If You Had To Prove You Were P4P Every Year

It bugs me when I see fighters doing next to nothing most of the years they are considered p4p; so I thought, what if every year your credit got set to zero and you were only judged on what you did in that time? Every fighter is in a race to achieve the most in a year, and depending on how much they achieve, that's their rank. Not what they did last year, or what they are potentially capable of if maybe. You don't get credit for what you did five years ago. You don't get tenure for the lean years. There's no benefit of the doubt when you take time off or fight mediocre opponents. Under this criteria you are encouraged to go out there and make things happen. Get after it hard. No sick days. No resting on your laurels. Everybody has the same year to do as much as they can. Losses aren't penalized, just like you don't count punches that missed. Most p4p lists penalize people for taking chances and fighting the best. Consequently they are rewarding playing it safe and underachieving.

Here's how I think the p4p lists would look each year from 2000 on. Here are our MVPs.
2000
1.Shane Mosley – De La Hoya, Willy Wise, Antonio Diaz
2.Erik Morales -Marco Antonio Barrera, Kevin Kelley, Mike Juarez, Rodney Jones
3.Lennox Lewis- Michael Grant, David Tua, Frans Botha
4.Felix Trinidad – Fernando Vargas, David Reid, Mamadou Thiam
5.Floyd Mayweather Jr- Emmanuel Augustus, Gregorio Vargas
6.Kostya Tszyu -Julio Cesar Chavez, Ahmed Santos
7.Roy Jones Jr – Richard Hall, David Telesco, Eric Harding
8.Naseem Hamed – Augie Sanchez, Vuyani Bungu
9.Joe Calzaghe -Richie Woodhall, Omar Sheika, David Starie
10.Manny Pacquiao -Nedal Hussein, Seung-kon Chae, Arnel Barotillo
11.Marco Antonio Barrera – Luis Freitas, Jose Valbuena, Jesus Salud
12.Bernard Hopkins – Syd Vanderpool, Antwun Echols
13.Wladimir Klitschko – Chris Byrd, Monte Barrett, David Bostace, Paea Wolfgram
14.Oscar De La Hoya -Derrell Coley
15.Ricardo Lopez -Phothong
2001
1.Bernard Hopkins -Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad
2.Floyd Mayweather Jr- Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez
3.Marco Antonio Barrera -Naseem Hamed, Enrique Sanchez
4.Kostya Tszyu – Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell, Urkal
5.Felix Trinidad – William Joppy
6.Rafael Marquez – Mark Johnson, Gerardo Espinoza
7.Manny Pacquiao -Lehlo Ledwaba, Foijan Prawet, Senrima
8.Oscar De La Hoya -Arturo Gatti, Javier Castillejo
9.Erik Morales- Guty Espadas Jr, In Jin Chi
10.Lennox Lewis -Hasim Rahman
11.Shane Mosley – Shannon Taylor, Adrien Stone
12.Roy Jones Jr – Dereck Harmon, Julio Cesar Gonzalez
13.Joe Calzaghe – Mario Veit, Will McIntyre
14.Wladimir Klitschko – Derrick Jefferson, Charles Shufford
15.Ricardo Lopez -Petelo
2002
1.Vernon Forrest – Shane Mosley x2
2.Marco Antonio Barrera -Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia
3.Felix Trinidad – Ricardo Mayorga, Hacine Cherifi
4.Oscar De La Hoya – Fernando Vargas
5.Floyd Mayweather Jr – Jose Luis Castillo
6.Rafael Marquez -Mark Johnson, Jorge Otero
7.Erik Morales – Paulie Ayala
8.Lennox Lewis -Mike Tyson
9.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam -Daisuke Naito, Jesus Martinez, Honda
10.Wladimir Klitschko – Frans Botha, Ray Mercer, Jameel McCline
11.Roy Jones Jr – Glen Kelly, Clinton Woods
12.Bernard Hopkins -Carl Daniels
13.Joe Calzaghe -Charles Brewer, Miguel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill
14.Manny Pacquiao -Jorge Julio, Rakkiatgym
15.Kostya Tszyu – Ben Tackie
2003
1.James Toney – Vassily Jirov, Evander Holyfield
2.Roy Jones Jr – John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver
3.Manny Pacquiao -Marco Antonio Barrera, Lucero, Yeshmagambetov
4.Oscar De La Hoya -Shane Mosley, Luis Ramon Campas
5.Bernard Hopkins – Morrade Hakkar, William Joppy
6.Floyd Mayweather Jr -Victoriano Sosa, Philip Ndou
7.Lennox Lewis -Vitali Klitschko
8.Erik Morales- Guty Espadas jr, Eddie Croft, Fernando Velardez
9.Kostya Tszyu – Jesse James Leija
10.Marco Antonio Barrera -Kevin Kelley
11.Joe Calzaghe -Byron Mitchell
12.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Hussein Hussein, Mangubat, Acerda
13.Wladimir Klitschko -Fabio Moli, Dannell Nicholson
2004
1.Marco Antonio Barrera -Paulie Ayala, Erik Morales
2.Manny Pacquiao- Juan Manuel Marquez, Pirang
3.James Toney -Rydell Booker, John Ruiz
4.Bernard Hopkins – Oscar De La Hoya, Robert Allen
5.Diego Corrales -Acelino Freitas, Joel Casamayor
6.Floyd Mayweather Jr -Demarcus Corley
7.Erik Morales – Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez
8.Kostya Tszyu -Sharmba Mitchell
9.Juan Manuel Marquez -Orlando Salido
10.Vitali Klitschko – Corrie Sanders, Danny Williams
11.Joe Calzaghe -Mkerchyan, Salem
12.Wladimir Klitschko – Davarryl Williamson
2005
1.Erik Morales -Manny Pacquiao
2.Ricky Hatton – Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Maussa
3.Floyd Mayweather Jr – Arturo Gatti, Henry Bruseles, Sharmba Mitchell
4.Diego Corrales -Jose Luis Castillo
5.Miguel Cotto – Demarcus Corley, Abdullaev, Ricardo Torres
6.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam -Daisuke Naito, Komatsu, Sales, Balabat
7.Chris John – Derrick Gainer, Tommy Browne
8.Celestino Cabbalero – Daniel Ponce De Leon, Valbuena, Ortega
9.Wladimir Klitschko – Samuel Peter, Eli Castillo
10.Shane Mosley – David Estrada, Jose Luis Cruz
11.Marco Antonio Barrera -Mzonke Fana, Robbie Peden
12.Joe Calzaghe -Veit, Ashira
13.Manny Pacquiao- Hector Velazquez
14.Juan Manuel Marquez -Victor Polo
15.Bernard Hopkins – Howard Eastman
2006
1.Manny Pacquiao- Erik Morales x2, Oscar Larios
2.Floyd Mayweather Jr – Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir
3.Chris John – Juan Manuel Marquez, Acosta
4.Shane Mosley – Fernando Vargas x2
5.Joe Calzaghe – Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika
6.Miguel Cotto – Gianluca Branco, Paulie Malignaggi, Carlos Quintana
7.Bernard Hopkins – Antonio Tarver
8.Oscar De La Hoya – Ricardo Mayorga
9.Marco Antonio Barrera – Rocky Juarez x2
10.Celestino Cabbalero – Somsak Sithchatawal, Bonilla,
11.Juan Manuel Marquez -Jandaeng, Jaca
12.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam -Nakahiro, Morales, Myekeni
13.Wladimir Klitschko – Chris Byrd, Calvin Brock
14.Ricky Hatton – Luis Collazo
15.Edwin Valero – Mosquera, Trazancos
2007
1.Floyd Mayweather Jr -Oscar De la Hoya, Ricky Hatton
2.Manny Pacquiao- Marco Antonio Barrera, Jorge Solis
3.Juan Manuel Marquez -Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez
4.Miguel Cotto- Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Oktay Urkal
5.Joe Calzaghe- Peter Manfredo, Mikkel Kessler
6.Bernard Hopkins – Winky Wright
7.Ricky Hatton – Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Urango
8.Rafael Marquez – Israel Vazquez
9.Nonito Donaire – Vic Darchinyan, Hudgins, Maldonado
10.Shane Mosley -Luis Collazo
11.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Amisa, Megrino, Shimizu, Sisnorio
12.Wladimir Klitschko – Ray Austin, Lamon Brewster
13.Chris John – Rojas, Takemoto
14.Celestino Cabbalero – R. Castillo, Lacierva, Pastrana
15.Edwin Valero – Lozada, Honmo, Zavaleta
2008
1.Manny Pacquiao -Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz
2.Shane Mosley -Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarito
3.James Toney -Hasim Rahman, Fres Oquendo
4.Joe Calzaghe- Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr
5.Bernard Hopkins -Kelly Pavlik
6.Wladimir Klitschko – Sultan Ibragimov, Hasim Rahman, Tony Thompson
7.Juan Manuel Marquez – Joel Casamayor
8.Vitali Klitschko – Samuel Peter
9.Miguel Cotto – Alfonso Gomez
10.Chris John – Roinet Caballero, Enoki
11.Celestino Cabbalero – Meija, Parra, Molitor
12.Edwin Valero - Shimada
13.Nonito Donaire -Mthalane
2009
1.Manny Pacquiao – Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto
2.Sergio Martinez – Kermit Cintron, Paul Williams
3.Andre Ward – Mikkel Kessler, Pudwell, Miranda, Buchanan
4.Floyd Mayweather Jr- Juan Manuel Marquez
5.Miguel Cotto – Michael Jennings, Joshua Clottey
6.Juan Manuel Marquez – Juan Diaz
7.Chris John – Rocky Juarez
8.Wladimir Klitschko – Ruslan Chagaev
9.Celestino Cabbalero – Mathebula, Leal
10.Edwin Valero – Pitalua, Velazquez
11.Nonito Donaire – Rafael Conception, Rauel Martinez
12.Vitali Klitschko – Chris Arreola, Kevin Johnson, Juan Carlos Gomez
13.Bernard Hopkins – Enrique Ornelas
2010
1.Sergio Martinez – Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams
2.Manny Pacquiao – Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito
3.Floyd Mayweather Jr- Shane Mosley
4.Juan Manuel Marquez – Juan Diaz, Michael Katsidis
5.Andre Ward – Sakio Bika, Allan Green
6.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam -Koki Kameda, Suriyan Kaikanha
7.Wladimir Klitschko – Eddie Chambers, Samuel Peter
8.Vitali Klitschko – Shannon Briggs, Sosnowski
9.Edwin Valero – Antonio Demarco
10.Nonito Donaire – Manuel Vargas, Hernan Marquez, Sydorenko
11.Guillermo Rigondeaux – Ricardo Cardoba, Beranza, Landeros
12.Bernard Hopkins -Roy Jones Jr
13.Miguel Cotto – Yuri Foreman
14.Chris John – Saucedo

 

2011
1.Andre Ward – Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham
2.Juan Manuel Marquez -Manny Pacquiao, Likar Ramos
3.Miguel Cotto – Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarito
4.Nonito Donaire – Fernando Montiel, Omar Narvaez
5.Bernard Hopkins – Jean Pascal
6.Manny Pacquiao -Shane Mosley
7.Lara – Paul Williams, Carlos Molina, Raines
8.Bradley – Devon Alexander, Joel Casamayor
9.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Edgar Sosa, Kogawa
10.Wladimir Klitschko - David Haye
11.Vitali Klitschko – Odlanier Solis, Tomasz Adamek
12.Sergio Martinez – Dzinzurik, Barker
13.Chris John – Yordan, Merdov
14.Guillermo Rigondeaux – Willie Casey
2012
1.Donaire- Vazquez, Mathebula, Nishioka, Arce
2.Marquez- Fedchenko, Pacquiao
3.Gonzalez- Jimenez, Hirales, Monterrosa, Estrada
4.Ward- Chad Dawson
5.Mayweather- Miguel Cotto
6.Martinez- Macklin, Chavez Jr.
7.Pacquiao- Tim Bradley
8.Canelo- Mosley, Lopez
9.Froch- Bute, Mack
10.Rigondeaux- Ramos, Kennedy, Marroquin
11.Golovkin- Fuchigami, Proksa
12.Kovalev- Boone, Thompson
2013
1.Rigondeaux- Nonito Donaire, Joseph Agbeko
2.Mayweather- Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez
3.Donaire- Vic Darchinyan
4.Golovkin- Rosado, Ishida, Macklin, Stevens
5.Froch- Kessler, Groves
6.Garcia- Salido, Lopez, Martinez
7.Kovalev- Campillo, White, Cleverly, Sillakh
8.Lara- Angulo, Trout
9.Klitschko- Pianetta, Povetkin
10.Canelo- Trout
11.Inoue- Sano, Taguchi, Mancio
12.Pacquiao- Brandon Rios
13.Ward- Edwin Rodriguez
14.Gonzalez- Barrera, Rodriguez, Blanquet
15.Lomachenko- Ramirez
2014
1.Lara- Canelo, Smith
2.Gonzalez- Kantun, Purisima, Yaegashi, Fuentes
3.Inoue- Hernandez, Kokietgym, Narvaez
4.Rigondeaux- Kokietgym, Amagasa
5.Golovkin- Adama, Geale, Rubio
6.Crawford -Burns, Gamboa, Beltran
7.Pacquiao- Tim Bradley, Algieri
8.Mayweather- Marcos Maidana x2
9.Lomachenko- Russell, Piriyapinyo
10.Kovalev- Agnew, Caparello, Hopkins
11.Froch- Groves
12.Canelo- Angulo
13.Klitschko- Leapai, Pulev
14.Donaire- Vetyeka
15.Garcia- Burgos
2015
1.Gonzalez- Leon, Sosa, Viloria
2.Golovkin- Murray, Monroe, Lemieux
3.Mayweather- Pacquiao, Berto
4.Canelo- Kirkland, Cotto
5.Kovalev- Pascal, Mohammedi
6.Lomachenko- Rodriguez, Koasicha
7.Crawford- Dulorme, Jean
8.Ward- Paul Smith
9.Rigondeaux- Francisco
10.Lara- Rodriguez, Zaveck
11.Inoue- Parrenas
2016
1.Kovalev- Pascal, Chilemba, Ward
2.Gonzalez- Arroyo, Cuadras
3.Lomachenko- Martinez, Walters
4.Golovkin- Wade, Brook
5.Ward- Barrera, Brand,
6.Usyk – Mchunu, Glowacki
7.Crawford- Lundy, Postol
8.Charlo- Williams, Trout
9.Canelo- Khan, Smith
10.Pacquiao- Tim Bradley, Jesse Vargas
11.Inoue- Carmona, Kokietgym, Kono
12.Thurman- Porter
13.Lara- Martirosyan
14.Rigondeaux- ****ens
15.Garcia- Elio Rojas
2017
1.Golovkin- Jacobs, Canelo
2.Rungvisai- Gonzalez
3.Gonzalez- Rungvisai
4.Joshua - Klitschko, Takam
5.Garcia- Broner, Zlaticanan
6.Crawford – Molina, Diaz, Indongo
7.Lomachenko- Sosa, Marriaga
8.Santa Cruz- Frampton, Avalos
9.Usyk – Huck, Hunter
10.Spence- Kell Brook
11.Estrada- Cuadras, Salas
12.Thurman- Garcia
13.Inoue- Rodriguez, Nieves, Boyeaux
14.Kovalev- Shabransky
15.Canelo- Chavez Jr
16.Lara- Foreman, Gausha

 

Basically, I took the top 15 or so people who had the best p4p potential at the time, and then ranked them according to what they actually accomplished. Rigo had p4p potential in terms of athleticism and skills, but he just failed to do anything with them, so he had a lackluster finish. Same thing happened when I ranked Ricardo Lopez in the early '00s.

There were a number of years that the guys with the most potential only fought one or two guys who you'd never heard of. I tried to account for that. As long as they beat somebody and didn't take the year off, they got ranked, ranked low but ranked. P4P potential gets you on the top 15 list, but accomplishment decides where you place on it.

 

Skills get you onto the list, resume decides where you place within it.