ATG, HOFer, contender, gatekeeper, jorneyman - give your classification and examples

I might add "fringe contender."

My standard for ATG is much lower than most. It has been 150 years since the institution of Queensbury rules. In that time, using the the heavyweight division as a benchmark, Boxrec has a recorded 29,963 men competing, and thousands of other names are lost to history. With that many people, I don't see why the top 30 or so would not be all-time greats.

That being said, proper ATG is almost someone that is univerally agreed up. No one but the slobbering village idiot type would deny him.

Hall of famer accomplished something notable but no one, or not many believes them to be an ATG.

Contender is a highly or perennially ranked contender who legitimately earned a shot but came up short.

Fringe contender is a guy who is always hanging around and maybe did enough for a shot, but in no way could have demanded one.

Gatekeeper is a guy who scores occasional upsets, so you have to get past him.

A journeyman literally travels to other guy's backyard to loose.

In any event:

ATG-Ali, Louis, Marciano
HOFer- Tim Witherspoon, Michael Moorer
Contender- Jerry Cooney, Jerry Quarry
Fringe Contender-Bert Cooper, Jesse Ferguson
Gate Keeper- Demetrice King, Gbenga Olukun
Journeyman- Everett Martin

 

journeyman - is defeated by gatekeeper level or above
gatekeeper - is defeated by fringe contender level or above
fringe contender - is defeated by middling contender level or above
top contender - is defeated by titlist or above. These days they are called "reg" "interim" "silver" belt holders.
titlist - is defeated by unified champ/champion or above
HoF - had ability to beat HoF/ATG on at least one occasion/achieved a record
ATG - HoF entry claims by multiple feats

 

Usinga @catchwtboxing & @HerolGee definition

ATG
1. is almost someone that is univerally agreed up. No one but the slobbering village idiot type would deny him.
2. HoF entry claims by multiple feats
Sugar Ray Robinson
Ali
Hagler

Hall of famer
1. accomplished something notable but no one, or not many believes them to be an ATG.
2. had ability to beat HoF/ATG on at least one occasion/achieved a record
Joe Frazier
Aaron Pryor
Tito Trinidad


Top Contender is
1. a highly or perennially ranked contender who legitimately earned a shot but came up short.
2. (top)is defeated by titlist or above. These days they are called "reg" "interim" "silver" belt holders.
Arturo Gatti?


Fringe contender is
1.guy who is always hanging around and maybe did enough for a shot, but in no way could have demanded one.
2. is defeated by middling contender level or above
Yaqui Lopez
Fres Oquendo
Rocky Juarez

Gatekeeper is
1. a guy who scores occasional upsets, so you have to get past him.
is defeated by fringe contender level or above

Bert Cooper
Kendal Holt
Randal Bailey


A journeyman
1. literally travels to other guy's backyard to loose.
2. is defeated by gatekeeper level or above

Reggie Strickland!
Emanuuel Augustus



Theoretically there is enough categories, but still feel there are many fighters who won but don't fit as a HOFer & not deserving of the label contender because they held a belt like Acelino Freitas. He was NOT a gatekeeper, but he was successful for awhile. Not sure where he fits --by the definitions listed.

Juan Diaz is another one. Paulie Malinaggi, these guys won and defended titles, just not sure where they fit here.

Even though the Galaxy Warrior won a major belt, can't call him a HOFer, yet contender isn't an applicable label. He beat a top LW (DiaZ), then defended it.

 

ATG: Ali, Greb, Charles, Marciano (basically anyone that ranks in my top 20 p4p or top 10 of that weight class)

HOF: Julian Jackson, Battling Nelson, Floyd Patterson (anyone in my top 50 p4p or top 20 of weight class)

I'd put average champion here (Shanon Briggs, Leon Spinks, Carmen Basilio, difficult one to rank because some of these go below contender)

Contender: Harry Wills, Jerry Quarry, Rex Layne, Charley Burley

Fringe Contender: Tony Galento, Harry kid Matthews, Marvis Frazier (kinda)

Gatekeeper: Earnie Schaaf, Dereck Chisora

Journeyman: Jesse Ferguson, Ted Lowry, Bill Tate

 

Going on the term (Average) Champion, where do the following 3 fit;

Chad Dawson (Average) LHW champ or (HOFer)? 2007-2010 (3) Won WBC, IBF, IBO, Regained a portion against HOF'er B Hop (some consider him a MW ATG.

Timothy Bradley (Average) champ or HOFer? 2 division champ from 2007-2013


Israel Vazquez (Average) champ or HOF'er? Won WBC from 2004-2007, then recaptured one title again

 

Somewhere between HOFer & Contender lies IMO, a whole lotta' champions. Just not sure how to rate them without diluting the categories.

 

First two HOF, third average

 

Agreed on 1st two.

As for Izzy, so based on your assessment a fighter can win a title &....and a big AND defend a title more than 1/2 dozen times yet can still be considered average Champion?

I'm tightening your answers to hold you accountable for others who would win & defend 1/2 dozen times. But just for fun!!

 

It also depends on competition defended against so you'll have to pardon my ignorance lol, I only went off of the info you sent me

 

You got Boxing IQ, it's all good!