MANILA -- Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has regained his top standing in Yahoo! Sports’ rankings for the month of October, edging former pound-for-pound king and closest rival Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole said in his report that the monthly rankings "underwent big changes in October despite the fact that none of the top-ranked fighters were in action.”

Iole said Pacquiao garnered 13 of the 25 first-place votes from an esteemed panel of boxing writers for a total of 238 points. Mayweather, on the other hand, received 12 first-place votes for 233 points.

Last September, Mayweather edged Pacquiao with just 1 point following his successful dismantling of Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

This time, however, the heavy-fisted Filipino overtook Mayweather by 5 points.

“The difference turned out to be that all of those who did not vote for Pacquiao as No. 1 had him as No. 2. However, Mayweather had 9 second-place votes, 2 third-place votes and 1 fourth-[place],” said Iole.

Iole believes a mega fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather fight in 2010 could be the richest bout ever.

Pacquiao is currently gearing himself for a November 14 “Fire Power” fight against World Boxing Organization welterweight champ Miguel Cotto.

The Filipino boxing champion is scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday to continue his preparations at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles California after undergoing training camp in Baguio City for more than a month.

Rounding up the Yahoo! rankings are Paul Williams (ranked No. 3 for 165 points), Shane Mosley (ranked No. 4 for 148), Juan Manuel Marquez (ranked No. 5 for 131), Miguel Cotto (ranked No. 6 for 129), Bernard Hopkins (ranked No. 7 for 115), Chad Dawson (ranked No. 8 for 57), Arthur Abraham (ranked No. 9 for 43), and Wladimir Klitschko (ranked No. 10 for 33).