ranking the best fighters in the world

Featherweight 34 11 2 (22) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: If this list were concerned solely with straight up hunger and balls, Salido might be in the Top 10. The guy is workboot tough, and if you don

Junior Welterweight 22 2 1 (17) Last Year s Ranking: 88 Status Report: Devon Alexander owes Urango a big debt. It was Alexander s knockout of Urango (KO by 8) that made people think Alexander is suddenly a big puncher (he isn t) and a special fighter (he might be). Urango hasn t fought since, but he got enough good work done at junior welter before the Alexander fight that he stays on the list. For now. Future: Nothing scheduled, but Urango should get while the getting is still good. There are lots of good 140 pounders right now, and he can get in on some of the bigger fights if he wants to. Who wouldn t want to see Urango against Marcos Maidana, for example?

Middleweight 40 4 (24) Last Year s Ranking: 63 Status Report: Before his surprising loss to novice Garth Wood (KO by 5), Mundine had been on a roll against guys no one has ever heard of

Flyweight 36 6 2 (17) Last Year s Ranking: 70 Status Report: Sakata plummets 25 spots following a dismal year in which he beat an absolute no hoper in Eric Siregar (KO 1) and then lost to Daiki Kameda (L 12). This after falling from 44 to 70 in last year s analysis. Don t get us wrong; it s still a hell of a thing to be rated one of the best 100 fighters in the world. But dropping 51 rungs in two years is remarkable. And unless we expand this analysis next year to include the Top 150 fighters in the world, we suspect this is Sakata s final appearance. Future: Nothing scheduled, which, all things considered, might be a good thing.

Strawweight 21 0 0 (15) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Joyi is on a roll, having beaten Florante Condes (W 12) and, importantly, Raul Garcia (W 12) over the last 18 months. He s not a bad puncher for a little guy and isn t afraid to get in there and work. He could be around a while. Future: Katsunari Takayama on Jan. 29 in South Africa.

IBF Junior Middleweight Titleholder 30 4 (18) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Laugh all you want, but this fact remains: We put Cory Spinks at 48 last year. And in August, K9, if you can stand it, blew him out of the ring (KO 5). We don t like it any better than you do, but maybe we all should just accept that with his innate strength, drive, awkwardness and Emanuel Steward in his corner, maybe Bundrage can fight a bit. We ll bet Spinks thinks so. Future: Nothing scheduled, but there s no reason Bundrage can t get in on some of the good business getting done among the Top 10 guys at 154. We don t think he beats any of those guys, but hey, we underestimate this guy at our peril.

Junior Lightweight 30 2 (7) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: How does Burns crack the Top 100? Almost entirely on the weight of his win over then undefeated Roman Martinez in September (W12). Wins over Kevin O Hara (W 12) Michael Gomez (KO 7) and Andreas Evensen (W 12) don t hurt either. Burns has faced a lot of sub .500 guys, and that makes us suspicious. But the Martinez fight carries weight. Future: Tough Terdsak Jandaeng is in Burns near future.

Junior Featherweight 20 0 1 (17) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: It s easy to underrate the sons of famous fighting fathers, but Vazquez looks like the real thing

Lightweight 28 2 (20) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Look at it this way: Antillon took No. 32 ranked Humberto Soto to hell and back in their wonderful brawl (L 12) in December and his only other loss is to Miguel Acosta (KO by 9), who appears at No. 80 and frankly might be a little low there. Antillo is a rough, tough guy who will press any 135 pounder in the world. He deserves to be here. Future: Future? The guy is still o