Roy Hobbs
02-05-2010, 01:52 AM
This is my opinion of the different levels or hierarchy of professional boxing. Starting from beginning professional to all time great living legend. I would like to identify which boxers past present & future are at which level/ point in their career. Feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Level 1 - Beginning professional.
5 to 10 fights. This is your omar henrys, matyev korobovs, erislandy laras & shawn porters, rigondeauxs etc.
Level 2 - Tomato Cans.
The no hopers. Chums for beginning professionals. Probably boxing as a part time gig.
Level 3 - Young Prospect
Past the the beginning stage of their career. ready for the next step. This is your saul alvarez & to a certain extent chavez jr. (at least he's being treated by top rank as such.)
Level 4 - Journey Men
Good enough not to be labeled as tomato cans but have no future in the sport. This might be your emmanuel augustuses, monte barrets & hector velasquezes.
Level 5 - Shot/Washed up Name
Former contenders, hall of famers who have no business fighting professionally & need to retire asap. These are your erik moraleses, evander holyfields, marco barreras, & sad to say roy jones jr.
Level 6 - Gate Keepers
Done as elite fighters but not done as a good honest pugilistic professional. Get past this bunch you are a serious professional that is ready for the next level. This bunch could include rocky juarez, ricardo mayorga(maybe too high), antonio tarver, glenn johnson, & nate campbells of the world.
Level 7 - Contenders
Ready for a title shot, a shot at the champions. This your yuriorkis gamboas, urbano antillons, vanes martirosyans, bernabe conceptions, & eddie chambers.
Level 8 - Belt Holder/champion
This is a very ambiguous level. Sure they are above gate keepers & contenders but with the ubiquitous nature of belts & champions the boxers who reside in this level could also be considered level 7 contenders or even gate keepers. This is everybody with a title or belt.
Level 9 - Elite Fighter Status
This level is what differentiates a true champion with a belt to a ordinary fighter who happens to have a belt. This is your p4p top 10. You dont have to own a belt to be considered elite. This is the shane mosley, paul williams, chad dawson, arthur abrahams & bernard hopkins.
Level 10 - Super Star/ Legend Status
This is a level above elite. You cant be too gracious with this designation. I think only 1 or 2 fighters can be considered in this level each year. Sometimes you go a year without anyone attaining this level. I think this level requires some out of ring attributes. I think you have to transcend the sport. I think You have to galvanize the fans, the media, & non boxing fans to consider yourself for this level. I can only think of 2 fighters currently fighting that fit this criteria: Manny Pacquiao & Floyd Mayweather jr.
What do you think guys? Agree or disagree with the placement of levels or the placement of fighters in the levels? I would be glad to see your opinion.
Level 1 - Beginning professional.
5 to 10 fights. This is your omar henrys, matyev korobovs, erislandy laras & shawn porters, rigondeauxs etc.
Level 2 - Tomato Cans.
The no hopers. Chums for beginning professionals. Probably boxing as a part time gig.
Level 3 - Young Prospect
Past the the beginning stage of their career. ready for the next step. This is your saul alvarez & to a certain extent chavez jr. (at least he's being treated by top rank as such.)
Level 4 - Journey Men
Good enough not to be labeled as tomato cans but have no future in the sport. This might be your emmanuel augustuses, monte barrets & hector velasquezes.
Level 5 - Shot/Washed up Name
Former contenders, hall of famers who have no business fighting professionally & need to retire asap. These are your erik moraleses, evander holyfields, marco barreras, & sad to say roy jones jr.
Level 6 - Gate Keepers
Done as elite fighters but not done as a good honest pugilistic professional. Get past this bunch you are a serious professional that is ready for the next level. This bunch could include rocky juarez, ricardo mayorga(maybe too high), antonio tarver, glenn johnson, & nate campbells of the world.
Level 7 - Contenders
Ready for a title shot, a shot at the champions. This your yuriorkis gamboas, urbano antillons, vanes martirosyans, bernabe conceptions, & eddie chambers.
Level 8 - Belt Holder/champion
This is a very ambiguous level. Sure they are above gate keepers & contenders but with the ubiquitous nature of belts & champions the boxers who reside in this level could also be considered level 7 contenders or even gate keepers. This is everybody with a title or belt.
Level 9 - Elite Fighter Status
This level is what differentiates a true champion with a belt to a ordinary fighter who happens to have a belt. This is your p4p top 10. You dont have to own a belt to be considered elite. This is the shane mosley, paul williams, chad dawson, arthur abrahams & bernard hopkins.
Level 10 - Super Star/ Legend Status
This is a level above elite. You cant be too gracious with this designation. I think only 1 or 2 fighters can be considered in this level each year. Sometimes you go a year without anyone attaining this level. I think this level requires some out of ring attributes. I think you have to transcend the sport. I think You have to galvanize the fans, the media, & non boxing fans to consider yourself for this level. I can only think of 2 fighters currently fighting that fit this criteria: Manny Pacquiao & Floyd Mayweather jr.
What do you think guys? Agree or disagree with the placement of levels or the placement of fighters in the levels? I would be glad to see your opinion.