Top 5 Best and Worst Weight Classes, Pound For Pound

By Tom Dickey (September 6, 2004)

So many times I have read about pound for pound rankings for fighters. I thought it would be interesting to compile a pound for pound rankings list for weight classes. Here's my top 5 best and worst weight classes right now.

THE BEST WEIGHT CLASSES:

1. 140 pounds - (Super lightweight)
This weight class is loaded with stars and upcoming stars. Kostya Tsyzu is recognized as the champion at 140, but he has many good fighters behind him. This weight class also includes the likes of Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti, Vivian Harris, and Mike Stewart. With the advancement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to this weight class, the 140 pounds division goes over the top and at the top of the rankings. It has good looking rising stars in Miguel Cotto, Kelson Pinto and Ricky Hatton. The combination of superstars, solid veterans, and future stars puts 140 pounds at the head of the class.

2. 154 pounds - (Super welterweight)
Many fighters seem to be moving up to this weight class, and there is a good reason for this. There are many good fighters here, and good fights are easier to find. This weight class has adopted Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Antonio Margarito and Vernon Forrest from smaller weight classes. Add to this group solid champions like Winky Wright and Verno Phillips, and this makes this weight class very tough to beat. The move up to middleweight by Oscar de la Hoya cost this weight class being number one, but it still comes in a very close second. Throw in up and comers like Travis Simms and Kassim Ouma to solidify this weight class even more.

3. 126 pounds - (Featherweight)
This may be the best weight division around. The featherweight
division has three fighters who could be Hall of Famers in Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez. This division was hurt a little bit when Erik Morales left, but Morales is planning a third fight with Barrera. It's also strong after the top 3, just not quite as deep as 154 and 140. This division also includes the likes of tough fighters like Scott Harrison, Injin Chi, Manuel Medina, and Derrick Gainer. It has future stars in Rocky Juarez
and Zahir Raheem to top it out. This division comes in a very close third.

4. 135 pounds - (Lightweight)
A very good division, but there's a bit of a drop off after the first three
mentioned. A very solid division headed by Jose Luis Castillo. It also includes solid fighters like Juan Lazcano, Stevie Johnston, Julio Diaz, and Acelino
Freitas. Juan Diaz may be the biggest talk in this weight division, as he already won a world title in this weight class. A very solid division, just not as
deep as the previous three.

5. 130 pounds - (Super Featherweight)
At one time many people considered this to be the best division. It had the likes of Mayweather, Corrales, Casamayor, and Freitas. Now only Corrales remains, and Casmayor is still sticking around but struggling recently. It's still a very strong weight class, especially since Erik Morales moved into this division. There are other solid guys like Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez, Robbie Peden, Jorge Barrios, and Steve Forbes. This weight class has
a good future with the likes of Barrios and Mike Anchondo.

The Top 5 Pound for Pound

1. 140 pounds
2. 154 pounds
3. 126 pounds
4. 135 pounds
5. 130 pounds

THE WORST WEIGHT CLASSES:

1. 180 lbs. - Cruiserweight
This class enjoyed a surge last year with the great James Toney-Vassily Jirov battle, but like so many others they moved up to heavyweight. Now the Cruiserweight division is back to being the step child of the heavyweight division. Its champions include Jean-Marc Mormeck, Kelvin Davis, and Wayne
Braithwaite.

2. 168 lbs. - Super Middleweight
One of the problems of this weight class is that the champions don't fight
each other, because they're so spread out across the globe. When the champions do fight, we rarely get to see it in the States. Joe Calzaghe is a solid fighter, but we have yet to see him against a top notch guy. The division also has young bright spots with Danny Green and Jeff Lacy, solid guys like Markus Beyer and Anthony Mundine. It has some exciting fighters with Antwun Echols, Scott Pemberton, and Omar Sheika. But, its lack of exposure and its lack of depth hurt this division the most.

3. Heavyweight -
Ever since Lennox Lewis retired the heavyweight division has been searching for a true champion, and it's still searching. This division is still an intriguing and exciting division, because anyone could beat anyone on a given night. But, the reason for this is the lack of good fighters in this division. The heavyweight division is in limbo right now, and needs a true champion. This division is still exciting, but not very good.

4. 122 pounds - Super Bantamweight
This division has suffered from fighters moving up to 126 and beyond. This division once had the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Paulie Ayala. Now Oscar Larios and Israel Vazquez rule the division. These two are good fighters, but they don't have much help. Joan Guzman is a good prospect to watch in this division, but for right now this division is depleted.

5. 147 pounds - Welterweight
Another division which has suffered from fighters moving up. This division once had the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest, and Ricardo Mayorga. All these guys have moved up, and left the welterweight division in a weak state. Cory Spinks rules the division right now, and even though he has done everything asked of him, most don't consider him a superstar. Zab Judah is one of the few known fighters in this weight class, and he has been struggling. There is some hope in this division with rising stars like Kermit Cintron, Jose Celaya, and Ishe Smith. Hopefully the welterweight division will make a comeback soon.

The Bottom Five Pound for Pound

1. 180 pounds
2. 168 pounds
3. heavyweight
4. 122 pounds
5. 147 pounds
.

*** Elisa Harrison is DHB's Editor for Team BRC. To see who makes up Team BRC, see DHB's homepage in the Credits Column or visit Elisa's Home site at BraggingRightsCorner

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