This is something that's been bothering me for the past 2 months now. I've watched a sh*t ton of boxing in that span, done a ton of research, listened to a ton of podcasts, but I still haven't really heard this question addressed. So, I'll ask it here. How many fighters in 2017 do you consider Elite? In theory, that's what the P4P 10 is for, but I don't think boxing fans really agree with them. I haven't seen 1 fighter in the Ring P4P list who is adverse to severe criticism. Guys like Loma, Canelo, Rigo, and Ward (I'll include him in this until the retirement seems more set in stone) get TONS of crap. It's weird. So, let's get this show on the road. Who, in your opinion, are the Elite fighters in 2017?
Joshua Ggg Canelo Jacobs Usyk Kovalev Ward Jack Degeale Cotton PAC Crawford Thurman D. Garcia M. Garcia Lineares Loma Walters Rigo Santa Cruz Inoe Chocalito Estrada Klitschko Gassiev
- D Garcia and Walters. That's pretty much how I see the best in their divisions at the mo. D Garcia isn't really elite, world class no doubt but his boxing knowledge is lacking. Walters went on a KO spree, met a true elite guy and quit. He's world class for me, I wouldn't consider him elite.
Loma Kovalev ggg Crawford Inoue M Garcia Usyk Rigo Canelo Joshua Jacobs Thurman Pacman Chocilatito Spence
Elite- as in those who can beat everyone else but perhaps not those in that group. HW - hard to tell, several possibles, its still in the process of evolving. Noone seems to be interested in stepping up to face the others, so how can you call any elite? LHW - kovalev for sure, alvarez, stevenson. SMW - DeGale, 2G, possibly Dirrell and Ramirez. MW - Canelo, 3g, others are possibles but unproven yet LMW - Canelo, Lara, Cotto, Charlo WW- Thurman Spence Garcia. Sorry Manny, too old.
I think people have different definitions of ‘elite’. Even within the elite class, there are those a level above like Lomachenko and Crawford. Anyway, here’s my list. Inoue Estrada Sor Rungvisai Rigondeaux Santa Cruz Frampton Lomachenko Linares M. Garcia Crawford Spence Thurman Golovkin Canelo Jacobs Kovalev Usyk Joshua Borderline: Jack Degale Gonzalez – If he goes down in weight. Brook – Have to see what he’s still got at 147, he isn’t if he goes to 154. Lara Walters Gassiev – haven’t seen enough of him
