By Derek Bonnett: The lightweight division has a bright history replete with all-time great status fighters. There is also not a clear best lightweight in history whether you listen to the experts or post on boxing blogs. Either way, you're bound to hear the names Joe Gans, Carlos Ortiz, Roberto Duran, Benny Leonard, and Pernell Whitaker. However, one name you won't hear come up is "Fearless" Freddie Pendleton. Pendleton's name won't come up because he is in no way deserving of such an accolade as best lightweight of all-time, but he just might be one of the division's best spoilers. In 1984, Pendleton was 10-8-1 when he left a pick-up basketball game to fill in as a late opponent for, then unbeaten, Tyrone Trice. That night "Steady" Freddie walked away with a first round TKO victory. In 1986, a 14-13-1 Pendleton was expected to be cannon fodder for Roger Mayweather. Instead, Pendleton KO'd the "Black Mamba" in six rounds. That's the way Pendleton's career went for years. After losing to Frankie Randall, he held Randall to a draw in a USBA lightweight title fight. He drew with Livingstone Bramble and then knocked him out in ten rounds the next year. At 24-16-3, Pendleton lost a decision to Pernell Whitaker. Yet, all three judges had it a four point fight in a time when Whitaker was reaching the height of his prime. Unlike most spoilers, Pendleton actually got the chance to be called world champion after capturing the IBF light weight belt 1993. Pendleton, at 32-17-4, finally made it to the big-time with a unanimous decision over Tracy Spann, another favored fighter. His lightweight reign was short-lived, but he defended his title against Jorge Paez before dropping Rafael Ruelas twice in the opening round before losing a unanimous decision. "Fearless" Freddie did not go away quietly, as no self-respecting spoiler should. He posted victories over Darryl Tyson and Tony Lopez before his days were done. In a 47-26-5 career, Pendleton fought for the lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight championships among his eight world title appearances. What's good about today's lightweight division? The lightweight division could be experiencing a changing of the guard. Juan Manuel Marquez is still the top lightweight performer and among the best fighters pound for pound in the sport. However, he is slipping. While still good enough to best straight forward brawlers like Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis, the six-time, three-division champion, has been getting touched up more than in previous bouts. Last time out, Marquez had to call upon his machismo and cojones combined to get up off the canvas and withstand the onslaught of the Australian challenger. So, why is this all good? Because the candidates to fill his shoes make-up perhaps the most impressive ensemble of contenders to not be in charge of the top spot. Robert Guerrero is a three-time world champion with impressive victories over Katsidis and Joel Casamayor. Humberto Soto is a two-division world champion with lightweight wins over David Diaz and Urbano Antillon in WBC title fights. Miguel Vazquez is the IBF lightweight champion, who has recently taken off with wins over contenders like Breidis Prescott, Ji Hoon Kim, and Leonardo Zappavigna. Lastly, Brandon Rios, technically the WBA regular titlist, is unbeaten with victories over Anthony Peterson and Miguel Acosta. In the past twelve months, three lightweight bouts have really stood out as Fight of the Year type contenders. In 2010, Katsidis-Marquez produced one of the best knockdowns of the year and enough drama to earn its way into contention. Antillon-Soto provided fans with lots of momentum shifts and some good, hard-nosed fighting on the inside to be a front-runner for FOTY 2010. This past February, Rios-Acosta exhibited a drastic change in momentum as the champion let go of an early lead to be dropped three times en route to losing his championship. Rios-Acosta is a contender for FOTY honors in 2011. With Antillon-Rios on the horizon in July, the lightweight division could be looking at a sure winner for 2011. What's bad about today's lightweight division? Marquez is more interested in a third encounter with Manny Pacquiao at welterweight than enhancing his lightweight standing in history with victories over the murderer's row described earlier. Yes, Marquez is thirty-seven and notoriously mismanaged, but the outcome of a Marquez-Pacquiao III bout is as good as predetermined and not as interesting as any combination of Marquez versus the top four at 135 pounds. Once promising prospects Antonio Demarco, Ji Hoon Kim, and Henry Lundy have run into serious walls. Demarco looked downright cowardly in losing to Edwin Valero last year and then turned in a very spotty performance against Reyes Sanchez to start 2011. Kim, perhaps the most TV friendly fighter in the division after KOs of Koba Gogolazde, Zolani Marali, and Tyrone Harris, lost back to back bouts to Vazquez and Zappavigna. Most recently, he won a split decision over a three fight professional. Lundy had all the right talk and a lot of skill, but his durability failed him in his first big test against John Molina when he ran out of gas on ESPN. These three fighters might be fun to watch on television still, but it's going to take some improvement to imagine any of them making it to the top spot anymore. The verdict? Lightweight unification bouts will hold together and build upon the current high profile status of the division. Any combination of champion versus champion among the top five fighters will grab HBO, Showtime, or PPV attention. Also, the clash in styles should make for some very fan-friendly action. Even without Marquez in the mix, match-ups featuring Guerrero, Soto, Vazquez, Rios, and a small handful of former world title challengers can carry the division at the same level of prominence over the next couple of years. The forecast for the 135 pound class looks great.
