retirement, however short lived that may end up being. Current stars Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao have their careers winding down. HBO's anointed saviors, Jermain Taylor and Miguel Cotto, are both on the comeback trail after shattering losses. Arturo Gatti, while never a top level boxer, was the ultra popular "blood and guts warrior", and fittingly was beaten into retirement.

Then there is the dismal heavyweight scene, where a 46 year old Evander Holyfield can still manage to be a viable opponent against pathetic European counterparts. The best two heavyweights in the world, the Klitschko brothers, have vowed never to fight each other and the best American prospects hardly seem up to the task of being great fighters.

So who will rise up and carry on the torch as the stars of the next generation of boxing? Because of a lack of attention and a lack of quality prospects, Olympic boxers are no longer guaranteed fame and attention from the American public.

Oscar De La Hoya's Retirement will Leave A Void

I could easily provide to you a list of the best prospects in the sport and the best champions who toil in relative obscurity today. But a list of the future stars in boxing? It's hard foreseeing many boxers becoming megastars in the way that Oscar De La Hoya was in today's climate of sports and entertainment.

While the retirement of Oscar De La Hoya leaves a void in stardom for the sport, it was the career of Oscar De La Hoya itself as well as poor decisions from television outlets such as HBO that left boxing without a replacement star. So much attention was paid to big names like De La Hoya, so much money handed out and so many television dates reserved, that rising prospects and talented fighters haven't received nearly enough exposure.

While I have always said that boxing and the UFC - which has its own problems - can coexist and help each other thrive, as a hardcore boxing fan, you have to be worried for the sport's future. It will never see its demise, there wi ll always be fans and televised fights and great fighters. But as ESPN and other outlets already shift their focus more toward the UFC, the lack of a major star in boxing could lead to still less exposure in mainstream outlets.

It's unfortunately a perpetuating cycle of less and less fan interest and public attention. A lack of big stars prevents big stars from being made which results in even less big stars and...

So when Oscar De La Hoya retires, whether now or in a year from now, who will take his place?

This article was also published by Jake Emen on Associated Content.

The Reasons for Floyd Mayweather's Retirement

Mayweather's retirement drew much skepticism, not just for whether or not it would last but for the true reasons behind it. Some felt that Mayweather was merely biding his time, in Sugar Ray Leonard-esque fashion, to keep the rest of us guessing and anticipating his return. Others felt that Mayweather, a boxer since he could stand up on his own two feet, was tired of the sport and was completely secure with his legacy and accomplishments within it.

Still, many boxing fans felt that Mayweather was avoiding showdowns with some of the larger fighters in the welterweight division, fighters he would have had to have faced eventually if he was active. Fighters like Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams. Mayweather was also accused of avoiding Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley, despite the fact that at one point or another, Mayweather made offers to fight both of these men.

Who Would Floyd Mayweather Come out of Retirement to Fight?

If Floyd Mayweather were to return from his retirement to compete once again he would come back to an altered boxing landscape. The man seen as his career defining opponent, Miguel Cotto, lost his undefeated record in painful fashion to Antonio Margarito. Meanwhile, a new pound for pound champion emerged, dominating fighters in crowd pleasing fashion.

That man is Manny Pacquiao, and he bested Oscar De La Hoya in a far more destructive and enjoyable manner than Mayweather did with his ho-hum unanimous decision. A fight with Manny Pacquiao would be the logical choice for Mayweather, not only for financial reasons, but based on the match-up itself. The two most recent pound for pound champions squaring off, one a tremendously skilled defensive tactician and boxer, the other an offensive, come forward and brawl dynamo.

The match certainly sells it itself, and Mayweather's chances of success in the bout would be high. Manny Pacquiao has been out-boxed and contained by smaller and less skilled men than Floyd Mayweather. However, Pacquiao has both muscled up and improved his tactics since his last official loss (most observers felt Juan Manuel Marquez deserved the decision in their second match) and would have a speed advantage.

Also in Manny Pacquiao's favor would be the ring rust that Mayweather could possibly have after being out of the ring for such an extended time. Pacquiao would certainly be able to keep Mayweather out of his comfort zone in the early going. The question would be whether or not he would be able to maintain that, or if Mayweather would calmly figure him out and begin dissecting him, as he has done in the past against the likes of Zab Judah, Ricky Hatton and many others.

So will Floyd Mayweather stay Retired?

Mayweather has remained firm in his stance that he is indeed retired and the retirement is permanent. However, there have been rumors in a variety of outlets that Mayweather is already back into training and is simply biding his time to pick his return opponenet. Besides Manny Pacquiao, there would be the winner of the Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto rematch, or Shane Mosley if he were to beat the odds in his upcoming match against Margarito.

For our sakes, let's hope that Mayweather does return from his retirement. A Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao battle would make for a great night of boxing, and there is still unfinished business in the welterweight division that could turn Mayweather from a generational great to an all-time great.

This article by Jake Emen was also published on Associated Content.

Collazo lost his two biggest fights, against Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley. Against Ricky Hatton he suffered an early flash knockdown which ultimately helped to cost him a close decision. He almost had Hatton knocked out in the later rounds but was unable to finish him off. Losing to Shane Mosley is no shame, but the two fights combine to show that Collazo, despite his slick boxing skills, is not an elite fighter. If he wants to return to the limelight he'll need if not a win, a very solid showing.

He does have the potential to ruin Berto's coming out party though and he will be a good litmus test to see how Berto will hold up against some of the upper echelon names in the division, such as Antonio Margarito.

The welterweight division is stacked with talent, and several members of the division are amongst the best fighters in the world. Check out the pound for pound list to see where the current welterweight elite are ranked.

Meet Andre Berto

Andre Berto is undefeated in his professional career, with 23 wins, 19 by knockout and no losses or draws. He's currently the WBC welterweight champion and his biggest wins have been a decision against Steve Forbes and a TKO in the 11th round against David Estrada. His strengths are his blazing speed and his dynamic offensive capabilities. Berto's weakness is his defense and a possibly weak chin.

Meet Luis Collazo

Luis Collazo is a former WBA welterweight champion with a record of 29 wins, 14 by knockout, and 3 losses. His biggest win came against Jose Rivera and his notable losses include dropping a decision to Shane Mosley and dropping a decision to Ricky Hatton. His biggest strength is his slick boxing skill and a weakness is a lack of power and ability to get outworked.

Berto Collazo Prediction

Collazo is a tricky southpaw boxer with a good reach and solid defensive skills. Like most "tricky southpaw boxers" he lacks a big punch. That is one of the reasons that he got the shot to face Berto, a fighter whose chin is still questioned by many. To win the fight, he will need to be able to control the distance that the fight takes place at. That means using his quick jab and doubling up on it to halt the smaller Berto's advances.

Luis Collazo will also need to take advantage of Berto's aggressiveness by making him miss and then launching his own counter shots. Berto has improved his defense but is still not a strong defensive fighter and tends to get caught up into working on his own attack rather than also paying attention to his opponents'.

While Collazo is a quick fighter, when he faces Berto he will be at a clear disadvantage in hand speed. Expect the first few rounds of this fight to begin slowly, as both men attempt to read the other and establish their own jab. Collazo with his longer reach should be able to win several rounds by winning the jabbing contest and circling the ring.

Once Berto feels comfortable, he will begin firing his rapid, multi-punch combinations. Andre Berto can throw every punch in the book from all angles, and this diversity may confuse and overwhelm Collazo. Berto will begin connecting flush with some of his shots and may even put Collazo down. While I think Berto might knock Collazo down, I don't think he will be able to knock him out.

After splitting the first four-six rounds, Andre Berto will dominate the rest of the fight and win a handy decision that will never be in doubt by the time the scorecards are read. Hopefully after this fight, Andre Berto will step into the ring with more top challengers and fellow titleholders, including the likes of Kermit Cintron, Joshua Clottey and Miguel Cotto.

Does Andre Berto Have what it Takes?

Andre Berto certainly has the physical tools to make him a great boxer and a great champion. What he is lacking is physical size. At less than 5'9", Berto is at a serious disadvantage against the likes of Antonio Margarito or Paul Williams. He will really need to hone in his game more if he wants to tackle those behemoths.

The Berto Collazo fight will be a good test for Berto but regardless of the outcome he'll need to keep on improving if he's to hold up against the biggest and best of the welterweight division.

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.

The sport of boxing was illegal at the time, although it had a large and prosperous underground. So to avoid unwanted attention, rumors would circulate about an upcoming match by saying the two men would be exchanging boxes with one another. This transformed over time to become known as boxing. In order to keep the tradition alive, here are some great last minute gift ideas for the boxing fans in your life.

Holiday Shopping Ideas for Boxing Fans Idea #1 - Muhammad Ali Memorabilia - Anybody that is a boxing fan is a Muhammad Ali fan. The man captured the attention of the world in a way that few human beings have ever been able to do. What better way to remember and cherish his greatness, and everything that he gave not just to the sport of boxing but to all of humanity, than by buying some great memorabilia of the man himself. Signed photographs, signed boxing gloves, old fight posters and anything else you can get your hands on all would make a great gift for a true boxing fan. Find great Muhammad Ali memorabilia here.

If Muhammad Ali wasn't the favorite of your favorite boxing fan, find great boxing memorabilia and autographs from a wide range of legendary fighters here.

Holiday Shopping Ideas for Boxing Fans Idea #2 - Starter Kits of Boxing Equipment - Lots of people want to jump into the world of intense boxing training, but don't know where to start. They need to have the proper equipment to enable them to pursue the training and they need a space to do it in. That's why starter kits of boxing equipment are a great idea. These all in one sets come in several varieties. You can get a space-saving stand that has both a heavy bag and a speed bag or you can get a hanging heavy bag that comes with boxing gloves and other boxing gear. Starter kits of boxing equipment enable the person trying to begin boxing training to get started right away.

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So with Christmas upon us, don't disappoint your family when it's time to exchange boxes with them. Give the boxing fans in your life something that they will really put to use and truly enjoy. Browse around the store for more great Christmas gifts, sales and discounts, cheap holiday shopping ideas and more.

What Manny Pacquiao lacks in size he makes up for with speed, aggression and power. However, the other looming question (besides the size difference) is whether or not Manny Pacquiao's power will carry over to the higher weight. And will he be as fast as he is accustomed to being while carrying the extra pounds on his frame?

Manny Pacquiao has been troubled in his encounters with Juan Manuel Marquez and has sidestepped his way around some of the slicker fighters in the divisions he has fought in. This is due in no small part to the fact that Pacquiao does best with aggressive, come forward brawlers, who are susceptible to being hit by his bombs and don't have the tactical skills to defend against them. Oscar De La Hoya, however, has a great jab and solid defensive skills. He is also known for having a great chin, with only Bernard Hopkins ever knocking him out, and that was via a body shot.

Oscar De La Hoya was intending to prepare for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather when he fought Steve Forbes. But in fact it served as a de facto preparation for Pacquiao. Forbes is a smaller and quicker fighter, the difference being that he is a defensive minded boxer while Pacquiao is an aggressive puncher. In this case, I think Pacquiao's aggressiveness will be detrimental to his chances of success in this match.

In the opening rounds, De La Hoya may be caught off guard by the pure, unbridled aggression and speed of Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao may even land a few hard, flush shots that serve to jolt De La Hoya awake a bit. As the fight progresses, De La Hoya will begin consistently getting his jab involved. By doing so, he will be able to use his height and reach advantages to keep Manny Pacquiao at a distance. This will help to disrupt the offensive effectiveness that Pacquiao is accustomed to.

By the middle rounds of the fight I expect De La Hoya to be in complete control. De La Hoya was able to knock out brawler Ricardo Mayorga, who's a larger fighter than Pacquiao is. However, Pacquiao is at the prime of his game while Mayorga had just been knocked out by Felix Trinidad. In the upcoming PPV showdown De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao, I doubt that Pacquiao will be knocked out. A monster left hook may put him on the canvas, but he has too much heart to stay there. At the same time, I doubt that De La Hoya still has what it takes to really pour it on a fighter and finish him the way he jumped all over an injured Fernando Vargas.

My official prediction is that while Pacquiao makes a good fight out of it, surprising some and letting down some others, he loses a wide decision to the much larger and much more tactical boxer in Oscar De La Hoya. Oscar may hurt Pacquiao, but as I mentioned, won't be able to finish him. Conversely, Pacquiao will struggle to hurt De La Hoya who has been hit by much more powerful punchers and who keeps the fight at long range with his jab.

The scorecards may even be a bit funny (as they tend to be in De La Hoya fights); I wouldn't be surprised to see a split decision rather than a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao fans being upset that he got robbed. However, I do expect the fight to be rather handily won by De La Hoya, and for Pacquiao to go back down and continue his career at a lower weight where his unique blend of talents have proven to be so successful.

The Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao fight is this weekend in Las Vegas, being shown on HBO PPV. If you want to bet on the fight, the Bodog Sportbook lets you bet not only on the outcome of the fight, but also on the length of the fight, the scorecards and many other fun elements as well. Currently, the Bodog Sportsbook has the odds:

• Oscar De La Hoya -180
• Manny Pacquiao +140

Over/Under 9.5 rounds

• Over -185
• Under +145

There you go! Check back right here to see how the fight turns out and to see whether or not my official prediction for the De La Hoya and Pacquiao pay-per-view showdown was correct.

Preview of Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi

Both Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi only have one loss on their records. As mentioned, Hatton's one loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, one of the best pure boxers of the last several decades. Paulie Malignaggi has always held Mayweather in the highest of esteems, and has taken strides to emulate him. Malignaggi though is known for a serious deficit in punching power (those 5 knockouts stick out like a sore thumb!), and a tendency to fight the other guy's fight even when it's against his best interests. This happened in his one defeat, against top welterweight Miguel Cotto, when he got pummeled and battered succumbing to Cotto's dictation of the fight, despite showing great heart in the losing effort.

Neither Ricky Hatton nor Paulie Malignaggi has looked to be at their best in their last several performances. So both need the win, and both need to look impressive in doing so. Ricky Hatton's style consists of doing the dirty work inside. He'll throw a hook or a short jab, pounce inside, and begin to maul his opponent. Interestingly enough, Hatton brought on Floyd Mayweather Sr. to be his new trainer. While the big name trainer, and father of his conqueror is an effective tutor, the style he preaches is so far removed from anything Hatton has done for his whole career, it's questionable how well that combination will work out.

Malignaggi on the other hand bases his game around footwork and a quick jab. He'll open up as he begins to gain more control, and if his hands hold up long enough to allow him to do so. He has had a long history of breaking his hands, which has limited his ability to throw strong combinations and sit down on his punches appropriately and forcefully.

Whereas Floyd Mayweather was able to perfectly time Ricky Hatton's movements, and take advantage with powerful counter shots, Malignaggi's punches lack the speed and other-worldly timing of Mayweather's. Hatton should be able to close the distance on Malignaggi, as nothing that Paulie offers in return will be able to keep Hatton at bay. Additionally, Malignaggi may get caught up in the toe-to-toe clinch battle that works to Hatton's advantage. If Paulie is to win the fight, he has to constantly circle Hatton and avoid getting held up on the ropes or in the corner. If he can get his jab working, doubling and tripling it up, he may be able to control Hatton's assault.

This fight seems like it will be a tough one to score. So I wouldn't be surprised to see a split decision or a close decision in either direction. My official prediction however is that Hatton will be able to move inside, past Malignaggi's feather fisted punches, and do enough work to win a majority of the rounds. We'll see a Ricky Hatton victory, by close and sloppy unanimous decision.

Betting Odds for Hatton vs. Malignaggi

Over at the Bodog Sportsbook, the official betting odds on Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi are:

• Ricky Hatton - 240
• Paulie Malignaggi +190

Over/Under 11.5 Rounds 

• Over -325
• Under +250

So if you're a Paulie Malignaggi fan, some good odds for the upset, while Ricky Hatton fans aren't getting awful odds on the favorite. And if you think somebody can pull off the stoppage, great odds on betting the under. If you want to bet on Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, the Bodog Sportsbook is the place to do it.

It should come as no surprise that Joe Calzaghe is favored to beat Roy Jones Jr. The official betting odds for the Calazaghe-Jones bout are:

• Joe Calzaghe -270
• Roy Jones Jr +210

The over/under on rounds is:

• over 9 1/2 rounds -330
• under 9 1/2 rounds +265

The odds for the Calzaghe vs Jones battle are provided by Bodog. If you want to bet on the Joe Calzaghe versus Roy Jones Jr. match you can use the Bodog Sportsbook. Also they are featuring a 10% sign up bonus right now which is a great deal. You get an extra 10% of your initial deposit free, so if you want to bet on the fight you don't want to miss that opportunity.

It's tempting to take Roy Jones Jr. in the underdog role, it really is. He has more speed and power than Joe Calzaghe is used to seeing. And if those bout took place 5 years ago, well, it would be no question as to who would win the showdown. It would have been a blow out for Jones. But this isn't 5 years ago, and the two fighters are very different now.

I think that Joe Calzaghe will win another clear, but uninspiring decision over an old American great. He has too much movement and throws too many punches for Jones to take care of business. And beating an overweight, old Felix Trinidad won't make me change my mind on that either!

Enjoy the fight this weekend. Also, it's not to late to try to catch it in person! I've heard there are some really cheap tickets to the Calzaghe-Jones fight at MSG still available. Could be a once in a lifetime experience. Either a shocking upset by a former great and true legend in Roy Jones Jr., or a continued cementing of Calzaghe's legacy.

However, as the fight wore on, Bute started to become more tired as Andrade started to apply more pressure. This culminated in the 12th round with a vicious Andrade assault that saw Bute being pummeled full across the ring until slumping into a corner with just a few seconds left. For all intents and purposes it seemed that Lucian Bute was going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and be knocked out at the end of the 12th round.

But the referee, who happened to be from Montreal just like Bute, stopped the count to deal with Andrade, who he said had left his corner. This led to Bute getting more time to recover, all the while he was staring off dazed and out of it. He was certainly not in any shape to defend himself. Adding to this mess, the referee said after the fight in his interview that Bute would not have beaten the count had he not stopped it to admonish Andrade.

Eek, that's a pretty big mistake, and it looks ten times worse considering it was a hometown ref in a hometown fight. But realistically, if you watch the replay of the final round, Bute does get to his feet before a count of ten. So that really isn't the issue.

The issue is that even as he does get up, he seems completely unable to carry on. Granted there were only two seconds left to go in the fight, which would not have been long enough for Andrade to do anything. But it was a very similar situation to the Chavez/Taylor fight, when the fight was waved off in the final seconds, with Taylor ahead on the cards and up on his feet, but unable to defend himself.

So my problem with the Librado Andrade and Lucian Bute result does not amount to the controversy of Bute not beating the count. Despite what the ref said, Bute did beat the count. My issue - if there is one at all - is that the ref could have chosen to stop the fight at that point. With two seconds left, that's a heck of a judgement call, but it would have been justifed completely.

The ref compounded his problems with his statement in the interview, but in fact Bute did clearly beat the count. Whether or not he should have been allowed to continue fighting, even with two seconds left, is another issue. Just chalk it up to another incident in the stories and lore of boxing controversy.

After plowing his way through some fellow "contenders" in the sad state of the 2008 heavyweight division of boxing, Povetkin was lined up for his title shot against Wladimir Klitschko. Klitschko, I am not a fan of. He has shown many traits that are the opposite of what Povetkin shows us. He has all of the physical blessings one could dream of. But instead of going for the kill too often he stands tall behind an easy jab. He sometimes seems scared in the ring, despite being the guy with more KO power and more skill. I don't like seeing that in a professional fighter, neverless a heavyweight that is supposed to be the best heavyweight in the world.

All of that being said, he has a huge size advantage against Povetkin. He has that long reach and when he gets that jab working well, it's not lazy or well intentioned, but rather it's a devastating, piston like weapon. He has power in both hands and big fight experience. Oh, and that size. I think that for Povetkin, the Klitschko fight was going to be just a bit too soon for the promising fighter.

I think the Povetkin injury is a blessing in disguise. The more this guy can train, the better chance he will have. He needs more time in the gym, honing his craft. He needs to learn a little bit more of avoiding punches rather than catching them with his face. He needs to learn how to move in and out a la Joe Frazier rather than straight ahead behind a storm of sloppy punches. That won't work against Klitschko, Povetkin would simply never get in range to do any damage.

So to Povetkin I say cheer up. You'll get your day against Wladimir. And when you do, you'll have more experience and a higher skill level that should help you in the biggest fight of your career.

So what does pound for pound even mean? For the non-boxing fan out there, it means disregard weight class, who is the best fighter in the business, paying no mind to his size or stature. Pound for pound is not about who would beat everybody else in a fight, it’s if everybody was the same size, who would win in a fight. Who has the most skills? The most all-around game? The pound for pound champion is a guy who can climb weight classes and beat guys bigger than he is, because he is more talented.

The pound for pound king for several years was Floyd Mayweather, Jr. However, Mayweather has placed himself into an early retirement, turning down an extremely lucrative offer to once again fight Oscar De La Hoya. Whether or not the retirement of Mayweather is permanent, until he fights again and stays active, he has to be off of the pound for pound list. Without his addition, here’s the top 10 pound for pound boxers in the game right now.

1. Joe Calzaghe – 45 (32) - 0

Joe Calzaghe is coming off a clear decision victory over Bernard Hopkins and prior to that, a clear victory over undefeated challenger Mikkel Kessler. He didn’t truly make his name with the American public until his trouncing of Jeff Lacy, but he has been an undefeated champion for a decade. While less spectacular than Manny Pacquiao, the recent big names on his resume and the ease of his victories places him in the number one spot. A bout with former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. is on the schedule next.

2. Manny Pacquiao – 47 (35) - 3 - 1
Manny Pacquiao may seem like the obvious choice for pound for pound king. He has climbed (and is continuing to climb) multiple weight classes, taking on almost all challengers along the way. He knocks people out and is an explosive athletic specimen. However, his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez left more questions than answers. In a rematch over a previous draw, a large majority of fans and observers had Marquez winning the bout, while Manny Pacquiao left with the official judges’ verdict. Next, Manny Pacquiao might move up to welterweight to challenge Oscar De La Hoya.

3. Juan Manuel Marquez – 48 (35) - 4 - 1
Marquez gets this high on the list for his handling of Manny Pacquiao. In their first encounter he survived three knockdowns in the first round to get a draw, while many feel that he won. In the second bout, years later, nearly everybody thought Marquez bested Pacquiao. He has moved up to lightweight, following Pacquiao’s ascension and hopes to meet him for a third time. Next up for Juan Manuel is a shot at lightweight champion Joel Casamayor.

4. Israel Vazquez – 43 (31) - 4
Israel Vazquez is coming off the thrilling trilogy he had against Rafael Marquez. Willing the bout in his direction with raging and climactic 12th round against his rival, Vazquez won two of the three fights. The two have forever cemented their legacies in boxing lore with their performances in those encounters. A possible fourth bout between the two warriors looms ahead, while Vazquez may take on upstart Juan Manuel Lopez in a battle between future star and current champion.

5. Rafael Marquez – 37 (33) - 5
Marquez lost two of the three fights against Israel Vazquez, however in all three he proved himself to be a superior technician and a diehard warrior. It was Marquez who moved up in weight to challenge Vazquez and with everything else so close to equal between the two, the extra size and strength was ultimately what enabled Vazquez to prevail in their epic struggles.

6. Antonio Margarito – 37 (27) - 5
Coming off an emphatic destruction of presumed number one welterweight Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito now has finally earned his way to the top spot in his division. While he is clamoring for the financial windfall that accompanies any fight with Oscar De La Hoya, he has unfinished business to take care of in the form of a 6’2” welterweight named Paul Williams who defeated him just last summer. You get what you expect from Margarito, an iron chin, a high work rate and a come forward, the winner is the last man standing mentality.

7. Kelly Pavlik – 34 (30) - 0
The undefeated middleweight champion (who happens to rarely fight at middleweight these days), Kelly Pavlik might not look like much. Pavlik is lanky and balding, and doesn’t appear to have much speed or creativity in the ring. What he does have is a tower of power and punches in bunches (doing my best Clyde Frazier impersonation). Pavlik is extremely heavy handed, and his speed and form are quicker and sharper, respectively, than they usually appear. He knocked out undefeated and undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor – after earning the right to face him by destroying challenger Edison Miranda – then won the rematch with a decision. Next up is Bernard Hopkins and hopefully a showdown with Arthur Abraham.

8. Paul Williams – 34 (25) -1
To be the man, you have to beat the man, but unfortunately for Paul Williams his timing is all wrong. He won a hard fought showdown against Antonio Margarito last summer however he then lost his title in a lackluster performance in his first defense. He avenged his loss to Carlos Quintana via 1st round knockout, but has been vaulted over in the welterweight standings by Margarito. That’s because Miguel Cotto was the man when Margarito knocked him out, but when Williams beat Margarito, Margarito was not yet the top dog in the division. Paul Williams will have to wait for a rematch against Margarito for a chance to earn himself the number one welterweight spot.

9. Miguel Cotto – 32 (26) - 1
Miguel Cotto didn’t suffer too much in his loss to Antonio Margarito (at least not in the pound for pound rankings, inside the ring, Miguel Cotto suffered a great deal from Margarito’s thudding attack). Miguel Cotto had everything going for him in that fight, he was the quicker man, arguably the heavier puncher, he had better boxing technique and he was riding sky high with an undefeated record. But in Margarito he found a behemoth of a welterweight who could take his shots and dish it back out. Ultimately, Cotto crumbled to Margarito’s pressure and the question that remains is how he will recover both physically and mentally from that fight.

10. Chad Dawson – 26 (17) - 0
Chad Dawson has all of the tools of a pound for pound champion in the making. He has the speed, the power and the explosive athleticism. The only question is if his chin will stay together long enough to get him there, or if his defense can improve enough to keep that chin out of the line of fire. His victory over champion Tomasz Adamek came easily, but his title defense against Glen Johnson proved extremely difficult. Next up is Roy Jones Jr. conqueror Antonio Tarver in another fight that should test Dawson’s mettle—and chin.

Rounding out the rest of the top 25 after the top 10 pound for pound boxers (alphabetical order) – Arthur Abraham, Ivan Calderon, Nate Campbell, Steve Cunningham, Oscar De La Hoya, Joan Guzman, David Haye, Bernard Hopkins, Chris John, Mikkel Kessler, Christian Mijares, Fernando Montiel, Shane Mosley, Jermain Taylor, Winky Wright

Boxing fans stay tuned, an updated pound for pound list is coming your way soon! Following the loss of Kelly Pavlik, the return of Bernard Hopkins to glory, a dominating Chad Dawson performance and more, the list will certainly be shaken up!