Pacquiao leads Pinoy fighters in Ring Top 100

Manny Pacquiao, as expected, led the yearend pound-for-pound ranking of The Ring Magazine while three other Filipinos made it to the Top 100 for 2009 of the publication considered “The Bible of Boxing" The 31-year-old Pacquiao was listed No. 1 in the world for the second straight year, outranking prospective rival Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather, the 2005-2007 P4P supremo came back after a over a year in "retirement" in 2009 and took the No. 2 spot. After languishing outside the Top 10 at 21st in 2008, Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. climbed 15 notches to No. 6 at the end of 2009, higher than Miguel Cotto, Celestino Caballero, Chad Dawson and Paul Williams. Joining Pacquiao and Donaire in the Ring Top 100 listing were IBF light flyweight kingpin Brian Viloria at No. 40 and WBC light flyweight holder Rodel Mayol, a fighter promoted by the Pacman’s MP Promotions, at No. 77.

Pacquiao according to The Ring’s William Dettloff, enjoyed a "Hall of Fame year" in 2009. “Pacquiao’s virtually flawless destruction of Miguel Cotto (KO 12) cemented his status as the best fighter in the world and extended his winning streak to 11 straight," Ring wrote of Pacquiao. “It also rounded out a Hall of Fame year in which Pacquiao also beat Ricky Hatton (KO 2), scoring a knockout so resounding many have named it their Knockout of the Year. It’s hard to name any fighter who enjoyed a better year than Pacquiao did in 2009," the magazine added. Such achievements have already been rewarded as several boxing websites have already named the Filipino ring icon their 2009 Fighter of the Year - and more are expected in the coming days – amid the steroids issue that has stymied negations for his megafight with Mayweather in March. As for Donaire, Ring said his improvement in ranking was buoyed by his successful defense of the flyweight crowns against Moruti Mthalane (KO 6) and Raul Martinez (KO 4) and his ascension to the interim super flyweight throne against Rafael Concepcion. "Donaire has been riding high since his July 2007 kayo of Vic Darchinyan, but fought just once on ‘08. A change in promoters from Gary Shaw to Top Rank resulted in the busier schedule he’d hoped for and he took advantage...," Ring's item on Donaire read. "And listen: The kid’s just 26 years old." Viloria and Mayol were not in the rankings the previous year. Ring wrote of Viloria: “Appears finally to have come into his own, winning seven straight after dropping a decision to Edgar Sosa in April 2007. He arrives here after a strong 2009, during which he stopped the entertaining but vulnerable titleholder Ulises Solis (KO 11) and defended the alphabet strap against Jesus Iribe (W 12). At 28, Viloria should be in his prime." Mayol made the list after shedding his bridesmaid image in 2009. “After two frustrating nights against Ivan Calderon (technical draw 6 and loss by technical decision 7), and his amazing reappearing blowhole, Mayol finally broke through with a surprising win over established belt holder Edgar Sosa (KO 2) in November. Not bad for a guy who’s 3-3-1 in his last seven fights," Ring said. The Top 100 represents the best fighters in the world, regardless of weight categories.- GMANews.TV