POUND-FOR-POUND TOP 10 1. Manny Pacquiao - Lightweight Philippines (47-3-2, 35KOs) The all-action Pacquiao became a four-weight world champion by destroying David Diaz to claim the WBC lightweight title and will now fight Oscar de la Hoya in December. 2. Joe Calzaghe - Super-middleweight Wales (46-0, 32KOs) Calzaghe outpointed US legend Roy Jones Jr in New York to maintain his unbeaten record. The Welshman has now hinted at retirement, securing his undefeated legacy and cementing his place at one of Britain's greatest ever boxers. 3. Juan Manuel Marquez - Lightweight Mexico (49-4-1, 36KOs) Marquez became the first man to stop Cuba's Joel Casamayor in his first fight at lightweight and will now chase a third bout with Manny Pacquiao. 4. Antonio Margarito - Welterweight Mexico (37-5, 27KOs) Margarito pipped Miguel Cotto in a thrilling match-up and proved he has perhaps the best chin in the sport. Margarito defends against Joshua Clottey next. 5. Miguel Cotto - Welterweight Puerto Rico (32-1, 26KOs) Cotto finally met his match against Antonio Margarito in a classic encounter, but lost little of his lustre in doing so and is young enough to rise to the top again. 6. Bernard Hopkins - Light-heavyweight United States (49 wins, 5 losses, 1 draws, 32KOs) Hopkins showed he still has plenty to offer with his schooling of the upstart Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City. Ironically, at the age of 43, he is running out of viable opponents. 7. Israel Vazquez - Super-bantamweight Mexico (43-4, 31KOs) Vazquez reclaimed his WBC belt from Rafael Marquez in August and nicked the rubber match in March. A relentless fighter with a vicious left hook. 8. Ricky Hatton - Light-welterweight England (44-1, 31KOs) Hatton defeated tough Mexican Juan Lazcano in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather and should have enough to beat Paul Malignaggi in the autumn. 9. Paul Williams - Welterweight United States (34-1, 25KOs) Williams defeated Antonio Margarito in 2007 before losing to Carlos Quintana in February. Williams won the rematch and a second clash with Margarito is now a distinct possibility. 10. Kelly Pavlik - Middleweight United States (34-1, 30KOs) Pavlik was outclassed by the wily Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City, but remains the WBC and WBO middleweight champion and will likely move back down.
Hard to have Hatton on this list. Not just his being knocked out (since it was against the best), but his shaky near-knockout-loss to Juan Lazcano has to remove him.
He hardly lost a round - and it was a comeback fight after being KOed by the p4p no 1. If getting knocked down counts (which he wasn't) then you can remove a few from the list. I can see how you could squeeze Hatton in at ten perhaps.
theres other linear fighters with only 1 loss or less why does hatton get preferential treatment over them
Because the rest of his record is better than theirs. I can see Hatton as high as #8, although that's absolutely the highest I could possibly see him.
Cotto isn't above Hopkins of course. Pavlik has at least as much place in top 10 as Cotto has. Hatton out.