As expected, Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao remained atop the pound-for-pound list according to critics.

Some quarters, however, think that his planned fight against six-division champion Oscar de la Hoya could end with disastrous results.

Boxing Web sites SweetScience.com and BoxingHerald.com both agreed that the heavy-hitting Filipino lefty is the reigning pound-for-pound king after welterweight Floyd Mayweather relinquished the top spot.

Pacquiao further solidified his hold on his P4P rank by beating Mexican-American David Diaz to win the WBC lightweight title in June.

Boxing Herald’s Rick Assad said in his article that Pacquiao’s winning streak against worthy opponents in the past few years has made him worthy of the P4P spot.

“Pacquiao's only setback came at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in March, 2005, when Morales earned a unanimous decision and took the vacant WBC International and International Boxing Association featherweight titles,” said Assad.

He added that time is on Pacquiao’s side.

“The thing about the "Pac Man'' is that he's only 29, and should have many memorable fights left,” said Assad.

‘Too small for de la Hoya’

But for Sweet Science’s David Avila, the Filipino is just too small for de la Hoya.

“That would be disastrous for the Filipino superstar… It could end Pacman’s career, it's that dangerous. De La Hoya gains nothing from this fight,” he said.

Avila added that Top Rank Promotions, which handles Pacquiao, is running the hype to make it a multi-million dollar fight.

“Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank is trying to angle a fight with De La Hoya for big bucks, though most experts consider it a serious mismatch,” he said.

Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum is currently negotiating with de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions for the fight to push through.

Avila said de la Hoya should instead fight newly minted WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito who beat Miguel Cotto via TKO last July 26.
 
“His win 10 days ago is proof that world titles aren’t always the most important prize in professional boxing. Instead, Margarito has suddenly exploded on the boxing scene as the most feared boxer on the planet and the rightful heir to meet Oscar 'The Golden Boy' De La Hoya,” he said.

Sweet Science ranked Margarito fifth place in their P4P list while Boxing Herald ranked him eighth.