September 2009 pound-for-pound tracker

Time again for the monthly pound-for-pound (P4P) tracker and what is likely to be the calm before the storm this fall. ESPN's P4P ranking is still not included in the tracker given the "pay to play" requirement to access the fighters it ranks as numbers 4 through 10 on its P4P list, and Fox Sports is no longer used in light of the fact that it has punted P4P rankings to BoxingScene.com; however, Fox hasn't felt the need to update the P4P page.

As such, there are only five credible media outlets that update P4P rankings. Averaging those five, here is the P4P list for September 2009:

Number 10. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Money May was ranked number 9 last month. Who knew that his 24/7 appearance last week would have caused a downgrade. Floyd, Jr. will fight Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19th and his stock will either rise significantly or disappear altogether.

Number 9. Ivan Calderon. Iron Boy has been a staple on P4P lists for months and is set for his anticipated rematch against Rodel Mayol on September 12th. He is undefeated in 33 bouts (1 draw). It's too bad relatively few outside of Puerto Rico have seen him.

Number 8. Rafael Marquez. Marquez knocked out Jose Francisco Mendoza in May and has the calendar open for the rest of the year. Waiting for Israel Vazquez no doubt…waiting, waiting….

Number 7. Israel Vazquez. Here he is. Magnifico is scheduled to fight Al Seeger on October 10th. Welcome back!

Number 6. Miguel Cotto. Cotto is most loved by the BBC who has him ranked 4th and most hated by the World Boxing Organization. The fight with Manny Pacquiao has enormous P4P implications and can't get here fast enough.

Number 5. Paul Williams. The Punisher is still looking for a gig this fall since Kelly Pavlik has an ingrown fingernail or something. BoxRec, however, is still reporting that Pavlik will meet him on November 21st, but don't hold your breath.

Number 4. Shane Mosley. Mosley has apparently not self-imposed the Antonio Margarito suspension and has booked the MGM Grand for December 5th. Sugar's website confirms that his opponent will be either Joshua Clottey or Andre Berto. Nice.

Number 3. Bernard Hopkins. It is still somewhat amazing that Hopkins has the third slot locked up given that his last fight was almost a year ago and against Kelly Pavlik. Roy Jones, Jr. called him out, but B-Hop said that he is looking at Chad Dawson or Tomasz Adamek. We shall see.

Number 2. Juan Manuel Marquez. Will he ever be able to reach the number 1 P4P spot? Yes, if he can get past Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on September 19th and gets a little help from Miguel Cotto in November. Otherwise, the number 1 guy below will have to retire.

Number 1. Manny Pacquiao. The man simply does not duck any reasonable fight and then makes his skeptics look like fools when he accomplishes the impossible--textbook P4P. The only way that Manny loses his number 1 ranking before he retires from boxing is if he beats himself.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-8370-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m9d2-September-2009-poundforpound-tracker