Rate the current straw champs

For some reason BoxRec has:

1. Chayaphon Moonsri (aka Wanheng Menayothin), WBC titlist with 10 defenses, overall pro record 52-0 (18)
   
2. Thammanoon Niyomtrong (aka Knockout CP Freshmart), WBA titlist with 6 defenses (plus four interim title victories before he became full champ, in total 11-0 in bouts for various world title versions), overall pro record 19-0 (7)
3. Simpiwe "Chain Reaction" Konkco, IBO titlist with four defenses (one a No Contest), overall pro record 19-5 (7)
4. Victorio "Vicious" Saludar, WBO titlist with a single defense, overall pro record 19-3 (10)
5. Deejay Kriel, IBF titlist with no defenses as of yet (captured the belt just over a week ago), overall pro record 15-1-1 (7)

This is very wrong IMO. Knockout (while not without his flaws, and he certainly no longer deserves that moniker) is clearly the most accomplished champ, and would probably clear the field h2h.

Beyond that, Moonsri arguably should be dead last, as his title reign, while the longest, has been the absolute dregs of a not very deep to begin with division. His best career victory came BEFORE his reign even started - former champ Florante Condes is better than literally anybody Wanheng has fought since. Oh and did mention his run isn't looking to improve anytime soon? For his eleventh defense next month he is rematching Tatsuya Fukuhara, who is 21-6-6 and since his decisive loss to Moonsri last time has done nothing whatsoever to earn another crack.

The number two spot behind Niyomtrong is a toss-up, honestly. Kriel is brand new as champ, but he makes up for this thin résumé by virtue of his kayo to claim the belt against Carlos Licona trumping any single victory (for a world title or elsewise) of Konkco, Saludar, or Moonsri. Of course, opinions vary as to whether it was a miracle KO while in a deep hole on points...

Konkco is hard to rate - he gave then-reigning IBO champ Hekkie Budler a tough challenge in 2015, but at day's end he still lost. Then he got to scoop up the same belt when Budler vacated it by defeating a novice countryman...and while none of his challengers have been the very best at 105lb, he did successfully defend against former titlist Nkosinathi Joyi and tough Filipino journeyman Toto Landero (who dealt Saludar his most recent loss). Regardless of his championship body of work, he didn't "beat the man"...he got his opportunity and failed, and then slid in the backdoor...so that body of work deserves harsher scrutiny than people who dethroned a reigning belt holder. Plus, the IBO generally still isn't accepted on the same tier of respectability as the Big 4.

Saludar this morning repelled a challenge from a decent but decidedly sub-world class (on the bubble in between Japanese domestic and Oriental/Pacific level) foe...which might be fine if he didn't also START his reign by outpointing a decent but decidedly sub-world class (on the bubble in between Japanese domestic and Oriental/Pacific level) foe.


So yeah. Knockout is #1, clearly, 2-4 are murky, and Wanheng sucks (and people only pretend he doesn't because they like the fact that he "broke Floyd's record", fake as that record was to begin with)...that's my take.

 

y?

 

Any of the five? Seriously?

 

@BoyBato you voted for Moonsri?? ...over Saludar? You ****ing race traitor!

Seriously if they unified on neutral soil I'd probably favor Vic. He'd get robbed in Thailand for sure, though.

 

Yeah that whole TBE schtick is dumb, literally just a mix of earnestly irrational Mayweather haters and ironic hipster trolls. Reminds me of the Ali Raymi "fan club".

 

Would you elevate the winner of that above both Thais?

 

What if Khonkco, Saludar and Kriel all fought and somebody came out with three belts? I'd still probably continue to place Niyomtrong on top h2h until they actually fought, but at that point there might be a case for the hypothetical three-belt unifier being a "greater" straw..