The last few weeks I've been getting emails wondering how I could still possibly have Roy Jones No. 1 'pound-for-pound'. Well, for your information, the MaxBoxing 'pound-for-pound' list, isn't mine, in fact, it's not really MaxBoxing's either. It was compiled by our editor Doug Fischer by himself. There was no vote, no consensus or a poll taken. Yes, 'Dictator Dougie' put 'Reluctant Roy' on top of our listing. Send him the angry emails.

Now, 'the Bakers Dozen' is my personal list of who I see as the game's 13 best performers 'pound-for-pound'. So after reading this, then you are justified in sending me your angry and derogatory emails for these rankings.

13. Acelino Freitas - I wasn't a real believer in 'Popo' but in capturing the WBA jr. lightweight title (in addition to his own WBO crown) against Joel Casamayor in January he proved that while he is a 'Brazilian Bomber' he is also a guy that has lasting power and some stamina. Freitas' record currently stands at 31-0 with 29 stoppages.

12. Tim Austin - The current IBF bantamweight titlist has been so ballyhooed as 'underrated' and 'overlooked', he is in some ways overrated and overexposed. Let's face it, for all the skills this 'Cincy Kid' may have - and he has a ton - this southpaw boxer/puncher is somewhat untested and has never beaten a blue-chip opponent. Beating the likes of Steve Dotse and Ratanachai Vorapin, can only get Austin (24-0-1, 21 KOs) so far in 'the Bakers Dozen.' A win over Rafael Marquez will do wonders for his recognition and reputation.

11. Ricardo Lopez - A surefire first ballot Hall-of-Famer and one of the all-time great lil' big men in the history of the sport. But, the bottom line is 'Finito' (50-0-1, 37 KOs) is a once-a-year-fighter, in semi-retirement, who defends his IBF jr. flyweight title about once a year now. A move up to flyweight and winning a belt at 112 pounds would be a perfect way to cap a near-perfect career.

10. Jose Luis Castillo - Now, some of you will accuse me of jumping on the Castillo bandwagon, but I've had Castillo in my 'BD' for about a year now. I've been saying that for the past few years that Castillo was maybe the most underrated world-class boxer in the game today. Floyd Mayweather would agree with that statement, as he doesn't seem willing to hold a rematch with him unless it's in his own backyard. Castillo (45-4-1, 41 KOs) is a tough cookie, who after a few early losses has steadily improved. Even after losing his WBC crown to Mayweather, many still consider him the world's best lightweight.

9. Floyd Mayweather - Yeah, 'the Pretty Boy' may not be as good as he thinks, but hell, Sugar Ray Robinson wasn't even that good. But you gotta give him credit. Compare his last four opponents to Roy Jones' and it says a lot. But it's clear that as gifted as he is, he still isn't a completely polished product and he has a lot of growing up to do. Also, he's finding the waters at 135 pounds a lot rougher than they were at jr. lightweight.

8. Oscar De La Hoya - 'The Golden Boy's' natural talent has always been a tad overrated in my book, but his willingness to take on marquee names and his overall accomplishments have to be respected. As of right now, Shane Mosley is the only man to comprehensively defeat Oscar and you have to be pretty damn good to win titles in so many different weight classes. But you get the feeling that his legacy and place in history will be defined by what happens on September 14th and beyond.

7. Kostya Tszyu - He was explosive in a short burst against Zab Judah in November and he was measured in consistent in soundly beating Ben Tackie this past weekend. It shows the versatility of Tszyu, who has obviously grown as a boxer since his 1997 KO loss to Vince Phillips. No, he doesn't have much of a personality, but this is a solid, durable and consistent professional prizefighter. Tszyu (28-1-1, 23 KOs), along with Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins is one of only three guys to currently hold the IBF, WBA and WBC belts simultaneously.

6. Shane Mosley - OK, this is where it starts to get really complicated as the bluest of the boxing blue chippers aren't really separated by that much. 'Sugar' Shane, who sports a record of 38-1, 35 KOs, gets the six spot based on the fact that outside of his victory over De La Hoya, his other victories at welterweight have been non-descript and he was dominated by Vernon Forrest. But a win over his nemesis in July, shoots his rating right back up. And while he didn't have a historic run at 135, in retrospect, he had a very solid reign as the IBF lightweight champion.

5. Vernon Forrest - 'The Viper' gets here mostly on the merit of his dismantling of Mosley, whom many had atop their own 'pfp' rankings. Forrest, 34-0, 26 KOs, isn't always exciting or flashy but he proved against Mosley that there is something to be said about solid fundamentals and executing a game plan to perfection. With his long frame he could probably make a good run at jr. middleweight. Overlooked for a long time, he could be here to stay for awhile.

4. Felix Trinidad - 'Tito', 40-1, 33 KOs, may never beat current undisputed middleweight king Bernard Hopkins but it says here that from 154 to 160 that he beats everybody else. From his recent victory over former WBC middleweight titlist Hassine Cherifi going all the way back to his conclusive win over Pernell Whitaker, he put on one of the most impressive runs in recent history.

3. Roy Jones - Here mostly on principal alone, sorry, but while other guys are taking on the thier biggest perceived threats, this guy openly avoids them. Yes, like the BCS in college football, the 'BD' does count strength of schedule and right now Jones, 46-1, 37 KOs, is taking on nothing but the William and Mary's and Rutgers of the boxing world. His skill is unquestioned, but so is his level of opposition - it's flat out putrid. And for that, he will continue his freefall.

2. Marco Antonio Barrera - Take away his two bouts against Junior Jones and a terrible decision against Erik Morales, this guy has been stellar. Barrera, 54-3, 39 KOs, is coming close to Julio Cesar Chavez-dome and a victory over Morales in the return bout should put him over the top. From his slugfest against Kennedy McKinney to his knockout loss to Jones, Barrera has steadily improved his boxing skills and defense to a point that boxing observers don't always mention his lethal left-hook to the body when discussing Barrera.

1. Bernard Hopkins - 'The Executioner' has gained the top spot for a couple of reasons: 1. Beating Trinidad in dominant fashion last September, who was number-one 'pound-for-pound' in my book coming into the bout. 2. Hopkins' consistency can't be overlooked, since his loss to Roy Jones in '93, he's gone unbeaten and racked up 15 successful title defenses on his way to becoming the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. Hopkins, 41-2-1, 33 KOs, is the definition of a well-rounded fighter, he may not do anything great or be blessed with the greatest of physical tools, but he does everything well and gets the most out of his God-given skills.

JUST MISSING THE CUT

And in no particular order: Joe Calzaghe, Dariusz Michalczewski, Harry Simon, Juan Manuel Marquez, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Manny Pacquiao, Lennox Lewis, Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala.

OK. Now, you can lambaste the heck out of me for this list at k9kim@yahoo.com

NOT A BAD WEEKEND

Yeah, I know boxing's a dying sport but we had some great scraps this past several days. You know when a bout like the one Oscar Larios and Israel Vasquez is only the second best bout of the weekend we got to see some spirited action. Larios, who got jobbed against WBC jr. featherweight titlist Willie Jorrin last year, would finally subdue the plucky Vasquez - who was supposed to challenge for Jorrin's crown before 'Slick Willie' had to pull-out of the fight with an injury.

It says here that both Larios and Vasquez would have both beat Jorrin on that night - and then proceeded to be a victim of a dubious decision.

As for Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, well, what else can be said? It's the type of special event that occurs once every decade and is the early front-runner for 'Fight of the 21st Century'.

MILLER TIME

In the 12th and final round of the Larios-Vasquez battle, Vasquez had problems with his footing due to the huge 'Miller' logo in the center of the ring and at one point was complaining to referee Pat Russell about this only to look up to see a big right-hand from Larios that sent him to the canvas, signaling his downfall.

Now, you tell me, is this more dangerous or 'debasing' than a fighter having a tattoo on hid back? Or is it OK since they are the main sponsor for 'Friday Night Fights'?

Still, I love their commercials, that guy has a great set of pipes.

The Newest Bakers Dozen 15 Rounds by Steve Kim

The last few weeks I've been getting emails wondering how I could still possibly have Roy Jones number one 'pound-for-pound'. Well, for your information, the MaxBoxing 'pound-for-pound' list, isn't mine, in fact, it's not really MaxBoxing's either. It was compiled by our editor Doug Fischer by himself. There was no vote, no consensus or a poll taken. Yes, 'Dictator Dougie' put 'Reluctant Roy' on top of our listing. Send him the angry emails.

Now, 'the Bakers Dozen' is my personal list of who I see as the game's 13 best performers 'pound-for-pound'. So after reading this, then you are justified in sending me your angry and derogatory emails for these rankings.

13. Acelino Freitas - I wasn't a real believer in 'Popo' but in capturing the WBA jr. lightweight title (in addition to his own WBO crown) against Joel Casamayor in January he proved that while he is a 'Brazilian Bomber' he is also a guy that has lasting power and some stamina. Freitas' record currently stands at 31-0 with 29 stoppages.

12. Tim Austin - The current IBF bantamweight titlist has been so ballyhooed as 'underrated' and 'overlooked', he is in some ways overrated and overexposed. Let's face it, for all the skills this 'Cincy Kid' may have - and he has a ton - this southpaw boxer/puncher is somewhat untested and has never beaten a blue-chip opponent. Beating the likes of Steve Dotse and Ratanachai Vorapin, can only get Austin (24-0-1, 21 KOs) so far in 'the Bakers Dozen.' A win over Rafael Marquez will do wonders for his recognition and reputation.

11. Ricardo Lopez - A surefire first ballot Hall-of-Famer and one of the all-time great lil' big men in the history of the sport. But, the bottom line is 'Finito' (50-0-1, 37 KOs) is a once-a-year-fighter, in semi-retirement, who defends his IBF jr. flyweight title about once a year now. A move up to flyweight and winning a belt at 112 pounds would be a perfect way to cap a near-perfect career.

10. Jose Luis Castillo - Now, some of you will accuse me of jumping on the Castillo bandwagon, but I've had Castillo in my 'BD' for about a year now. I've been saying that for the past few years that Castillo was maybe the most underrated world-class boxer in the game today. Floyd Mayweather would agree with that statement, as he doesn't seem willing to hold a rematch with him unless it's in his own backyard. Castillo (45-4-1, 41 KOs) is a tough cookie, who after a few early losses has steadily improved. Even after losing his WBC crown to Mayweather, many still consider him the world's best lightweight.

9. Floyd Mayweather - Yeah, 'the Pretty Boy' may not be as good as he thinks, but hell, Sugar Ray Robinson wasn't even that good. But you gotta give him credit. Compare his last four opponents to Roy Jones' and it says a lot. But it's clear that as gifted as he is, he still isn't a completely polished product and he has a lot of growing up to do. Also, he's finding the waters at 135 pounds a lot rougher than they were at jr. lightweight.

8. Oscar De La Hoya - 'The Golden Boy's' natural talent has always been a tad overrated in my book, but his willingness to take on marquee names and his overall accomplishments have to be respected. As of right now, Shane Mosley is the only man to comprehensively defeat Oscar and you have to be pretty damn good to win titles in so many different weight classes. But you get the feeling that his legacy and place in history will be defined by what happens on September 14th and beyond.

7. Kostya Tszyu - He was explosive in a short burst against Zab Judah in November and he was measured in consistent in soundly beating Ben Tackie this past weekend. It shows the versatility of Tszyu, who has obviously grown as a boxer since his 1997 KO loss to Vince Phillips. No, he doesn't have much of a personality, but this is a solid, durable and consistent professional prizefighter. Tszyu (28-1-1, 23 KOs), along with Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins is one of only three guys to currently hold the IBF, WBA and WBC belts simultaneously.

6. Shane Mosley - OK, this is where it starts to get really complicated as the bluest of the boxing blue chippers aren't really separated by that much. 'Sugar' Shane, who sports a record of 38-1, 35 KOs, gets the six spot based on the fact that outside of his victory over De La Hoya, his other victories at welterweight have been non-descript and he was dominated by Vernon Forrest. But a win over his nemesis in July, shoots his rating right back up. And while he didn't have a historic run at 135, in retrospect, he had a very solid reign as the IBF lightweight champion.

5. Vernon Forrest - 'The Viper' gets here mostly on the merit of his dismantling of Mosley, whom many had atop their own 'pfp' rankings. Forrest, 34-0, 26 KOs, isn't always exciting or flashy but he proved against Mosley that there is something to be said about solid fundamentals and executing a game plan to perfection. With his long frame he could probably make a good run at jr. middleweight. Overlooked for a long time, he could be here to stay for awhile.

4. Felix Trinidad - 'Tito', 40-1, 33 KOs, may never beat current undisputed middleweight king Bernard Hopkins but it says here that from 154 to 160 that he beats everybody else. From his recent victory over former WBC middleweight titlist Hassine Cherifi going all the way back to his conclusive win over Pernell Whitaker, he put on one of the most impressive runs in recent history.

3. Roy Jones - Here mostly on principal alone, sorry, but while other guys are taking on the thier biggest perceived threats, this guy openly avoids them. Yes, like the BCS in college football, the 'BD' does count strength of schedule and right now Jones, 46-1, 37 KOs, is taking on nothing but the William and Mary's and Rutgers of the boxing world. His skill is unquestioned, but so is his level of opposition - it's flat out putrid. And for that, he will continue his freefall.

2. Marco Antonio Barrera - Take away his two bouts against Junior Jones and a terrible decision against Erik Morales, this guy has been stellar. Barrera, 54-3, 39 KOs, is coming close to Julio Cesar Chavez-dome and a victory over Morales in the return bout should put him over the top. From his slugfest against Kennedy McKinney to his knockout loss to Jones, Barrera has steadily improved his boxing skills and defense to a point that boxing observers don't always mention his lethal left-hook to the body when discussing Barrera.

1. Bernard Hopkins - 'The Executioner' has gained the top spot for a couple of reasons: 1. Beating Trinidad in dominant fashion last September, who was number-one 'pound-for-pound' in my book coming into the bout. 2. Hopkins' consistency can't be overlooked, since his loss to Roy Jones in '93, he's gone unbeaten and racked up 15 successful title defenses on his way to becoming the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. Hopkins, 41-2-1, 33 KOs, is the definition of a well-rounded fighter, he may not do anything great or be blessed with the greatest of physical tools, but he does everything well and gets the most out of his God-given skills.

JUST MISSING THE CUT

And in no particular order: Joe Calzaghe, Dariusz Michalczewski, Harry Simon, Juan Manuel Marquez, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Manny Pacquiao, Lennox Lewis, Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala.

OK

Now, you can lambaste the heck out of me for this list at k9kim@yahoo.com

NOT A BAD WEEKEND

Yeah, I know boxing's a dying sport but we had some great scraps this past several days. You know when a bout like the one Oscar Larios and Israel Vasquez is only the second best bout of the weekend we got to see some spirited action. Larios, who got jobbed against WBC jr. featherweight titlist Willie Jorrin last year, would finally subdue the plucky Vasquez - who was supposed to challenge for Jorrin's crown before 'Slick Willie' had to pull-out of the fight with an injury.

It says here that both Larios and Vasquez would have both beat Jorrin on that night - and then proceeded to be a victim of a dubious decision.

As for Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, well, what else can be said? It's the type of special event that occurs once every decade and is the early front-runner for 'Fight of the 21st Century'.

MILLER TIME

In the 12th and final round of the Larios-Vasquez battle, Vasquez had problems with his footing due to the huge 'Miller' logo in the center of the ring and at one point was complaining to referee Pat Russell about this only to look up to see a big right-hand from Larios that sent him to the canvas, signaling his downfall.

Now, you tell me, is this more dangerous or 'debasing' than a fighter having a tattoo on hid back? Or is it OK since they are the main sponsor for 'Friday Night Fights'?

Still, I love their commercials, that guy has a great set of pipes.

The Newest Bakers Dozen 15 Rounds by Steve Kim

The last few weeks I've been getting emails wondering how I could still possibly have Roy Jones number one 'pound-for-pound'. Well, for your information, the MaxBoxing 'pound-for-pound' list, isn't mine, in fact, it's not really MaxBoxing's either. It was compiled by our editor Doug Fischer by himself. There was no vote, no consensus or a poll taken. Yes, 'Dictator Dougie' put 'Reluctant Roy' on top of our listing. Send him the angry emails.

Now, 'the Bakers Dozen' is my personal list of who I see as the game's 13 best performers 'pound-for-pound'. So after reading this, then you are justified in sending me your angry and derogatory emails for these rankings.

13. Acelino Freitas - I wasn't a real believer in 'Popo' but in capturing the WBA jr. lightweight title (in addition to his own WBO crown) against Joel Casamayor in January he proved that while he is a 'Brazilian Bomber' he is also a guy that has lasting power and some stamina. Freitas' record currently stands at 31-0 with 29 stoppages.

12. Tim Austin - The current IBF bantamweight titlist has been so ballyhooed as 'underrated' and 'overlooked', he is in some ways overrated and overexposed. Let's face it, for all the skills this 'Cincy Kid' may have - and he has a ton - this southpaw boxer/puncher is somewhat untested and has never beaten a blue-chip opponent. Beating the likes of Steve Dotse and Ratanachai Vorapin, can only get Austin (24-0-1, 21 KOs) so far in 'the Bakers Dozen.' A win over Rafael Marquez will do wonders for his recognition and reputation.

11. Ricardo Lopez - A surefire first ballot Hall-of-Famer and one of the all-time great lil' big men in the history of the sport. But, the bottom line is 'Finito' (50-0-1, 37 KOs) is a once-a-year-fighter, in semi-retirement, who defends his IBF jr. flyweight title about once a year now. A move up to flyweight and winning a belt at 112 pounds would be a perfect way to cap a near-perfect career.

10. Jose Luis Castillo - Now, some of you will accuse me of jumping on the Castillo bandwagon, but I've had Castillo in my 'BD' for about a year now. I've been saying that for the past few years that Castillo was maybe the most underrated world-class boxer in the game today. Floyd Mayweather would agree with that statement, as he doesn't seem willing to hold a rematch with him unless it's in his own backyard. Castillo (45-4-1, 41 KOs) is a tough cookie, who after a few early losses has steadily improved. Even after losing his WBC crown to Mayweather, many still consider him the world's best lightweight.

9. Floyd Mayweather - Yeah, 'the Pretty Boy' may not be as good as he thinks, but hell, Sugar Ray Robinson wasn't even that good. But you gotta give him credit. Compare his last four opponents to Roy Jones' and it says a lot. But it's clear that as gifted as he is, he still isn't a completely polished product and he has a lot of growing up to do. Also, he's finding the waters at 135 pounds a lot rougher than they were at jr. lightweight.

8. Oscar De La Hoya - 'The Golden Boy's' natural talent has always been a tad overrated in my book, but his willingness to take on marquee names and his overall accomplishments have to be respected. As of right now, Shane Mosley is the only man to comprehensively defeat Oscar and you have to be pretty damn good to win titles in so many different weight classes. But you get the feeling that his legacy and place in history will be defined by what happens on September 14th and beyond.

7. Kostya Tszyu - He was explosive in a short burst against Zab Judah in November and he was measured in consistent in soundly beating Ben Tackie this past weekend. It shows the versatility of Tszyu, who has obviously grown as a boxer since his 1997 KO loss to Vince Phillips. No, he doesn't have much of a personality, but this is a solid, durable and consistent professional prizefighter. Tszyu (28-1-1, 23 KOs), along with Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins is one of only three guys to currently hold the IBF, WBA and WBC belts simultaneously.

6. Shane Mosley - OK, this is where it starts to get really complicated as the bluest of the boxing blue chippers aren't really separated by that much. 'Sugar' Shane, who sports a record of 38-1, 35 KOs, gets the six spot based on the fact that outside of his victory over De La Hoya, his other victories at welterweight have been non-descript and he was dominated by Vernon Forrest. But a win over his nemesis in July, shoots his rating right back up. And while he didn't have a historic run at 135, in retrospect, he had a very solid reign as the IBF lightweight champion.

5. Vernon Forrest - 'The Viper' gets here mostly on the merit of his dismantling of Mosley, whom many had atop their own 'pfp' rankings. Forrest, 34-0, 26 KOs, isn't always exciting or flashy but he proved against Mosley that there is something to be said about solid fundamentals and executing a game plan to perfection. With his long frame he could probably make a good run at jr. middleweight. Overlooked for a long time, he could be here to stay for awhile.

4. Felix Trinidad - 'Tito', 40-1, 33 KOs, may never beat current undisputed middleweight king Bernard Hopkins but it says here that from 154 to 160 that he beats everybody else. From his recent victory over former WBC middleweight titlist Hassine Cherifi going all the way back to his conclusive win over Pernell Whitaker, he put on one of the most impressive runs in recent history.

3. Roy Jones - Here mostly on principal alone, sorry, but while other guys are taking on the thier biggest perceived threats, this guy openly avoids them. Yes, like the BCS in college football, the 'BD' does count strength of schedule and right now Jones, 46-1, 37 KOs, is taking on nothing but the William and Mary's and Rutgers of the boxing world. His skill is unquestioned, but so is his level of opposition - it's flat out putrid. And for that, he will continue his freefall.

2. Marco Antonio Barrera - Take away his two bouts against Junior Jones and a terrible decision against Erik Morales, this guy has been stellar. Barrera, 54-3, 39 KOs, is coming close to Julio Cesar Chavez-dome and a victory over Morales in the return bout should put him over the top. From his slugfest against Kennedy McKinney to his knockout loss to Jones, Barrera has steadily improved his boxing skills and defense to a point that boxing observers don't always mention his lethal left-hook to the body when discussing Barrera.

1. Bernard Hopkins - 'The Executioner' has gained the top spot for a couple of reasons: 1. Beating Trinidad in dominant fashion last September, who was number-one 'pound-for-pound' in my book coming into the bout. 2. Hopkins' consistency can't be overlooked, since his loss to Roy Jones in '93, he's gone unbeaten and racked up 15 successful title defenses on his way to becoming the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. Hopkins, 41-2-1, 33 KOs, is the definition of a well-rounded fighter, he may not do anything great or be blessed with the greatest of physical tools, but he does everything well and gets the most out of his God-given skills.

JUST MISSING THE CUT

And in no particular order: Joe Calzaghe, Dariusz Michalczewski, Harry Simon, Juan Manuel Marquez, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Manny Pacquiao, Lennox Lewis, Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala.

OK

Now, you can lambaste the heck out of me for this list at k9kim@yahoo.com

NOT A BAD WEEKEND

Yeah, I know boxing's a dying sport but we had some great scraps this past several days. You know when a bout like the one Oscar Larios and Israel Vasquez is only the second best bout of the weekend we got to see some spirited action. Larios, who got jobbed against WBC jr. featherweight titlist Willie Jorrin last year, would finally subdue the plucky Vasquez - who was supposed to challenge for Jorrin's crown before 'Slick Willie' had to pull-out of the fight with an injury.

It says here that both Larios and Vasquez would have both beat Jorrin on that night - and then proceeded to be a victim of a dubious decision.

As for Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, well, what else can be said? It's the type of special event that occurs once every decade and is the early front-runner for 'Fight of the 21st Century'.

MILLER TIME

In the 12th and final round of the Larios-Vasquez battle, Vasquez had problems with his footing due to the huge 'Miller' logo in the center of the ring and at one point was complaining to referee Pat Russell about this only to look up to see a big right-hand from Larios that sent him to the canvas, signaling his downfall.

Now, you tell me, is this more dangerous or 'debasing' than a fighter having a tattoo on hid back? Or is it OK since they are the main sponsor for 'Friday Night Fights'?

Still, I love their commercials, that guy has a great set of pipes.