Returning superstar Manny Pacquiao scored a high-energy, highly impressive win last night in Las Vegas, proving once again he is an absolute force to be reckoned with at welterweight. Pac-Man – who came close to shutting out a game Jessie Vargas over 12 action rounds that seemed to whizz by – may or may not have regained his position atop the 147-pound rankings.
Arguably (and not too many people are arguing against it) the best, most exciting and most talent-rich division in boxing right now, the welterweight division is crammed full of stars, exciting fighters and potentially thrilling match-ups.
But who are the ten best welterweights in the world right now?
Here’s an attempt to break it down:
1: Manny Pacquiao, 59-6-2 – WBO champ
2: Keith Thurman, 27-0 – WBA champ
3: Kell Brook, 36-1 – IBF champ
4: Tim Bradley, 33-2-1
5: Shawn Porter, 26-2-1
6: Danny Garcia, 32-0 – WBC champ
7: Errol Spence Jnr, 21-0
8: Jessie Vargas, 27-2
9: Frankie Gomez, 21-0
10: Felix Diaz, 18-1(8)
Either way you list this bunch, it’s impossible to disagree that the talent is quite incredible – as are the potential/possible match-ups. Imagine: Pacquiao-Thurman! Porter-Bradley! Spence-Brook! Pacquiao-Garcia! Thurman-Bradley!
It’s easy to see there are some great welterweight nights and fights to come, even if just one or two of these dream fights get made.
What we can look forward to, a hundred-percent, is Thurman-Garcia, set for March, and at least one more Pacquiao fight. Who this will be against has already inspired much debate. But for now, Pac-Man is back where he once was – at the top of the welterweight pile. At age 37 (38 next month) that is some achievement.
