Written by Scott Swerbinsky

---

He's been covering boxing and the UFC since we started this website, and today, Scott Swerbinsky gives us his annual year end top pound for pound fighters in boxing.  Floyd Mayweather clearly checks in at #1, but who came in #2 on Spoon's list?  And where does Kelly Pavlik rank?  This was a great year for boxing, and there are a slew of great fights already set for early 2008.  Happy New Year everyone! 2007 has come and gone and what a year it was for the sport of boxing. The rise of mixed martial arts might have been just what the (fight) doctor ordered.  Many big fights were made and we saw some outstanding battles.

It is already carrying over to 2008, there are some monster fights right around the corner. The fight everyone wants to see is the Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor rematch on February the 16^th in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will also meet for a second time in March and that is a must see.

Some things have changed from the start of the year but the king of the hill remains the same. Floyd Mayweather Jr. impressed in two big fights and continues to live up to the hype.

Here is my top ten fighters, plus a few others, and what we might see from them in the future.

#1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. 39-0

There is no debating this. Speed. Power. A defensive wizard. Easily the best fighter of my generation. He actually gets better every time he steps thru the ropes, which is scary.

Up next: He said he is taking a long time off. I want to see him fight #2 Miguel Cotto. Will it happen? I sure hope so.

#2 Miguel Cotto 31-0

Possibly the only guy who could beat Mayweather. He has the power to do it, but gets hit a lot which could be his downfall. He went 3-0 this year. Defeated Zab Judah in a war and Shane Mosley in a close decision.

Up next: There are rumblings he wants Mayweather. I'd love to see it. I'd also like to see him fight Paul Williams or Antonio Margarito. Oscar De La Hoya is rumored here also.

#3 and #4 Juan Manuel Marquez 48-3 and Manny Pacquiao 45-3-2

They fought to a draw in the first meeting back in 2004 in what  might have been the fight of the decade. They are going to do it again in March and I can't wait. Both guys are stars and exciting to watch. They leave it all in the ring every time out.

#5 Kelly Pavlik 32-0

The 2007 Fighter of the Year. The current Middleweight Champion of the World. Won two very impressive fights where he was the underdog. Destroyed Edison Miranda and then went on to defeat Jermain Taylor in a thriller. Got off the canvas to show why he is a true champion.

Up next: February 16^th vs Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas

#6 Joe Calzaghe 44-0

I wasn't sold on this guy for a long time. He has won me over since his one sided destruction of Jeff Lacy. He throws a ton of punches from a lot of different angles. His last win of Mikkel Kessler was impressive.

Up next: Probably Bernard Hopkins. They have been talking for awhile now and it looks like it might go down finally.

#7  Juan Diaz 33-0

"The Baby Bull" is for real. Another young fighter who gets better every time I see him. Diaz is solid in every aspect of the game. He's still only 24 years old.

Up next: Nothing solid as of yet, possibly the Pacquiao Marquez winner. That would be a blockbuster.

#8 Paul Williams 33-0

I simply love this kid. 26 years old and seems to throw 2,000 punches per round. He's tall and lanky and would be a nightmare for a lot of guys. He looked good in a win over another top fighter in Antonio Margarito back in July.

Up next: Rumored to be Carlos Quintana in February. I'd like to see him in with Cotto or even a rematch with Margarito.

#9 Israel Vasquez 42-4

Silky smooth with power in both hands. He has had two unreal matches with Rafael Marquez. The rubber match should be just as fun.

Up next: 3^rd bout with Rafael Marquez.

#10 Wladimir Klitschko 49-3

The Heavyweight King. He's on his way to unifying the division finally. He has won seven fights in a row and is a totally different fighter since 2004. His jab makes him close to unstoppable.

Up Next: Sultan Ibragimov on February 23^rd at Madison Square Garden.

The best of the rest:

Ricky Hatton

He was just taken apart by Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Antonio Margarito

Lost a good fight to Paul Williams. He simply waited too long to get going in that one. He'll be a force to reckon with in the future.

Bernard Hopkins

The old man. I hope he gets his wish and Calzaghe beats him back into retirement.

Ivan Calderon

The little guy that is phenomenal to watch. He's  5 foot and 108 pounds. His 30-0 record is a solid one.

This list gets harder and harder every time I put it together. There is a ton of young and rising starts in the sport known as "The Sweet Science." Many upcoming fights will shake things up, and that's the way it should be.

Happy New Year to everyone out there from TheClevelandFan.com.