Our First Pound-For-Pound Top 20 List Of 2009

By Tim Starks

As usual, my criteria includes, in approximate order of importance: recent activity, career achievement and overall ability.

1. Manny Pacquiao (junior welterweight): Some might make an argument for Pacquiao’s rival Juan Manuel Marquez to take the spot, and I wouldn’t put up too much of a fight, but it’s not the argument I’d make. It’s my personal opinion that Pacquiao and Marquez should be 1-1 against each other right now, but the record says Pacquiao’s 1-0-1 against Marquez. And as good as Marquez was this weekend, Pacquiao still has an overall better career resume. Only losing to Ricky Hatton in May can drop him from the #1 spot, really, and winning would put more distance between #1 and #2. Manny’s the best. He’s likely going to stay that way at least until he fights Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Marquez again or Shane Mosley, and even then he could just as easily sweep that fearsome foursome. Which is not the same as saying it would be easy. read more

Filed under: Bernard Hopkins, Israel Vazquez, Jermain Taylor, Juan Manuel Marquez, Kelly Pavlik, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Nate Campbell, Rafael Marquez, Ricky Hatton, shane mosley, Vic Darchinyan

Campbell’s Soup Overcooked, WBO Gives Nod To Marquez-Diaz Victor! Michael Marley

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By Michael Marley

It’s not good practice for a world boxing governing body to leave a title vacant. A vacant title means no sanctioning fees are being generated from that particular belt.

The WBO will fill the vacancy for its lightweight title, which went blank when Nate Campbell failed to make weight Friday in Florida, by recognizing the winner of the Feb. 28 Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz fight in Houston. read more

Filed under: juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Nate Campbell, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton

Ratings Update: Campbell’s exit shakes up lightweights

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By THE RING Editors

Nate Campbell’s failure to make the 135-pound weight limit for his lightweight title match with Ali Funeka and his subsequent victory over the talented South African on Saturday caused major repercussions within THE RING’s divisional ratings.

Campbell, who came in three pounds over the lightweight limit last Friday, announced before and after his hard-fought majority decision over Funeka that he would campaign in the 140-pound division immediately after the fight. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, David Diaz, Joan Guzman, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Ricky Hatton

CASAMAYOR ON JULIO DIAZ: "IF I DON’T STOP HIM, THAT MEANS I BEAT THE SH*T OUT OF HIM!"

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By G. Leon

GL: It’s been a while since we’ve had you on Boxingtalk. We recently broke the news about your fight with Julio Diaz on the HBO pay-per-view April 4th. Can you give us some thoughts on the bout and tell us what we can expect to see from you against Diaz on fight night?

Joel Casamayor: “I’m very excited. It’s a great fight and we’re both top five contenders in the division. I think beating a guy like Julio Diaz puts me right back in position to fight the winner of Marquez-Diaz or Nate Campbell. There’s also Edwin Valero who’s moving up to lightweight on that night. But you’re going to see Cepillo back in action. I’m making my comeback with my original trainer Israel Salas, who was my original trainer back in Cuba when I was a kid. I plan on making my last run with him and now you’re going to see me doing some of the old things I was doing when I was a kid.” read more

Filed under: edwin valero, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Nate Campbell, pacman, pacmonster

Pacquiao, Hatton, and Bradley make room for Nate Campbell at 140

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by Vivek Wallace

Last week was a very bittersweet time span for Jacksonville, Florida native Nate ‘Galaxxy Warrior’ Campbell.

On Friday afternoon he failed to make weight, requiring him to forfeit his highly coveted WBA and WBO straps; Then he turned around a day later and put up the type of performance that showed everyone watching how he was able to attain those straps in the first place. read more

Filed under: Manny Pacquiao, Nate Campbell, pacmonster, Ricky Hatton

Nate Campbell beats Ali Funeka after failing to make weight

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The Canadian Press

SUNRISE, Fla. — A day after losing his three title belts for failing to make weight, Nate Campbell won a split decision against Ali Funeka in a lightweight fight Saturday night.

Campbell, whose was 2 1/2 pounds over the lightweight limit of 135 on Friday, dropped Funeka with a sweeping right hand at the end of the second round. The South African got up to survive the round and rallied to make it a competitive fight. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, Galaxxy Warrior, HBO Boxing After Dark, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Sergio Martinez

Campbell Loses To Scale, Beats Funeka

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By Michael Woods

The scale hated Nate Campbell’s guts on Friday, but the judges smiled at him at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida on Saturday evening. They awarded Campbell a majority decision win over solid South African Ali Funeka, who hit the deck in the second and 11th, but still managed to make it a squeaker, in a card that headlined HBO’s Boxing After Dark. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, Galaxxy Warrior, HBO Boxing After Dark, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Sergio Martinez

Campbell’s Last Surge Salvages Victory Over Funeka

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By Ryan Songalia
When Nate Campbell weighed in the second time at 137, 2 pounds over the lightweight limit, the belts immediately became vacant and the crown he worked hard to attain against Juan Diaz was no longer upon his head.

Still, Campbell had everything to lose against South African Ali Funeka, who after weighing in at 133.5 was still eligible to win the IBF/WBO belts when they met in the main event at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, HBO Boxing After Dark, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Sergio Martinez

‘Massacre’ features Campbell, Funeka in lightweight title bout

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By Bob Velin

HBO’s Boxing After Dark card Saturday night (10 ET) features a tripleheader billed as “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” While none of the sport’s biggest names will be fighting at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., there are several reasons to watch. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, HBO Boxing After Dark, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Sergio Martinez

CAMPBELL SURVIVES FUNEKA GETS MAJORITY DECISION

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By Brad Cooney

Nate Campbell dropped Funeka in the second round. Funeka was able to to get up at the count of 9 but he was on real shaky legs. Rounds 3, 4 and 5 were not as eventful but they seemed to go Campbell’s way as well. Most of Funeka’s shots were blocked by Campbell, however, Campbell could have been more active in answering. Rounds 6 and 7 were Funeka’s rounds, he was able to box himself back into the fight by outworking Campbell. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, HBO Boxing After Dark, Kermit Cintron, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Nate Campbell, Sergio Martinez