No too inconsistent. You can't just judge a fighter on pure ability at their hypothetical best. You have to take in consideration their achievements as well. He had losses and controversial wins he shouldn't have. You also have to put a question mark over everything he did at heavyweight and even cruiserweight due to the failed drug tests. He looked soft at light heavy then suddenly was a filled out cruiser and heavyweight, I suspect he was doping for all those fights at these weights.
Atg chin, atg talent, atg boxing IQ. But his own worst enemy. However, I believe the best version of him would have beaten the best version of Hopkins at both 160 and 175.
Absolutely not. Just outside the top 100, I would say, and that might be generous. Very solid, technically, but ate himself out of being just inside the top 100. Top ten? Nope. Based on what exactly?
He is TOP 50 ATG in my book.TOP 10 he could have been with more discipline, he definitely had the skills.
James is one of those guys who could have been easily top 5# in one or more weight classes. However James is and was lazy, he was not a warrior or a true fighter, he threw it all away.