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Staff at the BBC Sport website have banged their heads together and compiled a list of the world's top-10 boxers, pound-for-pound. Taking weight out of the equation, this subjective list factors in fighters' recent results, as well as their style, resilience and punching power. The list will be updated periodically and should be treated as a talking point. Let the debate begin!
POUND-FOR-POUND TOP 10
1. Manny Pacquiao - Welterweight
Philippines (50-3-2, 38KOs)
Pacquiao destroyed Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas to cement his place at the top of the pound-for-pound tree. Floyd Mayweather should be next, and what a fight that could be.
2. Floyd Mayweather - Welterweight
United States (40-0, 25KOs)
'Pretty Boy' returned from a 21-month hiatus with a bang, outclassing Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas to raise the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with Manny Pacquiao.
3. Bernard Hopkins - Light-heavyweight
United States (49 wins, 5 losses, 1 draws, 32KOs)
Hopkins showed he still has plenty to offer with his schooling of the upstart Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City. Ironically, at the age of 43, he is running out of viable opponents.
4. Shane Mosley - Welterweight
United States (46-5, 39KOs)
Mosley caused a stunning upset in outclassing Antonio Margarito at the age of 37. Is now calling out Floyd Mayweather, but Manny Pacquiao could get there first.
5. Juan Manuel Marquez - Lightweight
Mexico (50-5-1, 37KOs)
Marquez was destroyed by the returning Floyd Mayweather in September, but size was clearly a factor. Has very little, if anything, left to prove in the sport.
6. Israel Vazquez - Super-bantamweight
Mexico (43-4, 31KOs)
Vazquez reclaimed his WBC belt from Rafael Marquez in 2007 and nicked the rubber last March. A relentless fighter, and on a collision course with Juan Manuel Lopez.
7. Miguel Cotto - Welterweight
Puerto Rico (34-2, 27KOs)
Was demolished by Manny Pacquiao, and the suspicion is he has been damaged goods since his defeat by Antonio Margarito, who was subsequently banned, last year.
8. Paul Williams - Middleweight
United States (37-1, 27KOs)
Williams beat former world champion Winky Wright in Las Vegas in April on his middleweight debut and now faces undisputed king Kelly Pavlik in December.
9. Ivan Calderon - Light-flyweight
Puerto Rico (33-0-1, 6KOs)
Calderon beat Rodel Mayol in September, for the second successive fight because of an accidental cut. Still unbeaten, and the toughest little man out there.
10. Juan Manuel Lopez - Super-bantamweight
Puerto Rico (27-0, 24KOs)
The unbeaten WBO champion has amassed a formidable record and could fight Israel Vazquez if he comes through his fight with Steven Luevano in January.
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