Matt Skelton v Dillian Whyte

They certainly aren't that!

It's just that they give some idea of what most fighters were up to at a given time. A sort of handy thumbnail.

That Skelton was never able to beat one - and only managed to be thrashed by either one or two so low was the level he was matched at - probably does matter though.

They sure don't.

But it's fair to say that anyone picking Skelton is picking a fighter that was never even tested by ancient, disease-ridden Povetkin level fighters And who failed tests at a far, far lower level. Like you say, that doesn't mean he can't win, but it does help underline that Skelton was very much a commonwealth level fighter (hard to justify European level given that he managed just one defence of even that title).

 

Even if they shared an era, Skelton probably wouldn't be matched with Whyte. Unless it was on the way up (when anything could admittedly happen). Skelton just didn't fight ranked contenders. Whether because he didn't want to, or because they didn't want to fight him, he just didn't fight top five guys.

Ever.

Too many levels below.

 

I think that's the best answer someone in your position could give, really

If he was fighting the version of these men:
John McDermott
Danny Williams
Michael Sprott
Paulo Vidoz
Tom Dallas

That Skelton fought, odds on them would be rather long. After all, if you literally added up the legacy of every fighter Skelton ever beat it probably wouldn't equal Povetkin's. Whyte is just irrefutably a much, much, much, much, much, much, much more accomplished fighter, even if every single negative thing you've said in this thread about his opposition is true, which it probably isn't.

 

He did get battered by Chagaev, that is true. You could reasonably sub Whyte for Chagaev in that timeframe, so that's a fair point.

 

No, they're different men but Whyte is ranked in the same spot Chagaev was when he met Skelton.

So they are directly interchangeable in terms of fistic status relative to their own times.

And had similar standings at the time the match would be made.

Except that Whyte has considerably more drawing power.