Maurice Gause: February 2009 Archives

Welcome to the first edition of Reese's boxing rankings. Every month I will rank my top 10 fighters in the world. Some you will agree with. Some you won't agree with thats why you have the ability to comment. Feel free to post your own top 10 or do what everyone else does, AGREE WITH ME!!!

1. Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2 36 KOs)- Undisputed. The "Mexicutioner" has been on a tear since his loss to Erik Morales in March of 05. 6 of his last 10 opponents have not answered the bell. He crushed the Golden Boy and in May I really dont expect Hatton to do any better.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez (49-4-1 36 KOs) - Dinamita literally owns our number 1 fighter but for some reason he just cant get the decision losing twice to Pacman in dramatic fashion. The newly crowned lightweight champion last defeated joel Casamayor by TKO in September and is gearing up for a showdown with the young Juan Diaz later this month.

3. Paul Williams (36-1 27KOs) - Shocked yet? The Punisher is the most versatile fighter in the world. The most feared fighter from 147 all the way to 168. Who else can simultaneously occupy 4 weight classes demanding people fight him. Pavlik ducked him at 160, Forrest ducked at 154, Margarito ducked him at 147. Maybe because his last 3 fights have been TKO victories in all 3 of those divisions. He will face-off with Winky Wright in April.

4. Joe Calzaghe (46-0 32 KOs) - It's kinda hard to rank him this high for several reasons. The most important being that he is overrated. Although he destroyed a diminished Roy Jones, an overrated Mikkel Kessler, a young Jeff Lacy, and a overtrained Bernard Hopkins nearly put him to sleep, Super Joe has showed us that anyone is a special fighter when your fighting has-beens and never-will-bes. 3 things he'd never do again; fight Bernard again, fight Chad Dawson, or leave Wales. Retire Joe, please.

5. Arthur Abraham (28-0 20 KOs) - From the overrated to the underrated. King Arthur has held the IBF Middleweight title since December of 05, his record only has 1 notable name, Edison Miranda. Dont get it twisted though. "King" Arthur has challenged everyone from Jermain Taylor when he was champ to Kelly Pavlik who is still champ. There are 2 reasons you may not have heard of him; 1. He's fought in America once (his 4th round TKO win over Miranda in Hollywood, Florida June of 08), and nobody wants to see this man across the ring.

"You could tell Michael had smoked before," then "He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do. He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place." Those were the words of someone close to Phelps, close enough to recieve a contact from the marijuana. Now I'm not the brightest star in the sky but I knew about when Randy Moss was scrutinized for admitting but not getting caught. Remember the bottle that Michael Vick had in the airport that was used to hide jewelry? How about the countless NBA players that are thrown under the bus for marijuana usage that are suspended, arrested, burned by the media, and, performance in question? What makes Michael Phelps any better? Because was in the olympics? What puts him above other athletes that his weed use gets thrown out the window, he apologizes and we forgive him? I've said it before and you will hear me again; If your white, it's all right.