Best pound-for-pound boxers of the world

list of the world's top 9 boxers, pound-for-pound.

Taking weight out of the equation, this subjective list factors in fighters' recent results, as well as their style, resilience and punching power.

The list will be updated periodically and should be treated as a talking point. Let the debate begin!

1. Manny Pacquiao - Lightweight
Philippines (48-3-2, 36KOs)
Pacquiao destroyed a spent Oscar de la Hoya in Las Vegas to cement his place at the top of the P4P tree. Could now fight Ricky Hatton next summer, and what a fight that could be.

2. Joe Calzaghe - Light-heavyweight
Wales (46-0, 32KOs)
Calzaghe outpointed US legend Roy Jones Jr in New York to maintain his unbeaten record. Has hinted at retirement, although Carl Froch will be doing all he can to tempt him to carry on.

3. Juan Manuel Marquez - Lightweight
Mexico (49-4-1, 36KOs)
Marquez became the first man to stop Cuba's Joel Casamayor in his first fight at lightweight and will now chase a third bout with Manny Pacquiao.

4. Bernard Hopkins - Light-heavyweight
United States (49 wins, 5 losses, 1 draws, 32KOs)
Hopkins showed he still has plenty to offer with his schooling of the upstart Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City. Ironically, at the age of 43, he is running out of viable opponents.

5. Israel Vazquez - Super-bantamweight
Mexico (43-4, 31KOs)
Vazquez reclaimed his WBC belt from Rafael Marquez in August and nicked the rubber match in March. A relentless fighter with a vicious left hook.

6. Shane Mosley - Welterweight
United States (46-5, 39KOs)
Mosley caused a stunning upset in outclassing Antonio Margarito at the age of 37. May want to defend his crown against Miguel Cotto, who beat him in 2007.

7. Miguel Cotto - Welterweight
Puerto Rico (32-1, 26KOs)
Cotto finally met his match against Antonio Margarito in a classic encounter, but lost little of his lustre in doing so. Fights Chorley's Michael Jennings for the WBO crown in February.

8. Ricky Hatton - Light-welterweight
England (45-1, 32KOs)
Hatton beat Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas and the Hitman may now fight Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, possibly in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley, next summer.

9. Paul Williams - Light-middleweight
United States (34-1, 25KOs)
Williams defeated Antonio Margarito in 2007 and claimed the interim WBO light-middleweight crown by beating Verno Phillips in November.