Cruisers and bruisers

Johnny Nelson joins our great P4P debate, and includes three Brits and two from his old weight division.

Haye and Gomez among the best in the world today

The pound-for-pound list is of course mythical, but for me it is a chance to recognise fighters that have the lot. And by that I mean guys that have been in wars, been put down, had questions asked of them and still come through to win fights we didn't expect them too, and world titles. That is the problem with the heavyweights at the moment. They get up to world title level and then their exposed, we find out their chins are suspect and they fall to pieces. The guys I like are the ones who have shown us everything. And although I myself have been guilty in the past of bemoaning the lack of talent out there at times, having sat down and thought about this, I do think we have turned the corner again. Particularly here in Britain where kids are realising more and more it's all about the game, and not just the fame. Anyway, the Sky Sports boxing team have done theirs, Glenn McCrory has done his, Adam Smith will, we hope, do his and I you have all been joining in, so here's my current top 10. 1) MANNY PACQUIAO
He has to be the top of the pile because of the amount of world champions past and present, and contenders, he's just run through. He's accumulated world titles at four different weights and he continually keeps punters on the edge of their seats, which should not be overlooked. And he's more than a clever box fighter, he can back it up. Whenever you think he's in trouble, or he's in a fight people are expecting him to lose, he can pull it out of the bag. Every time I see Pacquiao in a fight I know he's going to win, hand on heart, and down the years there haven't been too many guys you can say that about. 2) DAVID HAYE
I know I'm bias towards cruiserweights but I was around when there was a lot of decent fighters and he was easily the best of them all. Again, he's pulled it out of the bag, he's been into people's backyards (Jean-Marc Mormeck) and won; he's taken on mismatches and won and when there's been serious question marks against him as there was when he took on Enzo Maccarinelli, he's answered them. The only person whose opinion didn't waver in the lead-up to that fight was David and that is the sort of thing that sorts the men out from the boys. I really do rate this lad - and he's only going to get better. 3) JOE CALZAGHE
You cannot beat the success that Joe has achieved and I do think he's been harshly treated at times. Think about it any the live fighters that he's been tested against he has exposed them and dismantled them. Hasn't really got the credit he's deserved but that is partly down to Joe himself; he's a country lad who likes the quiet life and seems content to sit in the background where others would sell themselves. He's not interested in all the glitz and glamour, he just goes in, fights, and gets out of there. His style of fighting has been questioned and it may not be everybody's cup of tea, but uit has brought him success and that unbelievable record. 4) KELLY PAVLIK
He's not the prettiest of boxers but he does the basics astoundingly well and that is what people drum into kids in gyms up and down the country and across the world. He is a tough, rock-hard, grassroots kind of guy that if you were in a war, you would want covering your back. He's just a hard case and there's not many champions out there that truly, truly believe they are the best in the world like he seems to. Everybody looked for a chink in his armour but when he's been hit on the chin, he's come through it. I don't think he is going to get better in terms of skill but his toughness is benefiting him right now and although he can't keep fighting like that, we should all sit back and enjoy the ride. 5) MIGUEL COTTO
Another one who has been tried and tested along the line and whenever we've thought he might slip up, he's come through. He has been hurt as well but just seems to shrug if off and hit back. He's a real Steady Eddie and another one, like Pacquiao, I just can't visualise being beaten by anyone. I can see him getting hurt, but he has tasted success and sure to taste more success, even if there are more seesaw fights to come. One of those will be against Antonio Margarito who will give anyone a right handful, but I still can't see Cotto losing that one. And although he might have been well-matched early on the fact that he is taking this shows what he's about. 6) RICKY HATTON
Still top man at light-welterweight and for a while one of the best pound-for-pound in the world. But Ricky is on the way down and probably only has two more wins left in him. I have to admit that at one stage I thought Junior Witter had the beating of him, but then Ricky just elevated his career, got rid of people that were tough opponents and all of a sudden was head and shoulders above his British rival. Ricky has been consistently successful regardless of the opposition and only lost to the very best. But the style of fighting that created that success will work against him and fast, aggressive fighters lose their reflexes with age and that split second, that fraction of an inch, makes all the difference. If you fight a boring style like I did, you can get away with it but Ricky is getting hit a lot more now. 7) MIKEL KESSLER
This might raise a few eyebrows but make no mistake about it, this is one tough kid. You can say he lost his one big fight when it mattered, but if losing to Floyd Mayweather is no disgrace, then neither is losing to Joe Calzaghe at super-middleweight. It can be hard to find proper boxers today and that is why I have plumped for the Dane - he is just that. Only one defeat in 41 fights and he's taken care of everyone, bar the Welshman, in his division and he first thing he did when Calzaghe beat him was go out and win a world title back. He is just does everything very, very well, boxes, fights, defends, finishes, there's not much to fault with him and there are many boxers out there who would love to be able to say that. Just a shade behind Calzaghe, which is no disgrace and now he's gone, Kessler will clean up the super-middleweight division, I have no doubt. 8) WINKY WRIGHT
Another fighter who is not quite at his peak, but he is still active and has to go down as a modern-day great. Even though his better days are behind him, he has still only lost to Bernard Hopkins in the last nine years. Winky was so difficult to beat and although there might be a few more chinks in the armour now, he was at times untouchable. I don't mind admitting I am a fan of that defensive style - there has to be a place for everything in the sport - and his was all his own, completely individual and totally unfathomable. It is easy to criticise but how many fighters actually generate such success on the back of their style? Floyd Patterson was castigated because people said he was a dysfunctional fighter and it would never work but it bloody well worked for him and the same goes for Winky. And in my book, he deserves his dues for that. 9) SHANE MOSLEY
Just a fighter I love, as simple as that. There's only one word to desrcibe the style and handspeed he possessed at his peak and that was wicked! It might not mean much to many people but he was like my old stablemate Fidel Castro Smith/Slugger O'Toole and I just used to love watching guys like that fight - even if it was a mile away from my own style! Mosley's speed is still his greatest asset, even though it has slowed a little and although both Vernon Forrest and Winky had his number I still love watching him. It's not just about pure speed though, Mosley has great strength and it's still a pleasure watching him pull off those combinations and setting his man up for the finish. 10) JUAN CARLOS GOMEZ
A bit of a wild card, but another wicked, wicked fighter. This boy is another cruiserweight who has just stepped up to heavyweight where he beat an over-the-hill Oliver McCall, and one David Haye probably wants to avoid. Gomez can fight, he can box, he's a southpaw and he is a fast, clever fighter. He's also a cocky kind of guy who can let his ego get the better of him and lure him into a tear-up, which is one thing he'll have to watch out for when he's in against the heavyweights. But not many of the big boys are what you would call good, classy boxers and that is what Juan Carlos is. He has bloody fast hands and really can box. Like I say, I don't think we'll get to see him and Haye in the same ring, but if David can make an impact up there, so can Gomez. Watch out for him! Want to see who the rest of the Sky Sports team have in their top 10's. Or want to join in the great debate. Well click here to find out more!