Top 10 P4P ratings

As 2008 gets going, we pick out who we think are the very best boxers on the planet.

Just who's forming an orderly queue behind the Pretty Boy...

It was the year in which boxing hit back. Sensational match-ups between the biggest names, new rising stars in the sport and some canny promoting helped put the sport back on the map in 2007. Love him or loathe him, Floyd Mayweather leads the way going into 2008 and is universally recognised as the revered pound-for-pound king. But what of the rest? Everybody has their own views on the world's Top 10 and we here at skysports.com are no different, so we have updated our ratings as we head towards 2008. Undefeated fighters, long-reigning world champions, boxers who have been in high-class battles, or just superstars of the sport - our pick has the lot. Have a read and then feel free to add your comments at the bottom...

1) Floyd Mayweather

If there were any doubts before, the display against Ricky Hatton confirmed the Pretty Boy's position at the pinnacle of pugilism - for a generation. Out of 'retirement' to take on one of the few live challengers left, Mayweather made it look easy. Not only did he record his first KO for two years, he took Britain's hero to school, picked him up and helped him with his homework. A master in the ring but still a monster out of it, Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya in the same year have cemented his legacy. That good, there is an argument for leaving number two blank!
PREVIOUS RATING: 1
RECORD: 39(25)-0-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Ricky Hatton KO 10
WHAT NEXT: Everything points to Miguel Cotto - the only man out there worth Floyd getting out of bed for.

2) Joe Calzaghe

Finally getting the recognition the sport's longest-reigning world champion deserves. Mikkel Kessler was the pretender to his super-middleweight throne but went the same way as Jeff Lacy before him. Not many fighters can cram over 50,000 in for a fight as Joe did for his Cardiff coronation but 2007 has been the year of the Calzaghe. Gone are the routine defences, the Welshman now belongs firmly in the superstar category and can look forward to even bigger paydays in 2008, possibly at light-heavy.
PREVIOUS RATING: 4
RECORD: 44(33)-0-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Mikkel Kessler PTS 117-111 116-112 116-112
WHAT NEXT: Showing Bernard Hopkins that white men might not be able to jump, but boy can they box.

3) Manny Pacquiao

After lurking in Floyd's stripstream, the 2007 Pacman seems to be struggling to keep that star burning as bright. Even a comprehensive and career-ending win over former pound-for-pound regular Marco Antonio Barrera in October did little for the Filipino. Too much talk of politics, outside interferences, disrupted training camps and disputes with his trainers have made 2007 a disappointing year. On his day, arguably the most ferocious fighter out there, but will need all his focus against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008.
PREVIOUS RATING: 2
RECORD: 50(45)-3-2
LAST FIGHT: BT Marco Antonio Barrera PTS 118-109 118-109 115-11
WHAT NEXT: Juan Manuel Marquez, March 15, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

4) Miguel Cotto

Our biggest mover on the back of 2007 successes over Oktay Urkal, and in very, very good fights, Zab Judah and Shane Mosley. Carefully managed by Bob Arum, the hand-picked opponents have been replaced by top-drawer contenders and a series of stellar bouts. Still only 27, there is more to come from the Puerto Rican who has maintained his power at welterweight and, dare we say it, dispelled talk of a suspect chin. The only man likely to pose Mayweather a problem or two before he packs it in.
PREVIOUS RATING: 7
RECORD: 31(25)-0-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Shane Mosley PTS 115-113 116-113 115-113
WHAT NEXT: Everyone wants to see Cotto-Mayweather in 2008. Hopefully that includes both boxers.

5) Ricky Hatton

Maybe deserves better for taking on the very best, but ultimately was outclassed. Mayweather was always going to be a taller order than an ageing Jose Luis Castillo, and as ever the Hitman was brave to the end. But a lack of variation cost him and gave us all proof that his legacy - and his future - lies back at light-welterweight. Still the people's champion and America took him to its heart as much as the 30,000-odd Brits who turned Las Vegas into a little bit of Manchester for the weekend.
PREVIOUS RATING: 3
RECORD: 44(31)-1-0
LAST FIGHT: LOST Floyd Mayweather KO10
WHAT NEXT: Back down to light-welter. IBF king Paulie Malignaggi in New York is the favourite, but Gavin Rees and dare we say it, Oscar de la Hoya, are also options.

6) Juan Diaz

Another of boxing's rising stars. Acelino Freitas couldn't handle him and in the October unification match with Julio Diaz, the Baby Bull hammered home his billing as the very best lightweight in the world. Eight rounds of non-stop action came to an end when Julio wisely stayed on his stool at the start of the ninth. Still only 24, the Texan might not have great knockout power, but will outwork anyone at 135lbs and knows how to fathom a foe. Has the tools and the time to become a real star in the not too distant future.
PREVIOUS RATING: 9
RECORD: 33(17)-0-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Julio Diaz TKO 9
WHAT NEXT:Ultimately it has to be another namesake, WBC king David Diaz, but Michael Katsidis or Joel Casamayor would suffice in the meantime.

7) Juan Manuel Marquez

As always some will claim brother Rafael is the worthier of the two, but the wily old Mexican still deserves to mix with exalted company. The controversial defeat in Chris John's backyard remains the only blip and Dinimita added the notable scalp of Rocky Juarez to that of former pound-for-pound regular Marco Antonio Barrera in 2007. The move up to super-featherweight posed little problem and with the draw with Manny Pacquiao still rankling, the rematch promises - already - to be one of the fights of 2008.
PREVIOUS RATING: 6
RECORD: 47(35)-3-1
LAST FIGHT: BT Rocky Juarez 120-108 118-110 117-111
WHAT NEXT: Manny Pacquiao, March 15, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

8) Kelly Pavlik

In China it was the Year of the Pig, in boxing it was the Year of the Ghost. Hailing from the very same Youngstown, Ohio as the great Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini, Pavlik is your archetypal throwback. If his May win over Edison Miranda was brutal, his September KO of Jermain Taylor was breathtaking. He climbed off the canvas to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and suddenly, America had a new people's champion. His support is every bit as spectacular as his style and a rematch win over Taylor will see it grow even further.
PREVIOUS RATING: -
RECORD: 32(29)-0-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Jermain Taylor KO7
WHAT NEXT: Jermain Taylor, February 16, MGM Grand, Las Vegas

9) Bernard Hopkins

He might have spent more time promoting than punching in 2007, but like a dog with a bone, the Executioner hangs on to his place among the sports elite. Only fought Winky Wright over the last 12 months, but when you are that good, keep yourself that fit and are that rich, you don't need to fight when someone else says so. And through Golden Boy, he still looms large over the sport. Let himself down badly with the remarks made about Joe Calzaghe and if he doesn't fight him in 2008, then it's bye-bye Bernard, I'm afraid.
PREVIOUS RATING: 8
RECORD: 48(32)-4-1-1NC
LAST FIGHT: BT Winky Wright PTS 116-112 117-111 117-111
WHAT NEXT: Time to put the readies and reputation where the mouth is and meet Calzaghe. B-Hop's legendary negotiating 'skills' could well be the Welshman's biggest problem.

10) Wladimir Klitschko

Nudged into the top 10 by the need for a big guy to get us all excited, but the little Klitschko is doing his best to kick the heavyweights on. Dr Steelhammer was active and destructive in equal measures in 2007, with Lamon Brewster taken apart on the back of a cakewalk against Ray Austin. Now victory over Sultan Ibragimov would take him even closer to that undisputed tag which, if we're all honest, is still what the sport needs. Included out of need rather than necessity, but we should all be glad for Wlad.
PREVIOUS RATING: 10
RECORD: 52(44)-3-0
LAST FIGHT: BT Lamon Brewster RTD 6
WHAT NEXT: Sultan Ibragimov, February 23, Madison Square Garden, New York