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Boxing welterweight division rankings: Spence, Crawford top stacked weight class

By Matthew Saljanin

FRISCO, TX - JUNE 16: Errol Spence Jr. knocks out Carlos Ocampo in the first round of a IBF Welterweight Championship bout at The Ford Center at The Star on June 16, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FRISCO, TX - JUNE 16: Errol Spence Jr. knocks out Carlos Ocampo in the first round of a IBF Welterweight Championship bout at The Ford Center at The Star on June 16, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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This photo taken on May 17, 2018 shows Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during a training session at a gym in Manila, ahead of his world welterweight boxing championship bout against Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in July. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)
This photo taken on May 17, 2018 shows Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during a training session at a gym in Manila, ahead of his world welterweight boxing championship bout against Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in July. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) /

5. Manny Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs)

Manny Pacquiao is nowhere near the fighter he once was, but that does not mean he is not still a force to be reckoned with. An older Pacquiao is still better than just about anyone in the division, which is a testament to how good he is.

While Pac-Man has lost a step or two in terms of athleticism, he still has elite level skills and timing, which can go a long way. If you do not have a size advantage over Pacquiao, it is going to be hard to outbox him. Jeff Horn was able to impose his size on Pac, and while Pacquiao still was the rightful victor in the eyes of most observers, it was a tougher fight than most expected. However, earlier this year when Pacquiao fought the smaller Matthysse, he looked incredible and picked Matthysse apart.

Additionally, Pacquiao’s two wins over Timothy Bradley at welterweight are better than anyone else’s wins on this list.

Surely, Pacquiao would be the underdog against Errol Spence or Terrence Crawford, but what about the rest of the division? Would anyone be surprised if he was able to outbox someone like Danny Garcia? I for one would not be surprised, and while I might pick Danny in that hypothetical fight, Pacquiao would be competive throughout.

Despite being washed up compared to what he was in his prime, Pacquiao is still a force in the welterweight division, and figures to be in some interesting fights going forward.

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