That “zero” in the right column is something precious to Tim Bradley, to all fighters that haven’t lost.
To some undefeated fighters, though, that "zero” is as hollow as the figure. But to others, the Tim Bradleys, Floyd Mayweathers—those types—it means no one has beaten them at an elite level.
Here’s a look at six of the top undefeated fighters in the world, a group Bradley is counting on being among after his welterweight showdown with the legendary Manny Pacquiao on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
6. Mikey Garcia, Featherweight 28-0-0 (24 KOs)
He’s young, he’s tough and is the kind of fighter who represents the future of the sport. Garcia reached his lofty destination by beating Bernabe Concepcion and stopping previously undefeated Matt Remillard. He has a July 12 date with reigning WBA world featherweight champion Celestino Caballero.
We know Mikey can punch; he’s stopped his last six opponents. But he is special. Stopping someone as savvy as Caballero may prove it.
5. Saul Alvarez, Junior Middleweight 40-0-1 (29 KOs)
Like Garcia, he’s also the future of the sport, but is far more entrenched than Garcia. His methodical destruction of faded and shopworn Shane Mosley was impressive (you can only beat who they put in front of you, right?), and he would utterly destroy the well-protected Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Alvarez is a beast, and the next crossover star in the sport. Once he gets a better command of English, the freckled, red-headed Opie lookalike is destined for huge things.
After a possible Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown, a fight featuring Chavez Jr. and Alvarez should be the next hot fight in boxing.
4. Roman Gonzalez, Junior Flyweight 32-0-0 (27 KOs)
Gonzalez carries a dubious distinction: He’s the best fighter no one in America has really seen live, unless you’re a very deep, entrenched hardcore fight junkie who will scour YouTube to get a glimpse of the powerful Gonzalez.
It’s a shame no one in the United States truly cares about the lighter classes. They would love the high-energy, gutty, aim-to-please Gonzalez.
3. Yuriorkis Gamboa, Featherweight 21-0-0 (16 KOs)
Gamboa waited and waited, and waited some more, but Juan Manuel Lopez didn’t do his part to threaten Gamboa’s “zero.” It doesn’t appear as if many others are ready, nor willing to do so, either.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the all-time best at selling fights, made a rare faux pas in letting JuanMa-Gamboa wait too long before the fight got ruined by Orlando Salido beating “JuanMa” twice.
Gamboa got left holding, well, nothing.
It wasn’t his fault. Although his undefeated record is very much a part of clever matchmaking, there’s no disputing Gamboa’s skills.
He chumped Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jorge Solis and Salido, the same Salido that defeated Lopez. Enough said. If not for Ward and Mayweather, Gamboa would easily top this list.
2. Andre Ward, Super Middleweight 25-0-0 (13 KOs)
We found out just how good Ward is, ironically, by Carl Froch’s demolition of Lucian Bute. Ward handled Froch, handled Arthur Abraham, handled Mikkel Kessler and made himself a superstar by winning the Super Six.
Ward could grow even more in stature by stepping up and beating light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson when the two fight September 8.
Here’s something else about the special young star: He’s an even better person than he is a fighter, and he’s a heck of a fighter, one of the best in the world.
Pacquiao Bradley LIVE here1. Floyd Mayweather, Welterweight 43-0-0 (26 KOs)
Love him, hate him, don’t care one way or another about him (which is very hard to conceive for such a polarizing figure), Floyd Mayweather is simply the best fighter in the world.
Everyone in the sport is still clamoring for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, but “Money May” doesn’t need Pacquiao anymore to cement his legacy. Mayweather is already an all-time great, and greatest fighter of this generation.
If the day ever comes when he fights Pacquiao, expect his undefeated record to be upped even more. Pacquiao, another all-time great, isn’t in Mayweather’s class. No one is.
Mayweather is that much better than the next best, and pulverizing Pac-Man will only secure what many insiders know already—Floyd Mayweather is the greatest fighter in the world.
