My P4P Top 30

I've always piggybacked my p4p lists on other threads but I'll now maintain mine on my own thread. It's to bookmark for myself as much as anything, but of course I look forward to comments and constructive criticism

Keep in mind p4p isn't ranking of accomplishments, it's comparison of ability, or who beats who regardless of weight. Well, I'll say 10% accomplishments, because that ability has to be proven. Dominance of victories and beating a variety of styles is important. Heavyweights don't belong on a p4p list as even Klitschko or Joshua don't have the skill to beat the top fighters at lower weights. My list won't change as quickly as others because a win on its own doesn't have bearing, rather only boxers proving me wrong by losing to someone I favour them to beat or a much more or less impressive performance and expression of their ability affects my p4p.


MOST RECENT UPDATE:

1. Lomachenko
2. Crawford
3. Inoue
4. Mikey Garcia
5. Kovalev
6. Estrada
7. Sor Rungvisai
8. Spence
9. Rigondeaux
10. Canelo
11. Golovkin
12. Usyk
13. Lara
14. Nietes
15. Saunders
16. Gvozdyk
17. Jacobs
18. Brook
19. Beterbiev
20. Thurman
21. Linares
22. Derevyanchenko
23. Bivol
24. Taylor
25. Briedis
26. Gassiev
27. Jermall Charlo
28. Russell
29. Tanaka
30. Jermell Charlo

 

Derevyanchenko, because he's a complete boxer. Can fight at close or at distance, has amazing footwork, is smart and sure of himself, has dominated every pro fight, and looked better every time he's stepped up in class. I wasn't sure he should be this low, because though I wouldn't quite pick him I certainly give him a good chance to beat Golovkin, Canelo, or Jacobs.

Comparing Pacquiao to Derevyanchenko, hahaha. Am I supposed to put Horn above him now? Horn's a world class welterweight, but no top p4p.

Thurman we've seen look vulnerable in several fights. He only closely edged Garcia and Porter. Sure doesn't have the poise and command of a Crawford or Spence. Commits way too much rather than sets up his power. When he can't put someone away or at least control the fight by backing him up he's generally not sure what to do, when forced to box as a plan b he's retreated more than boxed, and he's won those close fights more by biting down and winning with passion and heart than with skill. Great style to watch, one of the best four welters, but not good enough to beat Spence or Crawford, and only good enough for me to call him the 23rd best boxer in the world.

Degale, I don't get why anyone should think around 20 is out of place. I don't care if he's won some fights close, or if he's coasted or fought to the level of his opposition. He knows how to adjust to win against different styles, at the highest level. That matters in p4p comparison. Degale was too impressive against Jack, but I still thought he deserved the win. He displayed more versatility and effectively controlled Jack most of the fight. Jack may have backed Degale up and been more physical in the rounds he won, but Degale managed the rounds well, and boxing's scored by rounds and Degale won a good seven of them I thought. I'll add even if Jack did a bit better and clearly won I'd rate Degale higher, because he's the better boxer, is better than he showed that fight, and I think would more decisively beat Degale in a rematch.

There's a lot of great boxers out there, even those guys in my 21-30 are superb talents, Jack doesn't get a default over them just because he's been one of the better guys in his division for a while and gave a p4p talent a really close fight. If I'm wrong, let's see him beat a top light heavy to prove it.

The Charlos, yeah they're ranked together. They're twins, accept it. And I'm not too sure how to separate their ability. Of course Jermall is more front foot and commits to his power more, but otherwise their skillsets are similar. They've also both been inconsistent. Jermall looked great against Williams and he's generally been more dominant than Jermell but Jermall didn't look so great against Trout, while I thought Jermell was brilliant outboxing Martirosyan. I'll do a better job in my p4p comparison of them when they do a better job distinguishing themselves from each other in the ring

 

UPDATE! Pacquiao dropped out of my top 30 after losing to Horn. Even if he got the decision he'd be out. Not to discredit Horn, but the win and proving he's indeed world class didn't prove elite p4p ability, so no reason he enters.

1. Mayweather
2. Lomachenko
3. Rigondeaux
4. Ward
5. Crawford
6. Inoue
7. Mikey Garcia
8. Gonzalez
9. Kovalev
10. Estrada
11. Spence
12. Golovkin
13. Linares
14. Usyk
15. Lara
16. Jacobs
17. Gvozdyk
18. Canelo
19. Degale
20. Brook
21. Derevyanchenko
22. Nietes
23. Thurman
24. Charlos
25. Frampton
26. Yamanaka
27. Ioka
28. Cuadras
29. Danny Garcia
30. Sor Rungvisai

 

I think I need to take a look at a few guys who didn't make my list. Beterbiev probably deserves a spot. I'll look over some video the next few days to check the bottom of my top 30. But the guys who are there, I'm happy with how I have them and will defend their position.

 

Estrada and Spence are great, smart, sophisticated boxers. That GGG dominated Brook more than Spence might mean a lot if GGG was a welterweight, but he's a middleweight and much bigger than Spence. Handicapping that size advantage is part of what p4p's about.

 

Ok, don't think I need to pore over Beterbiev video, I just missed him and he's definitely top 30 for me.

1. Mayweather
2. Lomachenko
3. Rigondeaux
4. Ward
5. Crawford
6. Inoue
7. Mikey Garcia
8. Gonzalez
9. Kovalev
10. Estrada
11. Spence
12. Golovkin
13. Linares
14. Usyk
15. Lara
16. Jacobs
17. Gvozdyk
18. Canelo
19. Degale
20. Brook
21. Derevyanchenko
22. Nietes
23. Thurman
24. Beterbiev
25. Charlos
26. Frampton
27. Yamanaka
28. Ioka
29. Cuadras
30. Danny Garcia

 

I will get around to looking over these few guys, and comparing them to the guys at the bottom of my list. How highly do any of you rate the following? I have a hard time rating Joshua above any of my top 30.

Joshua
Briedis
Berchelt
Davis
Santa Cruz
Russell
Selby
Valdez
Sor Rungvisai
Ancajas
Tanaka

 

I can accept Ward above Loma, but it's anyone who has GGG and Canelo above Loma who has a **** list. The Salido 'loss' has been thoroughly explained elsewhere, I don't need to do so here. Obviously it shouldn't be held against Loma's p4p standing.

 

Golovkin win or lose I probably won't change. I believe we know who he is as a boxer well enough. Canelo, if he wins he likely moves up, but where totally depends on how he wins. He'd have to at least prove me he's improved enough to clearly beat Lara.