that's because it's a recent poll gie it some time and no one would ranking those guys over LL,Holyfield or Jones .
Because Pernell has only a cult fan following. Half of the people who voted for him did it out of respect and a moment without bias is my guess. Like Zopilote. Hatesrats gave him his props, but found a loophole in the wording.
And proud of it. :thumbsup Seriously though, trying to be unbiased, I think 2nd is where he belongs. Roy was better and more dominant (same goes for Chavez, really) so I could easily see him outranking Manny, but the resume and sheer accomplishments of Pac shade it for me. There's a chance the list could change five years from now when all of these guys are (hopefully) retired. Oh, and ESB is the home of the Sweet Pea Cult. :deal
Whitaker RJJ( Great fighter probaly greatest ever Prime for Prime...only knock is resume....but he does have scalps of Bhop and Toney plus HW tittle) Foyd(still has time to close gap and could with right fights underrated resume and accomplishments) Pac(i think he pretty much hit his ceiling or canvas...:yep..still a very solid career...MAB,EMO and JMM...mexican Trio of ATG's...only fighter to claim that i believe)
The MAB win was awfully ****ing impressive. Somewhat, yeah. There's been a slew of recent threads that have given me an urge to become one of his top defendants lately.
Come on now.. how did Bernard Hopkins NOT win this?? RJJ and Sweet Pea are close.. but B Hop has the greatest resume by far.. and is probably a top 20 ATG.. if not top 15... Chavez Sr????.. home boy ain't even greater than RJJ or Sweet Pea, sorry... and I'm a fan of Chavez.. it should go B Hop, then Sweat Pea, then RJJ/ Chavez.. then Mayweather... Pac/De La Hoya/Lewis.. than Holyfield
It's the best win since Jones-Toney and maybe even farther back than that. A really nice career up to that point, too, and some crazy stuff after. Plenty of people get carried away, but the guy has had an astounding career. Classic loves him as much as any other fighter. Not quite the case in the General, but most know what's up.
I fthis was best boxer.. I'd say Whitaker.. then Floyd/ RJJ... but on total accomplishments.. I really think it's B Hop.. its just that he holds, whines, cries and complains too much.. which is probably why he didn't get any votes.. h2h he loses to a prime RJJ all the time.. and h2h Whitaker is def the better fighter.. but I guess I'm in teh minority picking B Hop... that guy to me is a lviign legend based on his resume and what he's done and how long he's been fighting plus the fact that he has given almost everyone he's faced a tough fight and has never been Knocked out.... AND he's faced.. Chad Dawson, Glen Johnson, Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik, Joe Calzaghe, Felix Trinidad, Wiliam Joppy, Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Jean Pascal, and Howard Eastman.. plus he is a former p4p number 1... a fighter of the year and the oldest champ in history.. I hate the guy's style and actions in the ring.. but I respect his hustle.. and resume
I was actually contemplating just how many have actually been better than it over the last decade, it's a pretty immense accomplishment all it's own. Morales beating Pacquiao himself was unforgettable too though it was a far more competitive affair. I'd say Jones-Toney is a good stopping point for it, because, you know what happened in September of '93. You can't make this stuff up: This content is protected Al Bernstein, ESPN: "I like Chavez. Whitaker's not going to be able to hold him off. Whitaker's fighting more on the inside than he used to and will get into trouble. And nobody has less trouble with southpaws than Chavez." Robert Seltzer, Philadelphia Enquirer: "Whitaker is not nearly as fast and slick at 147 as he was at 135 and did not gain punching power, enough to discourage Chavez. Chavez is the Sugar Ray Robinson of our era, we should savor him while we can." Nigel Collins, KO Magazine: "Chavez's left hook to the liver will be the key to taking away Whitaker's legs." Jack Obermayer, Boxing Illustrated: "Whitaker loses some of his quickness at 147, Chavez to win in 12." J.R. Jowett, Boxing Illustrated: "Whitaker's cleverness will give Chavez problems, but Chavez showed in the Meldrick Taylor fight that he remains undaunted and keeps on coming. He should break through late in the fight to beat Pernell." Bill Gallo, New York Daily News: "Chavez is the best fighter I've seen since Sugar Ray Robinson. At this point in his career he is at his peak and unbeatable. He'll have an easy time with Whitaker because he is a far superior boxer and puncher. Chavez wins like he has to and the better the competition, the better he is." Jose Laurino, Montevideo News: "Right now, Julio Cesar Chavez is at the top of his game and knows it. I don't see Chavez getting behind or having a problem with Whitaker's southpaw stance. The sensational Aztec will reaffirm his greatness. All of the elements needed to fuel a great fight are contained in this match-up, and Julio Cesar Chavez, using his fists, shoulders and elbows to apply pressure, will win. A multi-punch combination will send Whitaker to the canvas for the 10-count two minutes into the last round."
Even with that you can claim Chavez to have been a few years passed prime and fighting at a weight where he didn't belong. Obviously Pea wasn't his peak Lightweight self either, but I think that stuffs detracts from it just a wee bit and it was also a more competitive fight than Pac-MAB. I'd rate the wins on a similar level though Whitaker should get the nod. Circumstances and dominance weren't quite as impressive but Julio is a different league to MAB, of course. Shame that fight didn't happen in '89 or '90.
Picking Chavez was one thing - zero in the loss column, an absolute wrecking machine, and in stylistic theory, I can easily see why some thought his educated pressuring skills and sickening attack to the body would wear down the lighter-punching boxer who liked to spend his share of time on the inside. But the predictions (from supposedly respected writers like Bill Gallo, among others) that Chavez wouldn't have one iota of difficulty against Whitaker's southpaw stance, defensive brilliance, right jab, and historically formidable tools at close quarters are so ridiculous looking back on it. Talk about not giving Whitaker his credit or lacking the understanding of just how special he was - something that really isn't lacking too much at all nowadays on boxing forums. Also, Comparing Chavez to Robinson and describing him as "unbeatable" and at the "peak" (fighting at welterweight 80-something fights into his career no less :huh) ...wow