Hopkins, Khan, Froch, Cotto, Vitali in no particular order because each and everyone of them has a better claim at a P4P spot.
I think that you thinking they have a better claim is a perfectly valid opinion. But, these lists are opinion-based, as much as anything. Actually, I can argue ten people into the top ten that aren't currently there, myself, that all have an arguable claim, because it's so subjective. But, I do not believe any of those men have a clearly, unarguably better claim than Pong at all. Vitali, for instance, can't be the head of his own division, by his own admission, seeing as how he can't fight the actual top heavyweight. Hopkins is a 46-year-old man whose last five fights include one official victory over a relevant name fighter in his division, and I'd argue that this name isn't any clear cut above Kameda-Pascal, that is. Cotto-he's fought one legitimate, relevant top light middleweight since losing his title in dominant fashion at welterweight. One. And that one, again, not a clear cut better than Kameda, and I'd say more a clear cut below. I'm not saying I couldn't argue him being placed where Pong is or better, because I can argue both ways. Khan is looking spectacular in his last fight against a well-faded version of a guy I never thought was great, even at his best. Another, I don't think is a case above Pong's Kameda win. He, like the others, I can argue should be higher, but still, again, I wouldn't say unarguably above Pong either. Froch, another who isn't the head of his division and recently lost to a guy coming off a schooling from another titlist in that division. Does that make him clearly above Pong? Or just arguably? Plenty of good names could fill out the 7-10 or so spot for me, but none carry an unarguable case above Brother Pong, for me. I stand by that. :deal Cut all the filler fights out and he's still defeated three quality, relevant opponents with championship names in world title fights, in the past couple years. And, when we're down at the lower end of the top ten, that's a pretty commonly accepted run, there.
Pongsaklek-Sosa: Complete Fight [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uq8ngf5HyM&feature=player_embedded[/ame]