Top 30 fighters P4P from 1980-present

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Collie, Aug 18, 2012.


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  1. Collie

    Collie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    First time I have done such a list, I'd like to hear your thoughts/critique. I'd also like to see other peoples lists to compare/contrast.


    One consideration I had while making the list is the fact that I started it in 1980, so that caused difficulty in where to place some boxers e.g. Roberto Duran, as they had careers in 1970s. I decided to only therefore count their records from 1980 onwards: there had to be some cut-off point.

    I placed active boxers in as I felt it wouldn't be a true reflection of the best fighters since 1980 if I left out the likes of Pacquaio, Mayweather, Hopkins.. Even Toney and Jones Jr. are still active but at the end of their careers so are eligible for ranking.

    The criteria I used focused on were resume, record/achievements and skills. It was favourable if boxers had wins over others on the list for example, if they had a long string of title defences or if they had success at different weights.


    30. Winky Wright
    29. Michael Spinks
    28. Wilfred Bentiez
    27. Wilfredo Gomez
    26. Ricardo Lopez
    25. Mike McCallum
    24. Wladamir Klitchko
    22. Felix Trinidad
    21. James Toney
    20. Roberto Duran
    19. Eric Morales
    18. Marco Antonio Barrera
    17. Joe Calzage
    16. Juan Manuel Marquez
    15. Oscar De La Hoya
    14. Mike Tyson
    13. Aaron Pryor
    12. Evander Holyfield
    11. Roy Jones Jr.
    10. Lennox Lewis
    9. Larry Holmes
    8. Bernard Hopkins
    7. Pernell Whitaker
    6. Tommy Hearns
    5. Marvin Hagler
    4. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
    3. Manny Pacquaio
    2. Julio Caesar Chavez
    1. Sugar Ray Leonard



    Some that I considered or were just outside my list were George Foreman (prime or 'first career' was in 1970s), Diego Corrales, Vitali Klitchko, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, etc.


    Of course many are interchangable, and no doubt this is a work in progress which will most likely be tweaked in the future. Post your list, and tell me if I missed anybody.


    EDIT:


    My revised/edited version:


    30. Azumah Nelson
    29. Khaosai Galaxy
    28. Wilfred Bentiez
    27. Wilfredo Gomez
    26. Ricardo Lopez
    25. Wladamir Klitchko
    24. Felix Trinidad
    23. Mike McCallum
    22. James Toney
    21. Roberto Duran
    20. Eric Morales
    19. Marco Antonio Barrera
    18. Joe Calzage
    17. Juan Manuel Marquez
    16. Oscar De La Hoya
    15. Mike Tyson
    14. Aaron Pryor
    13. Evander Holyfield
    12. Larry Holmes
    11. Michael Spinks
    10. Lennox Lewis
    9. Roy Jones Jr.
    8. Bernard Hopkins
    7. Tommy Hearns
    6. Marvin Hagler
    5. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
    4. Manny Pacquaio
    3. Pernell Whitaker
    2. Julio Caesar Chavez
    1. Sugar Ray Leonard


    Honourable mentions to Kalambay, Sanchez, Eubank Benn Collins, Wright, Corrales, Vitali Klitchko, Cotto, Mosley, Pedrosa etc. (as well as a few others I am undoubtedly missing) who would at the moment make it into the 30-40 places.


    Still a work in progress. I've moved Whitaker up to 3 but still evaluating him and he may yet go to number 2. Roy Jones makes the top 10 leaping ahead of Lewis and Holmes, whom I put down a few places. Michael Spinks get elevated on re-evaluation. Nelson and Galaxy come in, but still unsure of where to put them as I haven't studied them fully yet, so they could move up in future. Still can't find a place for Sanchez. I did some other minor rearranging e.g. McCallum moving up a place or 2. Pryor might still be a little high and will need a look at, other than that I think I'm quite happy with it.
     
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    #1
  2. Boxalot

    Boxalot Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Decent enough list mate, but Michael Spinks should be MUCH higher imo. He's around about top 30-40 of all-time for me, let alone #29 post 1980. He's a top 5 ATG at 175 and then stepped up to defeat an undefeated Larry Holmes in back-to-back fights, with his only ever defeat coming to probably the best version of Mike Tyson EVER to step in the ring.

    Pernell Whittaker should also be much higher imo, certainly above Hearns. He'd probably be #2 on my list behind SRL and closely followed by Hagler, Mayweather, Hopkins and Pacquiao (not necessarily in that order).

    Good effort on the list though, most of it is just about right imo.
     
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    #2
  3. Boxalot

    Boxalot Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Just noticed the complete lack of Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson! Assume you forgot them?
     
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    #3
  4. Collie

    Collie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Thanks, I had Whittaker up higher before pushing him back a place or two. I'll have to re-evaluate Michael Spinks, Ill admit I'm not an expert on him and probably put too much emphasis on his loss to Tyson.

    I completely forgot about Azumah Nelson, I knew I'd forget one or two. I'll have to put him in when I edit it. Sanchez I thought of but, because he died so young, he was one of those I didn't know where to put, as 1980-82 was a short time even though he was a champion, I left him out in the end.
     
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    #4
  5. SJS19

    SJS19 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Very good list.

    Nice to see Winky Wright being appreciated.
    I assume Jones is outside the top ten, due to competition?
    Accurate placings for Joe Calzaghe, and it's nice to see Holyfield ranked ahead of Tyson.
     
    SJS19, Aug 18, 2012
    SJS19, Aug 18, 2012
    #5
  6. Boxalot

    Boxalot Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yeah, he died soon after the Nelson fight about halfway through '82 but he crammed more into 2.5 years than half of that list did in their entire careers. It was amazing how active he was against a VERY high standard of competition and he took Gomez's '0' aswell as having wins over Lopez, Nelson etc.

    He should be in the top half of the top 30 for me, despite only being active for 2.5 years of it. He definitely did more in that time than Calzaghe did in his career for example.
     
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    Boxalot, Aug 18, 2012
    #6
  7. Collie

    Collie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yes, primarily.
     
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    #7
  8. Collie

    Collie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yes, I see your point, he did achieve a lot in the short spell. I'll have to consider putting him in.
     
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    Collie, Aug 18, 2012
    #8
  9. THE EXPERT

    THE EXPERT Member Full Member

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    Feb 21, 2011
    Nice list Collie!!! I guess I will attempt to adjust your list and make corrections since i am too lazy to make my own. lol

    First, Whitaker in my opinion is way too low, especially looking at the criteria you chose. For resume, he took on all comers and beat them, including haugen, mayweather, mcgirt, brazier, Ramirez, Azumah nelson, and even chavez who you have rated number two. Even with the stiff competition, his record should have been unblemished until he was old and drugged up in the trinidad fight. This included (should have been) wins against a prime. peak de la hoya. All the while, as this forum has confirmed, whitaker showed an almost unmatched universe class skill set. he should be number one or number two.

    Second,...well...I guess there is not a second as the list is pretty good. I am glad you have holmes as high as you do and i am also happy you gave a shout out at the end for diego corrales. Excellent Job Collie. I do need more of an explanation for the whitaker fiasco. lol :)
     
    THE EXPERT, Aug 18, 2012
    THE EXPERT, Aug 18, 2012
    #9
  10. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I did one from 1976 onwards in 2006.

    The criterion being any fighter who was on the list, had to turn pro in 1976 or later.

    30 James Toney
    29 Ronald 'Winky' Wright
    28 Orlando Canizales
    27 Mike Tyson
    26 Sot Chitalada
    25 Jeff Chandler
    24 Lennox Lewis
    23 Floyd Mayweather Jr
    22 Aaron Pryor
    21 Myung Woo Yuh
    20 Jung Koo Chang
    19 Kostya Tszyu
    18 Brian Mitchell
    17 Jeff Fenech
    16 Salvador Sanchez
    15 Marco Antonio Barrera
    14 Mike McCallum
    13 Felix Trinidad
    12 Evander Holyfield
    11 Khoasio Galaxy
    10 Michael Spinks
    9 Azumah Nelson
    8 Bernard Hopkins
    7 Ricardo Lopez
    6 Roy Jones
    5 Thomas Hearns
    4 Pernell Whitaker
    3 Oscar de la Hoya
    2 Julio Cesar Chavez
    1 Ray Leonard
     
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    #10
  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You both have Chavez ahead of Whitaker?
     
    Bokaj, Aug 18, 2012
    Bokaj, Aug 18, 2012
    #11
  12. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh yeah, Chavez was dominate for a longer period, and it his peak, more dominate than Whitaker at his finest. I could see prime Chavez mug Haugen (actually it happened, and Chavez was on downside by then), but I could not see prime Whitaker physically destroy Rosario like Chavez did.
     
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    #12
  13. SJS19

    SJS19 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :huh
     
    SJS19, Aug 18, 2012
    SJS19, Aug 18, 2012
    #13
  14. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :huh
     
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    TBooze, Aug 18, 2012
    #14
  15. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Doing lists isn't easy..........BUT

    Chavez at number 2 and 5 places above Whitaker who schooled him in his prime :lol: Pacquaio number 3 13places above the man who beat him 3 times??

    No No No - Chavez and Pac aren't top 10 - your number 28 probably schools them both

    All those men above Duran - if you're just counting his 80s achievements maybe leave him off, it looks silly having those fighters above him. Pryor is way too high, McCallum/Toney too low, Jones too low. Kalambay should make the list too and reasonable high at that. Norris deserves a place too if Winky is there. Sanchez and Pedroza should be there somewhere, maybe Nelson too
     
    PowerPuncher, Aug 18, 2012
    PowerPuncher, Aug 18, 2012
    #15
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