The July 2016 issue of the Ring attempted to rank the modern light heavies from the mid 1930's up to 2016 A poll was conducted comprised of: Trainers Teddy Atlas Pat Burns Naazim Richardson Don Turner Media Al Bernstein Ron Borges Norm Frauenheim Jerry Izenberg Harold Lederman Paulie Malinaggi DonRafael Michael Rosenthal Matchmakers Eric Bottjer DonElbaum BobbyGoodman Brad Goodman Ron Katz Russell Peltz Bruce Trampler Historians Craig Hamilton Bob Mee Clay Moyle Adam Pollack Randy Roberts Mike Tyson They had 8 fighters to match in a round robin. The fighters were, in no order. Sergey Kovalev,Bob Foster,Archie Moore,Roy Jones Jnr Mike Spinks,Billy Conn,Saad Muhammad,Ezzard Charles The placings were as follows. 1.Charles 2.Moore 3.Jones 4.Foster 5.Spinks 6.Conn 7.Kovalev 8.Muhammad. All ranked Charles number 1. Do you agree with the 8 picks of 175pounders from the mid 30's to July2016? Do you agree with the rankings? In the light of Kovalev's last 2 fights ,do you think he should have been among the 8?
Seen worse lists. Although I would definitely swap Kovalev out for Harold Johnson, and maybe Muhammad out for Bivins. Loughran would be a lock, but I think he had moved up to heavyweight by the 30s.
Rating fighters before their careers are over can be problematic. But rating fighters before their primes are over is even more misguided.
Tunney wasn't in this poll. Of the eight they had to choose from, you could say anyone one of the eight could have beaten the other. The light heavyweight division is rather interesting
They look dumb in hindsight picking Kovalev over Saad. But even when they did this, Kovalev's resume was way weaker that that of Saad. I guess they were judging on how he looked. Notice only 2 guys made it post early'80s. That says a lot of the deterioration of the division.
A declining Kovalev out boxed the guy people were calling the pound for pound best in Ward, and lost controversly in the rematch.
I don't think Kovalev could get past Saad Muhammad. Mentally Muhammad was everything Kovalev isn't. I don't think he should be on that list.
