How much should we praise an undefeated record ?

1. Plenty of missing names - beatable. Quality fighter, arrogant ****.
2. Ditto, but never looked like losing - much better P4P than #1 above
3. Untested, proof in pudding. I'm not convinced.
4. Quality champion, but beatable.
5. Looks impressive, time to head Stateside.
6. A pity that he is the USA's best hope at HW. Not going anywhere, other than to the canvas.
7. One-dimensional banger who bought a ticket and won the lottery. Watch his previous fight on YT before Khan.
8. Underrated fighter. Received some dodgy SD's.... stayed at home.
9. Pass - well before my time.
10. Upset Witter, seems like a good man as well. Wait and see over the next 2yrs.

 

Joe Calzaghe - Deserves praise for his consistency, longevity and good wins. The third most deserving of praise on this list. Could have done more.

Floyd Mayweather - As above, with a better resume. Deserves praise. Could have done more.

Andre Berto - Has done nothing. Handed a belt. Only the start of his career, however. Doesn't deserve praise or criticism at this stage, but he needs to push on.

Chad Dawson - Very good fighter well one the way to proving himself as having a legit tested undefeated record. Already has good wins over Adamek, Johnson and slightly less...Tarver. Deserves praise.

Arthur Abraham - Suffering in a weak division. Not exactly a stellar resume, but a couple of solid wins over Miranda and Gevor is an underrated fighter. Showed his desire by going to America to prove the doubters wrong. More to come in 2009 I suspect. Deserves moderate praise.

Chris Arreola - Has done ****. Has a win over a similarly untested prospect. Deserves neither praise nor criticism for his resume at this stage but we need to see him move on another level. Deserves criticism for his waistline.

Breidis Precott - He's come out of nowhere to get attention, we can only praise him for his win over glass jawed Khan. His resume looks like a guy that has come out of nowhere. Deserves some attention as he progresses.

Sven Ottke - Rather fortunate to have an undefeated record. Could have lost it a few times, but the amount of robberies is overstated. Whether you give him praise really depends on how you look at things, I tend to give him praise for his defensive ability and overall underrated skills. Other people will give him zero. Thats Sven Ottke.

Rocky Marciano - Deserves all the praise in the world. Fought everybody he could in his era and won. Wins over aging greats and smaller men, nevertheless these wins are better than they look at first glance.

Tim Bradley - He has one notable victory. It's the start of the kids career. Deserves monitoring.

 

Co-sign. This is the most unbiased post i've read so far.:good

 

The "O" according to some fighters is very sacred. for example joe calzaghe and floyd mayweather.

Mayweather "If uv'e been beaten once, you'll get beaten agen" = according to him a fighter whom loses his "O" is damaged goods.

Reporter "Do you have any future plans to fight Kelly Pavlik"
Calzaghe "Basically I wanna keep by "O" and retire undefeated"
Enzo "Kelly Pavlik?....Bollocks"

 

Good replies, Marciano was undefeated at heavyweight and he was 5'11 and about 185 pounds. He was small for a heavyweight and still managed to beat everybody.

 

1. Joe Calzaghe - has proved his worth in his chosen weight classes, could maybe have been more proactive about chasing bigger fights earlier in his career but not too many notable names missing, Ottke and Beyer probably the main ones.

2. Floyd Mayweather - proved his worth earlier in his career and has fought a good mix at five weight classes. Some names missing but you could say the same for anyone. Too damn good for most.

3. Andre Berto - unproven, still has time on his side. Not really tested as yet.

4. Chad Dawson - has established himself as one of the top dogs at 175, hasn't fought everyone and not left his backyard but again time on his side. Good young fighter.

5. Arthur Abraham - established as one of the top dogs in a fairly weak 160lb division, has fought some decent opposition, needs another big fight with Pavlik or Sturm.

6. Chris Arreola - untested and unproven in fairly weak division as yet.

7. Breidis Prescott - one big win over an unproven opponent, has yet to prove himself one of the top dogs. Maybe a bit 1D, haven't seen the fight but apparently didn't look impressive in outpointing the Cuban Abril in fight prior to Khan.

8. Sven Ottke - Beat a number of good names but never in convincing fashion, benefitted from hometown judging - OK few out and out robberies but never had the feeling he would lose a decision at home. Did unify titles so kudos for that.

9. Rocky Marciano - Bit before my time but beat everyone around at a fairly weak time for the division.

10. Timothy Bradley - Not really proven has only one big win, but looked impressive and has good skill set, looks a good little fighter could establish himself as top dog in the post-Hatton era, especially if he beats Holt/Torres to unify.

Most of these guys have fought exclusively or mainly in their own backyard but doesn't imply that there is anything wrong with that, simply that it is what most fighters will do unless there is a good reason or offer on the table to go elsewhere.

 

Incidentally, resume and beaten opponents are far more important to me than a glossy undefeated record having fought nobody, but an undefeated fighter is far easier to sell and hence these days it seems many promoters favour this approach over actively seeking the best bouts for their guy.

 

Praise?? **** I would be worried that a guy has'nt learned enough..losses come with the territory. fighters should be loosing. fighters now days have way to much pressure to keep an unbeaten record. Also these fighters now days are not fighting enough. Floyed Mayweathers record is a joke so is Calzaghe's.

 

In those most heavyweight greats weren't as huge as they are now. Archie Moore 5'11, 190. Jersery Joe and Ezzard Charles both stood 6' and weighed under 200lbs. Marciano was burly with huge legs. He was about average size for that era, but today he'll be a LHW.