The Ring Magazine's top 10 p4p

[jecxbox]

How the hell does Bernard Hopkins STILL hold onto his #4 slot?





1. MANNY PACQUIAO
LIGHTWEIGHT
2. JOE CALZAGHE
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT/LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
3. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT
4. BERNARD HOPKINS
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
5. ISRAEL VAZQUEZ
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT
6. ANTONIO MARGARITO
WELTERWEIGHT
7. KELLY PAVLIK
MIDDLEWEIGHT
8. CRISTIAN MIJARES
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT
9. RAFAEL MARQUEZ
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT
10. MIGUEL COTTO
WELTERWEIGHT.

[acb_]

Pavlik is criminally low.

[kg0208]

How did Margarito move ahead of Pavlik?

[jecxbox]

I am thoroughly confused by the majority of this list as well!

[CJLightweight]

margo is so high

[brooklyn1550]

A little different from my list, but it's decent. Hopkins should be removed first and foremost (2-3 in his last 5 fights doesn't warrant a 4 spot). Replace him with either Chad Dawson or David Haye. Nate Campbell or Joan Guzman will deserve a spot in a couple weeks.

I don't agree with Rafael Marquez being above Cotto, but I see why they have him ahead nonetheless.

Skill-wise, Mijares is number one in my book, but his level of competition isn't quite enough to move him past other fighters who have signature wins over other P4P fighters. Give him a year or so and he'll skyrocket once he beats Montiel and another top fighter around 115 (say maybe a Darchinyan or Donaire).

I actually agree with Margarito being above Pavlik. Obviously Pavlik has more technical skill, throws straighter punches, and has a better defense, but Margarito's win over Cotto is the best win between the two. Taylor, at the time Pavlik beat him, was not ranked among the top 10 pound for pound. And their secondary set of wins falls to Margarito based on having beat Clottey and Cintron whereas Pavlik has Miranda and Zuniga, neither of whom have ever held a title belt. With that said, if you want to put Pavlik ahead of Margarito, I don't have a problem with it.

[jecxbox]

Cotto under rafael marquez also confuses me. I could see Cotto at 9 or other deserving fighters that are not even cracking top 10 getting a spot.

[Sir Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by acb_

Pavlik is criminally low.

Too high IMO, about to be knocked off permanently at that by a well aged fighter.

Margarito is too high. Ridiculous how bruiser style fighters are moved up so easily.

[Sir Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1550

A little different from my list, but it's decent. Hopkins should be removed first and foremost (2-3 in his last 5 fights doesn't warrant a 4 spot). Replace him with either Chad Dawson or David Haye. Nate Campbell or Joan Guzman will deserve a spot in a couple weeks.

I don't agree with Rafael Marquez being above Cotto, but I see why they have him ahead nonetheless.

Skill-wise, Mijares is number one in my book, but his level of competition isn't quite enough to move him past other fighters who have signature wins over other P4P fighters. Give him a year or so and he'll skyrocket once he beats Montiel and another top fighter around 115 (say maybe a Darchinyan or Donaire).

I actually agree with Margarito being above Pavlik. Obviously Pavlik has more technical skill, throws straighter punches, and has a better defense, but Margarito's win over Cotto is the best win between the two. Taylor, at the time Pavlik beat him, was not ranked among the top 10 pound for pound. And their secondary set of wins falls to Margarito based on having beat Clottey and Cintron whereas Pavlik has Miranda and Zuniga, neither of whom have ever held a title belt. With that said, if you want to put Pavlik ahead of Margarito, I don't have a problem with it.

I agree with this, but no issue on Pavlik, all of the silly people that are overrating this overrated, 1 dimensional shaky chinned fighter are soon to be surprised at how easily Hopkins deals with him. He's made for Hopkins.

Then maybe I can see Hopkins as a legit top 12, at best.

And before people bring up how I called Marg-Cotto wrong due to Marg being limited and 1 dimensional, it has no relevance here, as Marg's chin is perhaps titanium and despite having less skill, is rarely put off balance when misses, like Pavlik is. Pavlik's the most overrated fighter in the sport... 1 dimensional, highly bruisable, low defence without a great chin to back it up etc... sloppy... this all extends to how overrated Taylor was however.

[Illmatic]

I think Cotto and Margo should be out, and Calderon and Montiel in.

[Sir Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by Illmatic

I think Cotto and Margo should be out, and Calderon and Montiel in.

Disagree with Calderon and Montiel in, but, Montiel is a definite top 15 and sometimes gets pushed under the rug. Calderon is just not impressive enough and has fought very, very limited opposition to boot.

The winner of Mijares-Montiel deserve to be top 3, IMO, depending on how impressive the victory is.

[Illmatic]

Originally Posted by Sir Amsterdam

Disagree with Calderon and Montiel in, but, Montiel is a definite top 15 and sometimes gets pushed under the rug. Calderon is just not impressive enough and has fought very, very limited opposition to boot.

The winner of Mijares-Montiel deserve to be top 3, IMO, depending on how impressive the victory is.

I think Caldy and Montiel have clearly beaten better opposition than Pavlik at the very least...but the bias against lower weight fighters has always been prevalent.

[Sir Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by Illmatic

I think Caldy and Montiel have clearly beaten better opposition than Pavlik at the very least...but the bias against lower weight fighters has always been prevalent.

I don't rate Pavlik in my top 10, I have Montiel around 12, Pavlik around 14 and do agree with your point. But Pavlik has beaten superior opposition to Caldy IMO. Montiel however has beaten better opposition to Pavlik on top of simply being a much better fighter via skill and ability.

I think the winner of Campbell/Guzman is next for top 10 admission, cemented at that until the winner loses.

[Illmatic]

Originally Posted by Sir Amsterdam

I don't rate Pavlik in my top 10, I have Montiel around 12, Pavlik around 14 and do agree with your point. But Pavlik has beaten superior opposition to Caldy IMO. Montiel however has beaten better opposition to Pavlik on top of simply being a much better fighter via skill and ability.

I think the winner of Campbell/Guzman is next for top 10 admission, cemented at that until the winner loses.

If Guzman wins (which I expect), I will put him in top 10 as well. Guzman is one of the most underrated fighters in the sport.

[Sir Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by Illmatic

If Guzman wins (which I expect), I will put him in top 10 as well. Guzman is one of the most underrated fighters in the sport.

Fact, he gets little to no attention and has been consistently avoided for a long time, it's a shame. Either way, expect him to be the new unified 135 champion, possibly undisputed later on as he'll then be able to get great fights.