British P4P Top 12 by Ronnie McCluskey Jun 16th 2005

Ronnie Mac gives us the low down on his British pound-for pound Top 12. As usual, the Scotsman delivers his opinions on the front foot! I'm already preparing to send him an email defending old Johnny… 1 Ricky Hatton (39-0) 2 Junior Witter (31-1-2) 3 Scott Harrison (24-2-2) 4 Joe Calzaghe (39-0) 5 Damaen Kelly (21-2) 6 Howard Eastman (40-2) 7 Wayne McCullough (27-5) 8. Robin Reid (38-4-1) 9. Carl Froch (15-0) 10. Alex Arthur (20-1) 11. Clinton Woods (37-3-1) 12. Esham Pickering (28-3) I have been attempting to compile a respectable pound-for-pound list for the past few days, and let me first say, it's easier said than done. Upon placing fighters of choice where you think they belong, you remember they lost a few fights back to someone who you've left off the list, or how they have shamelessly ducked another worthy opponent. These lists are always flawed. If you go over to Boxingtalk.com, you can see that Marco Antonio Barrera is several places above Philippine Manny Pacquiao. Yet Pacquiao mercilessly pummeled Barrera to an eleventh round stoppage less than two years ago. Of course, the merit of Barrera is that he has since come back, and beaten rival Erik Morales up at super-featherweight, whereas Pac has stalled versus the same Mexican, and of course boxed a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez. But I'd still pick Pac-Man over Barrera any day of the week. These lists merely ensure ever-increasing egos in boxing. It requires a certain element of arrogance, but also a sure self-belief to say "I am the best pound-for-pound". It's a fictional title, and rarely will you see two boxing critics agreeing on a matter of such. Nevertheless, the twelve men I have in my list are, in my opinion, the very best fighters in British boxing today. The list is based primarily on ability I must say, but other factors include Win/Loss record, quality of opposition, consistency and also activity. Big wins have a huge impact on the pound-for-pound procedure. Although Alex Arthur had been keeping a pretty low profile since the Gomez defeat, a huge domestic win over Commonwealth champ Craig Docherty propelled him back into the limelight, and it was a big reminder of exactly what the Edinburgh man can do. Lack of big wins, however good you are, hurt your standing also. Carl Froch has not had a big, booming victory yet, otherwise he would be higher on my list. Note - this is not a slate on Carl. Most domestic fighters would do good to follow in his footsteps. He has already travelled to America, beaten decent Henry Porras, and has been calling out Joe Calzaghe since the start. Anyway, I should shut up now. Here's my Top 12 pound-for-pound list, as of June 16. 1 Ricky Hatton (39-0) - Light-welterweight Ricky Hatton is on top of the boxing world, after dethroning long-standing kingpin Kostya Tszyu last Saturday to claim the IBF world championship. Tszyu, one of the modern greats, was grinded down and battered in the end, by gladiator Hatton, who has finally managed to fulfill his potential. It almost makes those trumped-up defences excusable! Ricky is undoubtedly number one because he is the only man in this list who has beaten the world number one. A world number one, I hasten to add, who was heavily favoured, and earlier this year hammered slickster Sharmba Mitchell inside three rounds. Although I think my number two on the list would give him problems, Hatton well and truly deserves this spot. He's beaten the best, and as such, he is the best. Frenetic body-punching, and non-stop pressure will be difficult for anyone to deal with, even Floyd Mayweather. 2 Junior Witter (31-1-2) - Junior has gone about his business with rumbling aggression and blistering devastation, chalking up sixteen straight victories and fifteen by knockout, since a disappointing loss to Zab Judah in 2000. I think it's also worth mentioning that Judah was IBF champion, and has since stepped up to become undisputed at 147 (welterweight). Witter boxed very negatively that night, but he was never hurt, which is admirable considering Judah's noteworthy power. Since that loss, Judah has adopted a more aggressive style, and has claimed the British, Commonwealth and European titles. He has also been awarded the Lonsdale belt, as it seems there are a big shortage of challengers. Who blames them? Witter is trouble for anyone. He's like a bigger Naseem Hamed, only more business-like. In his last fight too, Junior beat Lovemore N'Dou, knocking him down twice in the process. He must now look to finally get it on with Hatton, or maybe someone like Vivian Harris. 3 Scott Harrison (24-2-2) - He may not be the most skillful guy, but can he fight! Harrison gives off a distinct air of self-belief. He is always business-like, and brooding, a malevolent prospect for any fighter I must say. Harrison has managed to defend his WBO featherweight crown five times since regaining it from Manuel Medina in 2003, and he also holds an impressive twelve-round victory over Wayne McCullough. Harrison is considered to be one-dimensional by some, and has lost some of the clever boxing technique he had in the early days, when he fought the likes of Tracy Harris Patterson. But, I think the change has worked for him, so why not? He's naturally strong at the weight, so surely his advantage should be implemented, with come-forward aggression, and non-stop punching? Either way, Harrison looks good to go for a showdown with WBA/IBF maestro Juan Manuel Marquez later in the year. And with his recent devastation of Michael Brodie, I wouldn't make Harrison too bad an underdog. 4 Joe Calzaghe (39-0) - I'm sure a lot of people would have Calzaghe higher, but not me. In fact, Sky has Calzaghe at about 12 in their WORLD rankings. I'm not knocking Joe, but that is overrating him just a bit. He has not beaten a suitable contender to warrant such a high ranking. Joe's last performance was great I daresay, but it was against the German Veit, who he had previously crushed inside a round. Ok, so the guy improved. It didn't warrant a rematch. That aside, Calzaghe is an impressive 39-0 and has continued to progress since his debut. He has good wins over Chris Eubank (ok, he was past it, but nevertheless!), Charles Brewer, and Byron Mitchell, the latter of which was an absolute barnburner. The defining fights still elude the Welshman though, but his ability warrants the best opposition. Hopefully the Jeff Lacy fight comes off, providing Lacy beats Reid. Or better yet, Reid beats Lacy, and gets a return with Joe. 5 Damaen Kelly (21-2) - Irritatingly overlooked by most, Damaen Kelly would be a relative superstar if he campaigned at a higher weight. The IBO super-flyweight champion has just came off a tremendous victory over Jason "2 Smooth" Booth, and he has also bid, albeit unsuccessfully, for a genuine world title. In 2003, the foolhardy Kelly went into the Lions Den - Barranquilla, Colombia, to face the hometown, IBF champion Irene Pacheco. The brave Irishman battled like a warrior, before being stopped by the precise, scything counter-puncher. No shame there though. He's even talking about facing new champ Vic Darchinian, who relieved Pacheco this year. I'd strongly advice against that, as Darchinian is damn near flawless, and a hurtful puncher. But balls of steel, eh? Kelly is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion, and has also won IBO belts at two weights. The man must surely now be recognised for what he is. 6 Howard Eastman (40-2) - The two-time world title challenger may well be eroding somewhat after 42 fights, but even still, he remains a top fighter. Undoubtedly the best middleweight on these shores, Eastman worked himself into contention for Bernard Hopkins' middleweight crown this year. It was a dismal fight, as many of Hopkins tend to be, but Howard showed that he was no mug - no mug at all. He did enough to take three rounds from the undisputed champion on my card, and although it doesn't sound much from a twelve-rounder, winning any rounds at all against the Philadelphian is a mini-victory itself. On the domestic scene, opponents have been taken out and taken down. Eastman has picked up British, Commonwealth and European honours along the way, and looks untouchable in Europe. At world stage though, he has come up just short. 7 Wayne McCullough (27-5) - What can you say about this man? Warrior pretty much sums it up, I'd say. So many times he has looked finished, yet each time he has toiled and carved a pathway, a means for his career to continue, to campaign at the very best level. After a crushing loss to Daniel Zaragoza in ‘97, Wayne came back with a win over Juan Polo Perez, before making an ambitious bid for Naseem Hamed's featherweight crown. He lost, but took it to Hamed, and took his bombs full on and returned fire. Inconceivably, he returned to meet Mexican pound-for-pound superstar Erik 'El Terrible' Morales, and a pulsating scrap ended with another stinging defeat. But he gave Morales the toughest fight of his career at that point, and has become a well known fighter in America. A feat few Brits match. Wayne recently stepped down to the super-bantamweight division, and enjoyed a thrilling, high-charged war with WBC king Oscar Larios. He now awaits a rematch, scheduled for next month. 8 Robin Reid (38-4-1) - Really should be WBA/IBF champion, after thoroughly outclassing German champion Sven Ottke in his backyard, 2003. That fight was a disgrace, Reid won at least 7 of the 12 rounds, but should have gone for the knockout, as robbery was painted all over the fight before it even began. Reid now sets his sights on Jeff Lacy later this year and should bring total confidence to the fight, with a good win over unbeaten Brian Magee recently. "The Grim Reaper" is another one who's often overlooked, but he has great skills, and is a great range-fighter, with a cracking punch. His KO of Enrique Campos a couple of years ago was nothing short of barbaric. Just pipped by Joe Calzaghe a few years back, but a rematch may be on the cards, providing he shocks Lacy. 9 Carl Froch (15-0) - Some will say its premature to put this "baby" in the top ten pound-for-pound list, but I disagree. Froch gets in on sheer ability, and desire. He has been calling out the big names since he turned pro, hell I haven't heard Reid or Joe respond to one of Carl's challenges yet. Has passed every test so far, including a good win over WBC number 10 Henry Porras in his last fight, and has mopped up pretty much, domestically. Look for Froch to get a big fight sometime in his next fight. Unlike Joe, he is ready and willing to make the big fights as soon as possible. Regardless of experience. 10 Alex Arthur (20-1) - Recently has looked better and badder than ever, under new coach Jim McDonnell. Arthur's improved fitness is glaringly obvious, with a comfortable twelve-round decision of Nazareno Ruiz, and a nine round epic with Craig Docherty. It's not just Arthur's fitness, but his poise and punch-picking. His defence has also improved, and he is now less susceptible to the left-hook which was downfall against Mancunian Michael Gomez. I doubt a rematch will happen there, but Arthur is already lined up against European champ Boris Sinitsin, and after that, who knows? Freddie Roach certainly speaks very highly of him. 11 Clinton Woods (37-3-1) - After years of toiling, and three attempts to win a world title, Clinton Woods managed to seize the IBF championship with a great win over Rico Hoye in Rotherham, in March. The win was bittersweet for Woods, who had previously come up short against the dazzling Roy Jones Jr., and Glen Johnson (twice). Woods may be nearing the end of his career, and looking for big paydays, but nevertheless, he is a genuine world champion, and undoubtedly a tough opponent for anyone at light-heavy. Woods is durable, determined and also hungry to hold on to that which has taken him years to acquire. 12 Esham Pickering (28-3) - The European super-bantamweight champion is another guy of pure talent and ringcraft. Like his stablemate Junior Witter, he can switch hit and to devastating effect. Not particularly powerful, but very slick, very fast and very smart. Did get hammered by Mauricio Martinez in one round, but perhaps he was caught cold. Either way, he has regrouped, and turned into one of the best fighters in Brendan Ingle's stable, notching up 11 wins from 12 starts since the Martinez bout. Recently dethroned the durable Miguel Mallon, in Spain. That's my top 12. I've left off Johnny Nelson, WBO Cruiserweight champ, because a) He has NEVER attempted to unify b) Inactivity c) He is over five years removed from his best wins Personally I think big Enzo will do Nelson, if they ever meet. He's young, hungry and possesses a huge punch. Nelson hasn't got the legs anymore, and I think the Welshman wants it more. Questions/ Comments? ronniemccluskey@hotmail.co.uk

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