2000: DLH 2001-2002: Morales 2003-2009: Pacquiao 2010-2011: Martinez 2012-2013: Gonzalez 2014-2016: Kovalev That's my list now. The newer years are of course the hardest to rate because we don't have the retrospection that time allows.
One of the worst lists to date Floyd owns that list, the only reason Pac got on it was because May retired. Once May came back, he reclaimed it again
2000: Lewis 2001: Lewis 2002: Lewis 2003: Calzaghe 2004: Calzaghe 2005: Calzaghe 2006: Calzaghe 2007: Calzaghe 2008: Calzaghe 2009: Froch 2010: Brook 2011: Brook 2012: Brook 2013: Brook 2014: Brook 2015: Brook :deal
I thought about putting Hopkins down for 2000, but before then he didn't have any big names on his resume. No Toney. He fought peak Jones, but was badly beaten. In 2001 he picked up an excellent victory over Trinidad, but he's still a Welterweight. Morales at that time was picked up a victory over Barrera (who beat Hamed), was robbed against Barrera in the second fight in 2002 and looked immaculate against Ayala. As for Floyd. In the early 2000s he went life and death with Castillo so I can't put him there while Morales, Mosley and DLH, Barrera and Pacquiao were fighting each other. In the mid 2000's he was looking sharp, but his competition dropped (Gatti, Baldimor) and Pacquiao went on a strong reign against elite fighters. In the 2010's Martinez was dropping Williams and Floyd was going life and death with Maidana.
Pac should have never been p4p #1 if Floyd did not retire, and that's irrefutable. Everyone had Floyd #1 p4p and that's irrefutable!!
Good list. I agree for the most part. However, Jones and Calzaghe might find a place in the first couple of years and Donaire, Rigondeaux, and Ward might find a place in the last few. I totally agree with your choice not to include Mayweather since Pacquiao was better p4p up to 2009 and after that Mayweather wasn't as good as he used to be, while other guys were in their primes.
Calzaghe may have been the best fighter in the world in some of those early years, but it's hard to really know for sure since Kessler in 2007 was his first real challenge. I could see an argument for Ward from 09-11. A good one actually, but after Martinez blew up Williams it's hard to put him there for me.
2000 – Lennox Lewis 2001 – Marco Antonio Barrera 2002 – Marco Antonio Barrera 2003 – Manny Pacquiao 2004 - Bernard Hopkins 2005 – Bernard Hopkins 2006 – Jermaine Taylor 2007 – Joe Calzaghe 2008 - Joe Calzaghe 2009 - Manny Pacquiao 2010 - Manny Pacquiao 2011 - Manny Pacquiao 2012 – Timothy Bradley JR 2013 - Floyd Mayweather 2014 - Floyd Mayweather 2015 – Floyd Mayweather
Still, just out of fairness sake, since he was at least the second best fighter during that period, Mayweather probably ought to get at least one year. Maybe, give him 2010 or one of the six years you've given Pacquiao. You might even give Marco Antonio Barrera 2002 since he beat Morales that year.
Mayweather had the best logevity, but after looking at every year I don't see any year I could possibly have him #1. The year 2000 is the closest.
I also found it hard to give mayweather any years. One thing about Mayweather, he never owned more than 2 belts at anyone time. Not once did he become undisputed champion in his division.