Rate the heavyweights based on pure boxing skill

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Words, Sep 5, 2008.


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  1. Words

    Words Boxing Addict Full Member

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    When you take away other factors, such as size, punch power, fitness, mental strength and other intangibles, out of our current crop of heavyweights which has the best skill set? In terms of pure natural talent, who ranks where?

    I'd rank them somewhere like this.

    1. James Toney - No brainer. If only this guy was 6ft5....
    2. Juan Carlos Gomez - A highly skilled guy whos lack of focus lets him down
    3. Audley Harrison - Gold medalist, fast hands and good counterpuncher. No balls. No Chin. If only.....
    4. Eddie Chambers - A wicked philly fighter with a great defense. A little too small though.
    5. Wlad Kiltschko - A polished technical fighter, excellent use of the jab. A bit one-dimensional and his chin is still suspect.
    6. Alex Povetkin - Superb amatuer and great overall technician. Once again, too small.
    7. Ruslan Chagaev - I was impressed with how he managed to outbox the giant, in and out, great footwork. If only he had more power...
    8. John Ruiz - Hear me out. The guy is game and in his last few performances didn't even hold that much! Good all-rounder, vast experience.
    9. Sultan Ibragimov - compact fighter, seems ok on the inside and the outside, but like Povetkin is too small.
    10. David Haye - Very fast, incredible timing and has a great defensive shoulder roll. Potentially no.1 but as yet untested at this weight, so only just scrapes into the top 10. Also a bit easy to hit and too gung-ho with the right-hand.

    your thoughts? Anyone I missed out? and PLEASE dont say Sam Peter, for the love of god...
     
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    #1
  2. Zakman

    Zakman ESB's Chinchecker Full Member

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    No way does Ruiz belong in any discussion of boxing skill, unless you are talking about the "ability" to hold excessively or overact to force bogus "low blow" calls.

    Otherwise, he has all the ability of a high grade regional journeyman. Without King's influence he would have been lucky to win the New England HW title.
     
    Zakman, Sep 5, 2008
    Zakman, Sep 5, 2008
    #2
  3. mexican legend

    mexican legend MVP! Full Member

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    Where's Chris Arreola? LMAO
     
    mexican legend, Sep 5, 2008
    mexican legend, Sep 5, 2008
    #3
  4. Words

    Words Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah I'd have said the same thing, but the thing is, I had him winning the first Valuev fight, very close in the 2nd, and beating Chagaev. In all of those fights, AND the the Golota fight, he didn't hold excessively, and demonstrated some pretty decent skills.

    Beneath all the holding, and the mauling by David Tua, I honestly believe that Ruiz has a fair bit of skill! He just doesn't show it.

    Now go ahead and flame me. :!:
     
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    #4
  5. Suge Green

    Suge Green Boxing Junkie banned

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    James Toney @1 was excellent...Eddie Chambers, good choice...I can't cosign them all though.
     
    Suge Green, Sep 5, 2008
    Suge Green, Sep 5, 2008
    #5
  6. Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Jennifer Love Hewitt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Well, If you take out the intangibles, like size, power, age...

    EVANDER HOLYFIELD is the the most well rounded and skilled heavy who is still active.
     
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sep 5, 2008
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sep 5, 2008
    #6
  7. Words

    Words Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Good point.... although I'd say Holy's age kinda ruins what was left of his skillset, hell James Toney isn't what he used to be either! Toney is a diminished fighter, just compared to the heavyweights he's on a different level.
     
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    #7
  8. Royal-T-Bag

    Royal-T-Bag Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    1. james toney
    2. eddie chambers
    3. odlanier solis
    4. juan carlos gomez
    5. andrew golota
    6. sultan ibragimov
    7. david haye
    8. wlad klitschko
    9. alexander povetkin
    10. ruslan chagaev
    honorable mention- jason estrada (not that he's anything special buuuut his skill set is very good)
     
    Royal-T-Bag, Sep 5, 2008
    Royal-T-Bag, Sep 5, 2008
    #8
  9. Suge Green

    Suge Green Boxing Junkie banned

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    I don't consider HOLY still active...since his latest title quest was halted...he hasn't started over yet. He hasn't fought all year.
     
    Suge Green, Sep 5, 2008
    Suge Green, Sep 5, 2008
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  10. mightymouse1989

    mightymouse1989 Member Full Member

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    It sounds like your factoring speed in. Are you?
     
    mightymouse1989, Sep 5, 2008
    mightymouse1989, Sep 5, 2008
    #10
  11. 2ironmt

    2ironmt Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i hear you but if you factor in reflexes, his stock goes way down. it's hard to have skills when you can't pull the trigger.
    Toney should be down graded a bit to if we're talking present version- he looked bad against peter 2 (and consider his 'skills') and you can't tell much from one good round vs older rahman with a bad cut.
     
    2ironmt, Sep 5, 2008
    2ironmt, Sep 5, 2008
    #11
  12. Words

    Words Boxing Addict Full Member

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    hmmmm, I'm not sure to be honest, do skills count as an athletic thing or is it a part of your technique? lets face it, you can have all the skill in the world, but its useless if you cant pull the trigger ie Holyfield, and Toney to some extent.

    Should I be factoring it in?
     
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    Words, Sep 5, 2008
    #12
  13. mightymouse1989

    mightymouse1989 Member Full Member

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    Im not really sure but I would say maybe to some extent.

    I guess only If it would really hinder his ability to pull the trigger?

    I asked cause i wasnt sure if you did factor it in, ether way good list
     
    mightymouse1989, Sep 5, 2008
    mightymouse1989, Sep 5, 2008
    #13
  14. Superfuzz

    Superfuzz Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Eddie Chambers, Wlad, and James Toney to me are the best boxers at HW.

    Wlad's footwork is so underrated on this forum at 6'7''. If Foreman in the 70's ever moved on his feet like Wlad, Foreman would have KO'd Ali, like the way he did all the rest of them. Great defense, very few can even hit him now, it seems that way to me. Wlad's hook off the jab is priceless.

    Eddie Chambers is the best boxer in HW. Eddie can get in the grill of fighters and make them look stupid, stare at them, and tell them, "Come on, hit me.", then countering and popping them everytime.

    James Toney is second. Love the way he boxes, countering and popping too with that great right (love to see it hit Haye's face), and the best at fighting in the inside, but looking a little old.

    Also, Ibragimov has great hand speed. His hands are the fastest in the HW.
     
    Superfuzz, Sep 5, 2008
    Superfuzz, Sep 5, 2008
    #14
  15. HawkFan16

    HawkFan16 Unshot/In My Prime Full Member

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    Where's Peter??? You need an awful lot of skill to pull a quadruple rabbit punch on a guy. Golota's quite skilled as well-really know's where to hit people.:D
     
    HawkFan16, Sep 5, 2008
    HawkFan16, Sep 5, 2008
    #15
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