This question popped in my head. Chris John is a "fair enough" champ for me,his competition at world level ranging from super champs like Marquez to dudes like Stas Merdov on 15th world ranking(still better than Wilder lmao),yet he's one of the few people able to beat Marquez(although it's an arguable hometown decision despite me scoring it close for John) Now...just sourcing from this one win,could he...beat he other more popular featherweight fighters? His resume is a rare one as I never saw someone stand so close to Johnny Kilbane and Eusebio Pedroza for records..
I think John is very underrated and a guy that could knock off a lot of legends at Featherweight like he proved when he beat a prime Marquez. Yes that fight was close but I agreed with all three judges that had him winning. He was consistently good and always well prepared. On another note, I think is crazy that long reigning, disciplined champions like John and Michalczewski didn't get voted into the hall of fame yesterday but Vinnie Paz did. Not a good look by the writer's imo. John was a fantastic technician and with a ten year, 16 title defense career, he earned the right to be in the hall of fame over Paz.
For me he's just not well managed and promoted for a world level guy,if he did he probably would have a fantastic rematch with Marquez and would travel much more beating perhaps even better opponents,I had him outworking Marquez a bit to edge 3 swing rounds.
For Marquez's credits though,the supposed low punches he threw really wasn't low enough,those punches still count and he rallied good on the scorecards,if John didn't have one point backing him up in my scorecards this fight would've been much closer.
Not wrong, he's exciting sure but his resume... I don't think beating a small,old plodding Duràn is that cool...
John was a fine, tricky mover, not easy to fight, but I thought he was offensively limited. imo, the Marquez fight had a large element of highlighting just how less formidable he was when forced to be the one consistently making the fight. It was a Eubankian struggle to get set, keep balance while punching on the front foot, and stalk a guy that wasn't really offering a lot to solve offensively, didn't have an athletic edge, but just doggedly refuses to make himself an open, static target. I'd put John around the level of someone like Vilomar Fernandez, a good smart fighter, but not really an excellent one. The difference is an era where a fighter like that could lock down an splinter title for a long time was only available for one. The bout reminded me a lot of some of the fights Duran, Benitez, Arguello would have against solid, composed, quick-footed safety-first movers. More so the latter two, who would genuinely struggle to get set offensively in that role.
Imo he did show some improvements on his offense later,his fight with Enoki kinda highlights his infighting skills,had he was more well managed I believe he could get more experience and be more well rounded,just like Vilomar too.
