ESPN has listed Manny Pacquiao as the second best boxer in the world in its latest pound for pound rankings.
It's a no-brainer who's at the top.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. retained his spot at No.1 after beating what was actually an injured 'Pacman' in the much hyped ‘Battle for Greatness’ last May 2 (May 3, Manila time) in Las Vegas.
The world rankings, which covers all weight classes, were announced by ESPN analyst Jim Basquil but some observers have some reservations about the experts’ poll that placed Pacquiao just behind Mayweather.
“I think having him second is a stretch. The man is a very good fighter, he fought well but I don’t know if I’ll have him No.2 as this juncture but he’s certainly in the top six,” said Boxing Hall of Famer and Showtime boxing analyst Al Bernstein.
According to ESPN, the rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving nine points and so on. A tie goes to the fighter with the highest submitted ranking and then the most votes at that ranking.
Mayweather scored 100 whereas Pacquiao garnered a total of 78. The undefeated Guillermo Rigondeaux is in third with 65. Middlweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin (62) and Juan Manuel Marquez (51) complete the top five.
The lower half of the list is composed, from sixth to 10th, of flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez, Timothy Bradley Jr., heavyweight title holder Wladimir Klitschko, Sergey Kovalev and middleweight champ Miguel Cotto.
The selection panel was composed of ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael, Brian Campbell, Nigel Collins, Teddy Atlas, Kieran Mulvaney, Bernardo Pilatti, Eric Raskin, Salvador Rodriguez, Carlos Narvaez and Rafe Bartholomew.
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