ranking the best fighters in the world

WBC Junior Welterweight Titleholder 21 0 (13) Last Year s Ranking: 49 Status Report: Alexander is a very good little fighter, as evidenced by his wins over Juan Urango (KO 8) and Andreas Kotelnik (W 12). He also has a wonderful story that has been skillfully told, and it may be that his story has tricked many into thinking he is better than he is. Future: Tim Bradley on Jan. 29 in Pontiac, Mich.

Junior Welterweight 31 4 1 (13 Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: You re not alone if you thought Kotelnik did enough to beat Devon Alexander when they met in August (L 12) and that s a good part of the reason Kotelnik cracks the Top 100 for the first time. He also beat highly regarded puncher Marcos Maidana in 2009 (W 12) and went the full distance in a losing effort against Amir Khan (L 12). Future: Kotelnik s strong showing against Alexander will get him at least one more high profile fight. For a while it looked as if it would come against prospect Victor Ortiz in what would have been an interesting test for Ortiz. Either way, you ll see Kotelnik again.

Junior Welterweight 28 2 0 (27) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Maidana has gotten a lot of mileage out of his thrilling win over Victor Ortiz in 2009 (KO 6) and followed it with victories over William Gonzales (KO 3), Victor Cayo (KO 6) and DeMarcus Corley (W 12). He s neither the most skilled guy out there nor the fastest, but he s tough as hell and hits like a middleweight. Ask Amir Khan (L 12), who barely got out of the 10th round in their war in December. Future: Maidana will be a player at 140 for as long as he wants.

Welterweight 35 4 0 (20) Last Year s Ranking: 24 Status Report: Clottey fans have to face the truth: Your man is one of those guys who will beat every fighter a level below his but lose to every fighter at the level above his. Look at his record: losses to Manny Pacquiao (L 12), Miguel Cotto (L 12) and Antonio Margarito (L 12). Wins over Zab Judah (Tech Dec 9), Jose Cruz (KO 5), Shamone Alvarez (W 12). Don t feel sorry for him. It s a living. Future: Nothing signed, but there s lots of work available for a capable guy like Clottey if he wants it.

WBC Junior Featherweight Titleholder 37 4 3 (23) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Nishioka breaks the Top 100 on the strength of victories over Jhonny Gonzalez (KO 3), Choko Hernandez (KO 3), Balweg Bangoyan (KO 5) and Rendall Munroe (W 12). This guy s the real deal. Two of his four losses were to Veeraphol Sahaprom, with whom he also drew twice, and he s riding a 14 fight winning streak. Future: A title defense against Akifumi Shimoda before the end of 2011.

WBA Heavyweight Titleholder 23 1 (21) Last Year s Ranking: 66 Status Report: Haye bombed out once promising Audley Harrison in November (KO 3) to set up, allegedly, a fight with Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Haye had a good year, outpointing mountainous Nicolay Valuev (W 12) and then stopping and retiring human barnacle John Ruiz (KO 9). Future: There s no end to the number of pitiable heavyweights the WBA could trot out to keep Haye s sanctioning fees flowing, so if he doesn t face one of the Klitschkos, don t fret. He ll still be around.

Junior Middleweight 32 2 0 (28) Last Year s Ranking: 84 Status Report: You can make a case for rating Cintron higher; he does have that win over Alfredo Angulo (W 12), and his draw against Sergio Martinez looks better all the time. He s held back by a fairly meaningless win over Juliano Ramos (KO 5) and his bizarre technical decision loss to Paul Williams (L 4) when he flew out of the ring and either couldn t or wouldn t continue. Future: The junior middleweight class is stronger right now than it has been in years. We d love to see Cintron against young Vanes Martirosyan or maybe even Miguel Cotto or Sergei Dzinrizuk. He also has said he s interesting in fighting Andre Berto at 147 pounds.

Junior Welterweight 31 0 1 (17) Last Year s Ranking: 32 Status Report: Guzman failed to make weight once again before his fight against Jason Davis in December (KO 2), leaving officials at Golden Boy Promotions disgusted and his future in question. Future: There are many very good fighters at 140 and Guzman is right with the best of them talentwise. However, his lack of self discipline is making him a pariah in the boxing world.

Junior Welterweight 30 3 3 (25) Last Year s Ranking: 89 Status Report: Funeka is 0 2 1 in his last three fights, and he still gets bumped up. Why? He fought Nate Campbell to a standstill (L 12), is widely thought to have been robbed blind in his first match with Joan Guzman (D 12) and in the return struggled to make weight while Guzman came in nine pounds overweight (L 12). This guy can t get a break. Future: Nothing scheduled, which is a shame. Funeka can fight and deserves a shot at one of the bigger names.

Junior Bantamweight 32 0 2 (19) Last Year s Ranking: 57 Status Report: Are we being xenophobic if we say we d like Narvaez to fight in the United States already? He should take it as a compliment. We like undefeated guys as much as anybody, and Narvaez stayed that way in 2010 with wins over Santiago Acosta (W 10) in a non title bout and Evirth Briceno for some bogus title (W 12). Both took place in Argentina. Future: How about a showdown with excellent Mexican Hugo Cazares?