The past decade often gets underestimated by past eras and their pundits, saying that the era doesn't hold a candle to the eras of previous decades. But the 2000s had plenty of good to great fighters, who may do just fine against the legends of old. Look at this next set of legendary fighters as the "Fighters of the Decade: 2000’s Best Boxers" list continues.
6. Miguel Cotto
Record: 34-2, 27 KOs
Weight Classes: Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight
Best Wins: Mosley (UD12), Joshua Clottey (SD12), Judah (TKO11), Malignaggi (UD12)
Losses: Antonio Margarito (by TKO11), Pacquiao (by TKO12)
The Puerto Rican sensation’s began his career in 2000 and compiled an astonishing record that was disrupted with his first loss, a controversial one to the disgraced Margarito. By facing and beating the best put in fron of him, Cotto may have quietly built up a hall-of-fame worthy resumé to which he can only add up to as he continues his career this decade.
5. Juan Manuel Marquez
Record: 20-3-1, 15 KOs
Weight Classes: Featherweight to Lightweight, Welterweight
Best Wins: Barrera (UD12), Joel Casamayor (TKO11), Juan Diaz (TKO9), Derrick Gainer (TD7), Juarez (UD12)
Losses: Chris John (by UD12), Pacquiao (by SD12), Mayweather (by UD12)
After spending his early career in the backdrop of more popular countrymen Morales and Barrera, Marquez finally got the better of them later on in the decade by patiently running his own career and being recognized alone and in his own. None among his best wins amount to his two fights (a draw and a controversial decision loss) with another legend, Pacquiao, whom he brought to limits and many claim he has one or two wins against. His performance is primarily the blueprint that others would check to defeat the currently and seemingly unbeatable Pacquiao.
4. Bernard Hopkins
Record: 13-3, 5 KOs
Weight Classes: Middleweight to Light Heavyweight
Best Wins: Felix Trinidad (KO12), De la Hoya (KO9), Wright (UD12), Pavlik (UD12)
Losses: Jermain Taylor (by SD12 and by UD12), Calzaghe (by SD12)
Well into his 40s, one could say that 2000s was not supposed to be Hopkins’ decade. The 90s should have been his best, or if one stretches it, even the 80s (he was in his 20s during the latter part of that decade). But no, Hopkins had a huge bulk of his achievements during this time, at an age span that any athlete should be considered old. His wins during the decade cement his legacy as one of the greatest middleweight boxers of all-time and certainly one of the greatest 40-year old fighters in history.
3. Joe Calzaghe
Record: 19-0, 9 KOs
Weight Classes: Super Middleweight, and Light Heavyweight
Best Wins: Hopkins (SD12), Roy Jones Jr. (UD12), Mikkel Kessler (UD12), Jeff Lacy (UD12)
Losses: None
If you look at Calzaghe’s record during the 2000s, all his opponents have decent records. None were journeymen. Calzaghe’s golden egg is as legitimate as they come, and he never lost it. He had his breakout in the United States only later in the decade but that may be because it only made financial sense to do so at this time. He was fine running up his record and defending his title in Europe, but when he came to the US, he delivered. In addition to his multiple defenses of his world title, he held the Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight championships at one point at the same time.
2. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Record: 18-0, 9 KOs
Weight Classes: Super Featherweight to Jr. Middleweight
Best Wins: De la Hoya (SD12), Diego Corrales (TKO10), Jose Luis Castillo (UD12 and UD12), Zab Judah (UD12), Hatton (TKO10), Marquez (UD12)
Losses: None
“Pretty Boy” or “Money” is the only other guy in this list who can be a claimant to the “best of the decade” credit, but he hurt his chances when he retired anti-climactically in 2007, after not having faced the very best of the welterweight division yet. His success early in the decade ought to put him high in any lists, but he could have been better when he was the best. His undefeated record remains and his sublime skills too as the stuff for all-time recognition.
1. Manny Pacquiao
Record: 23-1-2, 20 KOs
Weight Classes: Super Bantamweight to Welterweight
Best wins: Marquez (SD12), Morales (KO10 and KO2), Barrera (TKO11 and UD12), Cotto (TKO12), De la Hoya (TKO8)
Losses: Morales (by UD12)
Is there any surprise? Pacquiao became better even when he was the best. And that is by facing the best. His defeated opponents look like a who’s who of boxing in the 2000s, on his way to winning seven titles (three lineal) in six weight classes during the era. He is going in yet another tough fight but any loss from this point would not diminish his legacy or his standing in this list.
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