Shortlist for FOTD revealed. Pacquiao didn't make it into the top 3.

[Robbie Barrett]

Mayweather
Canelo
Ward

World Boxing News revealed the shortlisted candidates for Fighter of the Decade with the previous winner, Manny Pacquiao absent from the trio. Prior to the holiday break and ahead of the official announcement on January 7th, Canelo Alvarez, Andre Ward, and Floyd Mayweather got the nod. Pacquiao was the fourth man of the initial ten selected, which also included Nonito Donaire, Gennadiy Golovkin, Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua, Vasyl Lomachenko, and Deontay Wilder. Despite a resurgence in recent years, the Filipino legend suffered four losses (two highly debated) through the ten-year stretch. Others, like Ward and Mayweather, remained undefeated. Canelo only lost to Mayweather and has been one of the most active world champions of the period. In 2010 at the turn of the new decade, Pacquiao was in formidable shape. Rightly recognized as the number one in the world. Amazingly ending the year campaigning at 154 pounds after beginning his career at 105, Pacquiao beat Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. He looked invincible in the process. Following it up with victories over Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez for a second time, Pacquiao would then endure a terrible 2012. One of the most shocking robberies of all time against Timothy Bradley in June was followed up by THAT avenging knockout by Marquez. ‘The punch heard around the world’ put an end to a four-fight saga which gave Marquez the satisfaction he deserved for his efforts in the quadrilogy. Bouncing back to defeat Brandon Rios, Pacquiao would then prove how much of a fluke it was that Bradley got the decision. Pacquiao dominated the rematch before sewing up and tying in a bow his trilogy with Bradley due to an 8-4 win across the board in 2016. Before that, the mega-fight that took far too long to come to fruition meant Pacquiao had now suffered six losses. Floyd Mayweather eased to a points win in 2015 as Pacquiao nurse a shoulder injury in the most lucrative event of all time. Since the reverse, and apart from another judging aberration against Jeff Horn, Pacquiao has gone from strength to strength like a fine wine. Triumphs against Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman have Pacquiao riding high in the P4P rankings once again.

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News and an Auxiliary member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow on Twitter PhilDJay

[kushking]

Mayweather
Canelo
Ward

World Boxing News revealed the shortlisted candidates for Fighter of the Decade with the previous winner, Manny Pacquiao absent from the trio. Prior to the holiday break and ahead of the official announcement on January 7th, Canelo Alvarez, Andre Ward, and Floyd Mayweather got the nod. Pacquiao was the fourth man of the initial ten selected, which also included Nonito Donaire, Gennadiy Golovkin, Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua, Vasyl Lomachenko, and Deontay Wilder. Despite a resurgence in recent years, the Filipino legend suffered four losses (two highly debated) through the ten-year stretch. Others, like Ward and Mayweather, remained undefeated. Canelo only lost to Mayweather and has been one of the most active world champions of the period. In 2010 at the turn of the new decade, Pacquiao was in formidable shape. Rightly recognized as the number one in the world. Amazingly ending the year campaigning at 154 pounds after beginning his career at 105, Pacquiao beat Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. He looked invincible in the process. Following it up with victories over Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez for a second time, Pacquiao would then endure a terrible 2012. One of the most shocking robberies of all time against Timothy Bradley in June was followed up by THAT avenging knockout by Marquez. ‘The punch heard around the world’ put an end to a four-fight saga which gave Marquez the satisfaction he deserved for his efforts in the quadrilogy. Bouncing back to defeat Brandon Rios, Pacquiao would then prove how much of a fluke it was that Bradley got the decision. Pacquiao dominated the rematch before sewing up and tying in a bow his trilogy with Bradley due to an 8-4 win across the board in 2016. Before that, the mega-fight that took far too long to come to fruition meant Pacquiao had now suffered six losses. Floyd Mayweather eased to a points win in 2015 as Pacquiao nurse a shoulder injury in the most lucrative event of all time. Since the reverse, and apart from another judging aberration against Jeff Horn, Pacquiao has gone from strength to strength like a fine wine. Triumphs against Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman have Pacquiao riding high in the P4P rankings once again.

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News and an Auxiliary member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow on Twitter PhilDJay

Mayweather & Ward were only truly active half the decade,& Ward fought 11 times Floyd 10x,Canelo fought 25x,Canelos best wins all took place this decade,hes Beaten Trout,Lara,Cotto,Ggg,Jacobs, Kovalev,& Mosely,& a few other fights vs average champs. Floyd schooled a disadvantaged Canelo in a boring ass fight he looked drained,but he did it by outboxing him not destruction no kds,etc. Floyd beat Mosely while he was in his prime & Mosely wasn't,it was 2 fights prior to Nelo beating him. He beat Berto by suckerpunch(even though Ortiz own btch sellout fault)(lets also not forget very young nelo blasted out Lopez who broke Ortiz jaw),He beat a pac that looked worse than he does now right after Juan roidquez ko,he beat Berto & Maidana twice,& he beat Cotto.

Ward beat Kovalev twice in debatable contested fashion (but I don't personally think theres much of any controversy in his ko)(Kovalev looked no better v Ward than vs Nelo,he got kod by Nelo in a close fight after all), ward has wins of any note only over Froch,Dawson & Abraham.

If Canelo doesn't win this award it should be renamed the fighter of half decade(Ward,Floyd)or fighter that sells the most Floyd. Canelo has simply done more than the other 2 this decade & fought & developed completely this decade,Floyds decade was the 2000s he spent this decade barely fighting,& more for money than prestige.

[Roadblock]

I think Floyd will win it, he beat Canelo and Andre didnt have the same magnitude of fights or influence, Im feeling Floyd !.

[Robbie Barrett]

Mayweather & Ward were only truly active half the decade,& Ward fought 11 times Floyd 10x,Canelo fought 25x,Canelos best wins all took place this decade,hes Beaten Trout,Lara,Cotto,Ggg,Jacobs, Kovalev,& Mosely,& a few other fights vs average champs. Floyd schooled a disadvantaged Canelo in a boring ass fight he looked drained,but he did it by outboxing him not destruction no kds,etc. Floyd beat Mosely while he was in his prime & Mosely wasn't,it was 2 fights prior to Nelo beating him. He beat Berto by suckerpunch(even though Ortiz own btch sellout fault)(lets also not forget very young nelo blasted out Lopez who broke Ortiz jaw),He beat a pac that looked worse than he does now right after Juan roidquez ko,he beat Berto & Maidana twice,& he beat Cotto.

Ward beat Kovalev twice in debatable contested fashion (but I don't personally think theres much of any controversy in his ko)(Kovalev looked no better v Ward than vs Nelo,he got kod by Nelo in a close fight after all), ward has wins of any note only over Froch,Dawson & Abraham.

If Canelo doesn't win this award it should be renamed the fighter of half decade(Ward,Floyd)or fighter that sells the most Floyd. Canelo has simply done more than the other 2 this decade & fought & developed completely this decade,Floyds decade was the 2000s he spent this decade barely fighting,& more for money than prestige.

All that matters is how good the resume is. Mayweather has the better resume for the decade. Fighting more is irrelevant.

[ShoulderRoll]

Pacquiao didn't deserve it last decade much less this one. It's fitting that he didn't make it into the top 3.

[travestyny]

Now all the Pac fans will find themselves rooting hard for Canelo. If Floyd wins this award, expect a deluge of tears coming from their way.

[kushking]

All that matters is how good the resume is. Mayweather has the better resume for the decade. Fighting more is irrelevant.

As I just demonstrated whether thats true is most definitely debatable to say the least because this decade Floyd only truly has 2 great wins & 1 of them had Nelo looking drained. Explain to me why Floyds 2 great wins this decade somehow amount to being greater than Canelo fighting all the opponents he did at different weightclasses? (Opponents who were considered bigger stronger actual ko artist KILLERS) Bradley has the same amount of top wins this decade than Floyd does in JMM & Pac(when floyd faced JMM it was last decade in shady circumstances) when each was doing better than when Floyd fought them. I DO rank Maidana as a top notch opponent but most don't

[Robbie Barrett]

As I just demonstrated whether thats true is most definitely debatable to say the least because this decade Floyd only truly has 2 great wins & 1 of them had Nelo looking drained. Explain to me why Floyds 2 great wins this decade somehow amount to being greater than Canelo fighting all the opponents he did at different weightclasses? (Opponents who were considered bigger stronger actual ko artist KILLERS) Bradley has the same amount of top wins this decade than Floyd does in JMM & Pac when each was doing better than when Floyd fought them.

You're talking nonsense. Mayweather beat multiple top 10 P4P fighters. I don't care how you try to discredit them afterwards, they were rated top 10 in the entire sport when Mayweather beat them. Nobody else comes close.

[kushking]

You're talking nonsense. Mayweather beat multiple top 10 P4P fighters. I don't care how you try to discredit them afterwards, they were rated top 10 in the entire sport when Mayweather beat them. Nobody else comes close.

Berto was not ranked p4p,neither was Ortiz,Cotto was coming off being destroyed & vindicating 1 win vs Margacheato but not Cotto (so hes a top win But)& Canelo beat him too,Mosely wasn't p4p he had 5 losses already ffs & was already old which is why Nelo fought him aged 20(that shouldn't count because nelo beat him 2 fights later),

He has Canelo & Pac this decade thats it,Maidana is NOW considered elite by me AFTER the fmj dogfight, before he was viewed as average because he lost to khan & Alexander. I can tell you don't like these facts but they are facts. Canelo has faced p4p altogether/in their divisions Ggg/Jacobs/Lara/undefeated Trout & thats it. (Cotto & Mosely cancel out)

Ward beat Kov/Froch that were p4p in their divisions thats it. Floyd definitely has a case when you look at it like this but its debatable to say the least. Don't get mad at me for trying to break down who each has actually beat & fought.

[Robbie Barrett]

Berto was not ranked p4p,neither was Ortiz,Cotto was coming off being destroyed & Canelo beat him too,Mosely wasn't p4p he had 5 losses already ffs & was already old which is why Nelo fought him aged 20(that shouldn't count because nelo beat him 2 fights later), He has Canelo & Pac this decade thats it,Maidana is NOW considered elite by me AFTER the fmj dogfight, before he was viewed as average because he lost to khan & Alexander. I can tell you don't like these facts but they are facts. Canelo has faced p4p altogether/in their divisions Ggg/Jacobs/Lara/undefeated Trout & thats it. Ward beat Kov/Froch that were p4p in their divisions thats it. Floyd definitely has a case when you look at it like this but its debatable to say the least

Mosley was top 3 on every damn P4P list you can think of. I'm done talking with someone that knows nothing.