Writer's Note: 'The Following is For Entertainment Purposes Only’

By Alphonso Costello

Boxing’s pound-for-pound champion is a mythological concept much like the NCAA college football national championship. Pound-for-pound is a term used to describe the world’s best fighters regardless of weight. Just like the college football national championship, the media selects the pound-for-pound king.

I have compiled the definitive top-ten pound-for-pound list by using a comprehensive blend of complex mathematical formulas, computer generated ratings and human judgment.

Rankings updated through April 22

1. Rocky Marciano (49-0, 43 KO’s) - Heavyweight Legend: The Rock’s magical 49-0 record is safe thanks to Ruslan Chagaev’s victory over Nikolai Valuev.

2. Emanuel Augustus (35-28-6, 18 KO’s) - Junior Welterweight: The best 28-loss fighter in the world managed to fight and beat a bigger loser than himself. Augustus scored a unanimous decision win over Marteze Logan (25-27-2) on April 18.

3. Peter Manfredo Jr. (26-4, 12 KO’s) - Super Middleweight: “The Contender” season one loser put on a performance that would have made Max Kellerman proud. Manfredo’s defensive superiority against Joe Calzaghe was astounding. The referee stopped the fight at the right moment. There is no way Calzaghe would have withstood Manfredo’s blistering defensive attack.

4. Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KO’s) - Jr. Lightweight/Political Candidate: What’s up doc?

5. Joel Julio (30-1, 28 KO’s) - Welterweight: I’m still waiting for the second coming of Felix Trinidad.

6. Sergio Mora (19-0, 4 KO’s) - Middleweight: Jake LaMotta had to take a dive to get a shot at the middleweight title. All Mora had to do was win a television popularity contest. But the undefeated “contender” showed his gallant courage by running away from middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.

7. Alfonso Gomez (16-3-2, 7 KO’s) - Jr. Middleweight: This guy has legend written all over him.

8. Diego Corrales (40-5, 33 KO’s) - Welterweight: The game is over for boxing’s premier hypocrite.

9. Brian Viloria (19-2, 12 KO’s) - Light Flyweight: Viloria should begin training with Manny Pacquiao after suffering his second defeat in his last three fights. If he does, he’ll be a lightweight champion within a year.

10. Michael Katsidis (22-0, 20 KO’s) - Lightweight: Against my computer’s wishes, I put him on the list ‘cause it’s the ‘hip’ thing to do right now.

MISSING THE CUT:

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (37-0, 24 KO’s) - World Welterweight Champion - The “Pretty Boy” may crack the top-ten next month. But his ring entrance must include a sombrero and a mariachi band.

Juan Diaz (31-0, 15 KO’s) WBA Lightweight Champion - The “Baby Bull” will finally fight someone with a pulse. In his biggest test to date Diaz will take on Acelino Freitas in a title unification match. How invincible would Diaz be if he were to say his prayers and take his power-punching Pacman vitamins?

Roy Jones Jr. (50-4, 38 KO’s) Light Heavyweight Has-Been - Roy is turning into a modern-day Howard Hughes.