By SANTOS A. PEREZ, The Miami Herald
Breaking down a ``best of'' has become a popular topic the past two weeks. With the beginning of a new decade, it is an appropriate occasion to recognize the best 10 fighters of the 2000s.
Eligibility for a decade ``Best 10'' list would require an extended body of work. World champions Lennox Lewis and Ricardo Lopez fought early in the decade, but neither had sufficient bouts to make the list.
Lopez retired after only two victorious bouts, and even though Lewis flirted with comebacks after winning his last fight against Vitali Klitschko in 2003, the former heavyweight titleholder settled into a post-fighting career as an HBO analyst.
Early in the decade, Pensacola's Roy Jones Jr. seemed like a logical selection. But after his successful one-fight venture as a heavyweight, when he defeated John Ruiz for a title in 2003, Jones suffered consecutive knockout losses against light heavyweights Antonio Tarver and Miami's Glen Johnson the following year. Jones lost three additional fights later in the decade, including a one-round TKO loss against Danny Green last month.
In descending order, we list our best 10 fighters of the decade:
10. Tie -- Miguel Cotto, Ronald ``Winky'' Wright.
9. Israel Vazquez.
8. Wladimir Klitschko.
7. Arthur Abraham.
6. Chris John.
5. Kostya Tszyu: Retired since losing to Ricky Hatton in 2005, Tszyu was the top junior welterweight of his era. Tszyu made seven successful title defenses in his second stint as champion, including a 14-month undisputed reign. Tszyu's signature performance was his second-round technical knockout over Zab Judah in a title unification bout in 2001.
4. Bernard Hopkins: Began the decade unifying middleweight titles, including a TKO over Felix Trinidad in 2001. A part-time Miami resident, Hopkins enjoyed a 20-fight run as 160-pound champion. Hopkins later moved up to the light-heavyweight class and scored victories over Wright, Tarver and Kelly Pavlik.
3. Manny Pacquiao: Difficult to imagine, but Pacquiao began the decade as a super bantamweight. The Philippines native is now considered by many as the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, defeating established champions in five successive weight classes. Pacquiao was 23-1-2 in the decade, and his knockout conquests included Cotto, Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Marco Antonio Barrera.
2. Joe Calzaghe: At the decade's outset, Calzaghe already was in his third year as super-middleweight champion. A native of Wales, Calzaghe remained champion through 2007, when he defeated Mikkel Kessler in a title-unification bout. Calzaghe moved to light heavyweight in 2008 and won decisions against Hopkins and Jones. Calzaghe retired after the victory over Jones and ended his career with a 46-0 record and 32 knockouts.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: For most of the decade, Mayweather was found near the top of best pound-for-pound lists. Having ended 2009 with a spotless career record, Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) deserves recognition as fighter of the decade. Mayweather finished the 2000s with an 18-0 record and KOs. His 10th-round TKO of Diego Corrales as super-featherweight champion in 2001 set the tone.
Source: miamiherald.com
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