Top three pound-for-pound fighters

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Who is the world's best fighter regardless of weight class? See my Top 20 below.

And don't forget to check out the divisional rankings, which are updated weekly.

For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are through Oct. 25.

1. MANNY PACQUIAO

Welterweight titlist Record: 53-3-2, 38 KOs Age: 32 Pacquiao Hits: At long last, we're on the verge of the third showdown between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, whose first two fights were among the best of the past 10 years and ended with more than enough controversy to warrant a third helping. If the Nov. 12 HBO PPV fight is half as good as the first two, it will be pay-per-view money well spent. Misses: The first Pacquiao-Marquez fight for the featherweight championship, a draw, took place in 2004. The 2008 rematch, for the junior lightweight title, was won by Pacquiao on a split decision. And yet it took three more years for them to finally get together again for a fight at welterweight. It has taken too long and it will be fought in a weight class that is probably too heavy for Marquez to be at his most effective.

2. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

Welterweight titlist Record: 42-0, 26 KOs Age: 34 Mayweather Hits: Mayweather triumphantly returned to the ring Sept. 17 for his first fight in 16 months, dominating and knocking out Victor Ortiz (albeit in controversial fashion) in the fourth round to claim yet another belt. Despite the long layoff, Mayweather didn't miss a beat. Still fast, still sharp, still skilled, still flashy, still everything. Misses: It's anyone's guess when we'll see Mayweather back in the ring. He has all kinds of legal problems that could delay his return, not to mention a ton of money to burn through from the Ortiz fight. So he very well might take another lengthy "vacation," as he did after beating Shane Mosley in May 2010.

3. SERGIO MARTINEZ

Middleweight champion Record: 48-2-2, 27 KOs Age: 36 Martinez Hits: Although Martinez, the 2010 fighter of the year, wasn't at his best when he faced Darren Barker on Oct. 1, he overcame nagging injuries that hampered him during training camp, got going in the middle rounds and then scored a highlight-reel knockout in the 11th round. One sign of a true champion is the ability to get the job done -- and in spectacular fashion, no less -- even when he doesn't have his best stuff. That is exactly what "Maravilla" did. Misses: Barker was a massive underdog, so the fact that Martinez struggled a bit was disappointing. And now the difficulty of finding his next opponent starts all over again. It's never easy with Martinez because he doesn't fight in a weight division loaded with top fighters or stars and he refuses to move up to super middleweight.

Click here for Nos. 4-20.

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Dan Rafael

Boxing

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• ESPN.com boxing writer since 2005
• Writes pound-for-pound rankings
• Five years at USA Today