The 147-pound class stands head and shoulders above the rest, grabbing the title with ease. It's there that we can expect to see the best fights, or even just some of boxing's most amazing action (see: Victor Ortiz-Josesito Lopez).

The 154-pound division, on the other hand, is in turmoil today -- and it's easy to understand why. Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains in jail until Friday, and when released, he's expected to return to the welter ranks. Paul Williams was sidelined by tragedy (a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed). Alfredo Angulo is being held in a prison for illegal immigrants. Antonio Margarito is out of the picture. Canelo Alvarez is overprotected, his latest outgunned opponent being Lopez, an unproven challenger who built his record two divisions below junior middleweight.

So who's left? Vanes Martirosyan is being held hostage by his promoter, without any chance of facing a fighter aligned with a rival company, and Erislandy Lara is in the same situation on the other side of the street. Moreover, he continues to be denied a fight against Canelo, a stablemate, despite being wholly deserving of the shot.

That puts it to Carlos Molina, an awkward and much-avoided fighter, or James Kirkland, who is now being sold as the Eighth Wonder of the World despite the fact that he's coming off an unconvincing disqualification win over Molina and hasn't yet recovered from a shoulder injury. Anyone else? Cornelius Bundrage is almost 40, and poor Austin Trout is so boring that his market value has stalled.

The welterweight division, meanwhile, has plenty going for it. Start with its historic value: The undisputed championship at 147 has been frequently held by greats operating in their primes, including Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Wilfredo Benitez, Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather.

And although the division has lost some momentum recently, consider these heavy hitters: Pacquiao, Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez. Timothy Bradley Jr. represents the new guard, and contemporaries Amir Khan, Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander are far too talented to be dismissed despite recent missteps. Paulie Malignaggi is a respected veteran who recently won a belt at 147. Robert Guerrero recently made a splash in his first welter bout. England's undefeated Kell Brook has expressed his intention to fight the division's best on American soil. Two-time champ Danny Garcia will make the jump to 147 soon, and it likely won't be long before current lightweight Adrien Broner will join him. Also on the horizon is little-known but undefeated prospect Keith Thurman, who made his TV debut last weekend.

Even in one of its lowest moments in recent memory, the welterweight division stacks up better than any in boxing and it promises to overshadow any other for a very long time.