FanPost

Art of Boxing's P4P Rankings (will update)


Hey y'all. Sorry I've been gone for awhile, but I still read here daily and enjoyed reading here. I hope everything is going well for all the good folks here at BLH. I know right before I left (turns out it was only three months ago), I made a P4P ranking, top 10, and had promised to update. I thought I might as well do it now, since I am free of obligations currently, and since there have been many big fights since I left. I'll try to briefly describe their ranking, logically, and who I think they should fight next.

Please comment your own top 10 P4P list and who you think they should fight next! As always, I just like to speak my opinion but obviously this is just my opinion. If you disagree, feel free to write me a novel of how wrong I am. Without further adieu, here are my top 10 P4P fighters! :D

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (46-0-0, 26 KO's)

The fight against Maidana was very close, but personally I believed he won the fight, 115-113. I projected an easy decision, and while I was obviously wrong in that regard, I admire how Floyd battled through adversity and was able to dig deeper, which he rarely needs to do, and find that extra gear, which again, he rarely needs to do. The difference between a champion and a also-ran is that extra thing inside your chest, an underrated asset at times, and whether you like him or not, he has it. I thought he outpointed him, and I don't really think there should be any controversy as in who should have had his hand raised. He was the deserving winner. No, I never thought of moving him down, as I said on the previous ranking ... he was too far ahead of any fighter heading into the fight to be taken down. He got the job done. Next out he is facing Marcos Maidana in a rematch, and I believe he will outpoint him again, in another close fight. Floyd Mayweather was previously ranked #1 on 4/17/14.

2. Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KO's)

I think we all agree he is once again amongst the elite -- following a clear win (I had it 116-112) over Tim Bradley in April. This was against a "undefeated" fighter in his prime, and he looked magnificent in doing so. In his next fight, he is fighting Chris Algieri in November. Personally, I think this is a good fight even if most people think otherwise. Who else was he going to fight? This guy is undefeated and fought his way into this fight, beating Ruslan. It creates an interesting style clash, as Manny struggles with boxers. Algieri is 5'11 with a size advantage, good foot movement, and a jab. I believe Manny Pacquiao will win, but I don't think it was a "cherrypick", I think it was a good fight to take and a challenging fight to take. Manny Pacquiao was previously ranked #2 on 4/17/14.

3. Andre Ward (27-0-0, 14 KO's)

I know this will once again be a talking point in the comments, and I'm fine if people disagree as long as they logically state their opinion. Personally, I can not warrant Andre Ward any higher than what he is currently. I even feel a little guilty putting him this spot. In 20+ months, Ward has only fought once. On the flip side, the man in front of him defeated a prime undefeated fighter in April, and will attempt to do so once again, a prime undefeated fighter in November. I wanted to touch on why he is not ranked #2, which is the consensus. I just can not give it to a guy who will most likely not fight in 2014, versus a guy with the credentials I just listed. Andre Ward was previously ranked #3 on 4/17/14.

4. Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 52 KO's)

Even though he is fighting in a sorry division (perhaps with a few bright stars, maybe, though?), the domination he has displayed is unquestionable. There is no doubt, even in this era of sorry heavyweights, he deserves this ranking, in my opinion. He has not lost since 2004. Next out, he is scheduled to face Kubrat Pulev, and undefeated fighter, who I think he will beat by late knockout. Wladimir Klitschko was previously ranked #4 on 4/17/14.

5. Tim Bradley (31-1-0, 12 KO's)

I honestly thought about moving Tim Bradley down this time, but I didn't. Losing to a legend is nothing to be ashamed about. He was competitive enough in that fight, and accomplished enough in 2013, for me to keep him in the top 5. Personally, I would like to see him square off against Ruslan for a second time, considering the first fight was a close but clear decision, where Tim Bradley got knocked into tomorrow and almost knocked out on a few occasions. Talks about a Cotto fight at 154 are rumored, and that is another fight I don't mind seeing. Tim Bradley was previously ranked #5 on 4/17/14.

6. Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KO's)

I thought Juan Manuel Marquez looked very solid against Mike Alvarado. As someone with the upmost respect for Marquez, I also need to take into account how Alvarado was coming off a KO loss to Ruslan, and before that two wars with Brandon Rios. This is the only reason I did not put him over Timothy Bradley, also considering Timothy Bradley defeated him in 2013. There are not many good fights out there for Juan Manuel Marquez, and because of that, I truly have no idea who I would like to see him fight next. Any thoughts? Juan Manuel Marquez was previously ranked #7 on 4/17/14.

7. Guillermo Rigondeaux (14-0-0, 9 KO's)

I don't claim to be the most knowledgable boxing fan, for sure, but I can definitely say that Rigo is one of the best talents I have ever seen in my years of watching boxing. My main issue with putting him as high as many do, is only because he needs a good dance partner. I credit him for Donaire, but I need another big win from him to put him higher on my list (because, I do believe he is a top 4 talent, at least). I am dying to see a square off versus Leo Santa Cruz. If that fight happens and we see a Rigo win, I will move him into the top 5 for sure. Guillermo Rigondeaux was previously ranked #8 on 4/17/14.

8. Gennady Golovkin (30-0-0, 27 KO's)

Really excited to see more from this guy. He looked marvelous against Daniel Geale, who in his own right, is a really good boxer. The only reason he is not higher, like Rigo, is he needs another big win to pad his resume. Considering the middleweight division is weak, and few want to fight him, I'm unsure of what to want. I personally want no parts of a Cotto fight, as I believe that would be an easy victory against a much smaller man, but that would be a logical next step. Gennady Golovkin was previously ranked "next in line" on 4/17/14.

9. Carl Froch (33-2-0, 24 KO's)

I can not deny this man a spot in the top 10, personally. I thought the first fight against Groves ended in a premature stoppage, but not the second fight. This man's resume is to be respected, and considering his last big win, I am willing to give him a spot in my top 10. Carl Froch is another guy out there with limited options, in my opinion. I would like to see him face Ward, but that is unlikely. Who do you guys think he should face next? Carl Froch was previously unranked on 4/17/14.

10. Roman Gonzalez (39-0-0, 33 KO's)

This might be an unpopular choice, but I was considering him putting him on last time. He is incredibly dominate in his weight class, very fast and powerful. With recent defections from my rankings, I figured he certainly deserves a spot. Next out he is facing a good fighter, who I admittedly have never seen, named Akira Yaegashi in September, which should be another easy fight for the undisputed king of flyweights. Roman Gonzalez was previously unranked on 4/17/14.

Next in line:

Canelo Alvarez (44-1-0, 31 KO's) was previously ranked 10. I thought his last fight was a draw, and I hold nothing against him and how he fought a very good fighter in Lara. I have the upmost respect for Canelo, but I think others are more deserving after that close fight, which I don't believe he won, but it was a draw in my opinion. Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12 KO's) continued to look good in his last fight, against Canelo Alvarez. Just like Canelo, even though he fought well, I don't think he is deserving of a top 10 spot considering I thought the fight was a draw. Mikey Garcia (34-0-0, 28 KO's) was previously ranked #9, but considering his inactivity, I don't think he deserves a spot in the top 10.

Danny Garcia (28-0-0, 16 KO's) used to be one of my favorites, but not anymore. Herrera is a good fighter, who I thought he fought to a draw against, but Rod Salka? Really? Come on. He is not even "next in line" if he wins, just thought I'd share my opinion considering I used to be a fan of his. NOT NEXT IN LINE :).

Well, hope y'all enjoyed reading this. Please comment your top 10 and who you think they should fight next! Feel free to comment what you agree or disagree with, as I like to read opinions. Which fighters do you think will move up next? Who are on the bubble? Please comment and share your opinion! :D

Have a good one all.

~Art of Boxing.

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