Hopkins casts lot for ‘Pound for Pound’ title

Dean Juipe

Thursday, May 27, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

The vacancy at the top of the mythical "Pound for Pound" ratings has at least two outgoing contenders vying for recognition in the aftermath of Roy Jones' loss to Antonio Tarver two weeks ago.

Three, if you count Tarver.

But Floyd Mayweather Jr. staked his claim to the honor after taking a decision victory against DeMarcus Corley last week in Atlantic City, and Bernard Hopkins believes he is a worthy candidate as well.

Jones had been No. 1 in most fans' eyes prior to being stopped by Tarver in the second round of their May 15 fight at Mandalay Bay.

Mayweather, a junior welterweight, is 32-0.

Hopkins, the undisputed middleweight champion who fights Robert Allen June 5 at the MGM, is 43-2-1.

In the most recent Las Vegas Sun pound-for-pound listings, Jones was No. 1, Mayweather No. 2 and Hopkins No. 5 (behind Erik Morales and Acelino Freitas).

"Reserve your vote until after June 5, that's all I ask," Hopkins said this week. "Come June 5 there will be a reassurance to anybody who wants to look at the credibility of who needs to be there (at No. 1)."

Hopkins doesn't scoff at Mayweather's claim -- boisterously delivered in the ring after he beat Corley -- yet he believes as the older and more experienced fighter he deserves the higher ranking.

"I like Floyd," he said. "I like his arrogance in a way because he believes he should be there (at No. 1). That's his personality.

"But fans and historians should dictate who's No. 1 and the stats -- my 17 successful title defenses and the fact I've been a champion for almost 10 years -- gives me credibility."