Whois the top 10 Super middleweights based on ability?

Guess they call him chunky for a reason. But Dirrell is/was a better boxer than both Jack and DeGale so who knows how it would play out. Like I said, gonna have to watch Jack/Groves and get a better assessment of where Jack is at. Based off what I've seen though, I'd still have to go with DeGale but it's still an intriguing match that hopefully happens.

 

Yeah, knockdowns count. DeGale scored two and is credited for them, and I can't see giving Dirrell any more than 6 rounds as I did. DeGale thus beat Dirrell clearly, fair and square...and ought to rate higher accordingly.

 

It wasn't something he decided, Dirrell was clearly beating him and DeGale was gassing like crazy. DeGale just got a second wind in the championship rounds and Dirrell was letting his foot off the gas pedal.

 

I think DeGale would beat more of the other top super middles than Dirrell, would as well.

...and that includes Groves in a rematch, who I think could very possibly KO Dirrell.

 

1) Ward
Would be great to see Ward-Andre Dirrel, Ward-Degale, Ward-Jack, or any top SMW seeing as the last one he fought was Froch........

I think if he can make weight he has a good chance of retaking the division but I don't know where his heart is atm. I believe he still is the most talented fighter there if he doesn't move up.

Followed by Degale at 2 who seems to be a very talented fighter. He is still plagued by some stamina issues but since his lost to Groves has really been coming on. His win over Andre Dirrel at least to me earns him this spot.

It is hard for me to say exactly who for 3 and 4. Jack has had a good year with wins over Groves (who does not look like the Groves of Booth even stylistically) and Dirrel. While Dirrel put up a good showing against Degale and beat Edwards handily who KOed Jack. I am leaning towards Jack though based on Anthony and Groves being better than Edwards.

5 Groves has a win over Degale but has since seems to have fallen off. I think it is a combination of leaving Booth and 2 traumatic losses to Froch. Anyway the fight with Jack shows he isn't exactly out of the mix but really has nowhere to climb to champion status unless he picks up his old trainer and his fixes his stamina. Or he could try his go at number..

6 Arthur Abraham it is funny he kind of has his own little title circuit going on with guys who want to be champ without fighting the other champs. Might be great for Groves. AA though still is dangerous for anybody and while not the murderous puncher he was at MW he should never be under estimated, he even got Froch to box him from the outside instead of trading with him once upon a time.



7 Anthony Dirrel is still young and while talented doesn't seem to have much of a gameplan in his fights. It would be nice to see him get a good trainer who can build ( or try) levels on his game. In his earlier days he seemed to have a gameplan in his fights where as against Sakio (2nd fight mostly)and Jack ( who he severely underestimated) he was just flat like he was headhunting instead of setting up anything. I don't consider him a very intelligent fighter and wouldn't be surprised if he thought he could walk through Jack like Edwards had. It is funny because I thought Jack got knocked out against Edwards because he under estimated him also. atsch what a cluster f*ck..

8 Chudinov biggest win against an old Sturm ( went to war with Steilgitz) would like to see him progress wisely.


9 Steilgitz although he seems finished there isn't much else going on at SMW atm but with younger talent moving up he could be easily replaced by

10 Callum Smith / Rocky Fielding are fighting next and seem to be 2 prospects for the division who both want a shot at Degale. Hey at least they are aiming high and not for the AA circuit. Their spots can easily be interchanged with other decent but not as widely known fighters like Ramirez or Nielsen. Not to mention those running from 160 like MM, Sturm, Chaves, or the hotly contested Paul Smith who fought for his life against AA and again in a rematch that no one called for against AA then while not winning challenging Ward for undisputed Smw at a weight not at smw and just barely south of LHW because REASONS!

 

Degale is not overrated, I actually think he beat Groves in their first match. Right now he easily beats Groves in my opinion and might get him out of there in the later rounds.

I agree though he let Dirrell get back in the fight and was almost a draw, but I think Dirrell isn't at the same level he once was when he fought Froch.

 

He's who I'd pick vs each other:

Ward
Degale
Jack
Andre Dirrell
Murray
Chudinov
Anthony Dirrell
Callum Smith
Abraham
Ramirez

Degale didn't just beat Dirrell, he did so with ease and showed more versatility. Jack is solid, no glaring weaknesses. Murray's a top-level boxer and should be be able to beat a lot of these guys at 168. Hadn't seen Chudinov, watched the Sturm fight to place him. Since getting KOd by Stieglitz what has Abraham done to show he's back to where he was?

Smw is a pretty good division. Lots of good matchups through the top 12 or so. I don't think light heavy's as deep, take away Kovalev, Stevenson, Beterbiev and it looks pretty barren.

 

Yup and Stevenson won't be along for much longer since he's about to turn 38 and WILL lose if/when Haymon feeds him to Beterbeiv. All the rest are subpar IMO.

 

To me top 10 looks quite even.

Ward
Degale
Jack
Andre Dirrell
Murray
Chudinov
Anthony Dirrell
Callum Smith
Abraham
Ramirez

Though there are only 3 fighters who would have chance to win MW belt from GGG

 

Such a terrible division, but I also think Chudinov is heavily overrated. I saw the fight with Sturm, and in no way, did I think Chudinov dominated the fight. Won clearly, but I wouldn't call it a domination.

 

It is very hard to create an accurate top 10 ability wise because not many guys actually fought each other or gave strong indication on how the fights would go.

Andre Ward, James DeGale and Andre Dirrell should be top 3.

Out of the 3, I would say that DeGale has the best single win (over Andre Dirrell), so it would be more than necessary for him and Andre Ward to fight.
Still, Andre Ward would have the best case rated #1 simply because of his past wins and displays in those fights, although he hasn't done anything in years.
DeGale-Dirrell was a very close fight where DeGale rightfully won because of the knockdowns.

It is ridiculous how some people here either underestimate Dirrell due to lack of knowledge of purposely pretend that he isn't that good. He has proven his ability by schooling Carl Froch (and getting robbed) and clearly outboxing Abraham for most of the fight. Had he fought and defeated Kessler (who would be perhaps the toughest stylistic match-up out of the 3), he would have basically replicated what Ward has done in S6.
Also, let's not forget that Dirrell was basically untouchable from range against Carl Froch and he was fresh and strong in the closing rounds. Does Ward, who has short reach and prefers to clinch and use his inside skills more, really have the ability to deal with Andre Dirrell?

After those 3, in my opinion it gets harder to determine the rankings ability wise.

I guess that Abraham has to be up there somewhere although he's not what he used to be.

Badou Jack surprised me, he showed to be a really good boxer against Groves and showed solid power as well. However he did show his limitations on the outside and he's likely going to lose against elite outside boxers, especially if they carry power. Him against Bute should be an interesting fight which would give us more info on Jack's ability.

It's interesting that some people on here are mentioning guys like Stieglitz, Chudinov and Sturm, but fail to mention Tyron Zeuge. I think that Zeuge beats Stieglitz and Sturm handily at this point.

 

I think it's crazy that you've got DeGale at number 7, with the likes of Murray ahead of him.