Pound for Pound: What does it mean to you?

I was chatting with a boxing trainer the other day at a local gym. He`s been in the game for over 15 years and seemed pretty knowledgeable. The topic of pound for pound came up. Rankings, controversy, and validity. To cut a long story short he basically said that pound 4 pound means that if both fighters weighed the same and kept the same skills the guy ranked higher on the pound 4 pound list would be favored to win fights against anyone who was ranked lower on such lists. Anyone else agree?

 

That was the original reason for why the term P4P came about. Resume can aid to judge how talented someone is, relying heavily on resume though basically makes it a power ranking list similar to what they have in college sports.

 

Just to determine how boxers stack up against one another despite not being the same weight

i do find it funny when someone says fighter A has more power but fighter B has more p4p power

like wtf does that mean

i think its a term some ppl use improperly or overuse

 

Sorry for the typo in the poll. It should read pure boxing ability.

 

Do you not think it is flawed though? I mean his definition completely discounts the height factor and role it would play in a fight.

 

The term is called Pound 4 Pound. It's all about weight. It's not called inch for inch.

 

I think it's mainly about the best fighter regardless of weight.

there's also a semblance of "what have you done for me lately".

 

To me p4p is worthless, i use the example of how Donaire wouldn't do good if he ever goes to 126 but I still feel the need to put him at p4p top 5 if I were to make a list because he has been so dominate at his weights.

 

An overall assessment of a boxers acheivements (record, belts, victory against the top opponets in his division), compared to other boxers in any other division

 

So what's really the difference between options 2 and 4?

 

Same way I see it.

 

For me P4P means comparing fighters if they were the same size/weight, and I honestly can't see how it could be interpreted as anything else. This is why I find it laughable that Wlad is anywhere near the top 10. Shrink him down to Mayweather or Pac size and he gets starched by a lot of fighters in the lighter divisions without his physical advantages. On the flip-side, Tyson was P4P No 1 at his peak because his power and skills would have been a nightmare for any division at the time.

 

A boxer's overall abilities which should be backed up by his accomplishments. Andre Ward would not be able to beat Wlad head to head, but he is obviously more skilled and has proven those skills against superior (for his weight) opposition.

 

Spot on.

 

Best fighter regardless of weight. I think the title "pound-for-pound" kind of speaks for itself.