Nelson, McCrory, Watt, Moore, Smith and Froch cast their vote
Wednesday 30 September 2015 07:02, UK
With Floyd Mayweather calling it a day - for now at least - who takes over as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter? We asked our own super-six Panel to decide who moves to the top of the pile...
I can't look past Wladimir Klitschko. He has turned his career round and I look at him now and just don't see him as beatable. If you look at what he's done, he has to go top.
Wladimir Klitschko has taken on and beaten everyone over the years and you could say that about Floyd Mayweather, but the rest out there? Not yet.
Klitschko has taken on and beaten everyone over the years and you could say that about Floyd Mayweather, but the rest out there? Not yet. Of course there is fresh talent coming through, like Nicholas Walters and our own Kell Brook, but Klitschko deserves his dues and should get that No 1 position. He's been around the top for years and now there's no one above him.
I'd have to say Andre Ward - with Gennady Golovkin just behind him. Ward may not have fought as regularly as he - and we - wanted him to but he has proved he is right up there because he's beaten everyone he's faced. Hopefully we should now see how good he really is.
I made it clear before I fought him that I thought Ward was the world's No 2 so with Mayweather gone and Ward back, active and up in the rankings again, it has to be him.
I am not saying beating me cemented his legacy but I made it clear before I fought him that I thought Ward was the world's No 2 so with Mayweather gone and Ward back, active and up in the rankings again, it has to be him.
He's still a few fights off really cementing his legacy but Gennady Golovkin is the man to take over. He looks the marquee name now. He really destroys opponents. Sergey Kovalev doesn't quite have the same appeal. He's good value but he's not going to capture the whole public's imagination. Golovkin does that.
You're looking for someone to capture America's imagination and sell out Las Vegas time and time again. These are big shoes to step in to and you know you're going to get value for money with Golovkin.
In America, you've got Terence Crawford who is incredibly talented but doesn't seem to have that widespread appeal. You're looking for someone to capture America's imagination and sell out Las Vegas time and time again. These are big shoes to step in to and you know you're going to get value for money with Golovkin.
I wouldn't even put Gennady Golovkin in my top 10 yet because I look at the resumes, so if you are looking for the pound-for-pound best, I have to go with Andre Ward. Because of the way he fights, I just can't see him being beaten and he won't be beaten throughout his career - so that makes him the best.
I wouldn't even put Gennady Golovkin in my top 10 yet because I look at their resumes, so if you are looking for the pound-for-pound best, I have to go with Andre Ward.
But, I'll be honest and admit I am not a fan of Ward. I am a boxing fan and I like to be entertained. Even Floyd Mayweather gave it a go and was a little more offensive and there are plenty of fighters who are much better at that, but when it comes to pound-for-pound, I can't look past Ward.
It's difficult to look past Gennady Golovkin. It could be unfair to ignore Wladimir Klitschko because he's dominated the heavyweight division, but I would never call him a 'special' fighter. In any era, Golovkin would have done very, very well, whereas Klitschko would have struggled.
I was not too upset to see Mayweather retire but I could never, ever argue that he wasn't the No 1. Golovkin takes over, in my opinion.
I do think he's going to have to move up to super-middleweight because no one can touch him at the moment, but he has beaten all before him and he entertains us every time. I was not too upset to see Mayweather retire but I could never, ever argue that he wasn't No 1. Golovkin takes over, in my opinion.
I'd say it's a toss-up between Andre Ward and Gennady Golovkin but Golovkin is pushing on for it now and Ward's been established for a long time. Ward probably has bigger wins to his name but personally, I feel Golovkin is the best out there. He has a little bit of everything and time will prove how good he is.
It's not just the fact he wins but it's how he wins. I feel he's pipping Ward, who's been out injured and lost a bit of momentum. Golovkin is better to watch.
It's not just the fact he wins, but how he wins. I feel he's pipping Ward, who's been out injured and lost a bit of momentum. Golovkin is better to watch. Technically, Ward is great defensively but doesn't carry that much power. Ward will try to frustrate you whereas Golovkin can get you out of there in a round or two, or methodically break you down over longer. Nobody's been good enough to put him on the back foot yet.
