Here is my list...
1)Chris Byrd(IBF) and Vitali Klitschko(WBC)-very close,Byrd has a win against Vitali but Vitali fought the former champ Lennox Lewis, both deserve the #1 spot.
2)John Ruiz(WBA)-I despise Ruiz's style and his atitude, but he wins.
3)James Toney-The man is the second most skilled HW at the moment.
4)Andrew Golota-The man has the skills to be a champion.
5)Hasim Rahman-The guys has the tools, he just has to use them.
6)Lamon Brewster(WBO)-The guy is a "champion" but he is pretty darn awful.
7)Jameel McCline-The guy is afraid of his own shadow but he has some ability, if he was younger he could have been awesome.
8)Danny Williams-Didn't prove much against an old Mike Tyson but he does have the skills, he's gotta use them.
9)Kali Meehan-Showed more than people expected against Brewster but he isn't that good.
10)Monte Barret-Looked good against Guinn and has better abilities than he usually shows.
That's what I hope he he did.
Why should boxing be totally different from other sports? If #5 loses to #20 in College Football, the team that started at #5 is often still ranked higher the next week. Guinn has but one setback; Barrett is just now climbing into the elite. I think it was on offnight; Guinn bounced back with an easy KO 1 his first fight back. I would take him in the rematch, too, but it looks like Barrett will end up with a title shot vs. Vitali next summer.
1- Vitali Klitschko (heavyweight king)
2- Chris Byrd (even though I dislike him, I give him his props)
3- Andrew Golota (great talent but cuckoo)
4- Monte Barrett
5- Wlad Klitschko
6- Hasim Rahman
7- Jameel McCline
8- David Tua (he really needs to get back in the game)
9- Mike Tyson (knee injury did him in against Williams)
10- Lamon Brewster (very difficult to put him on this list)
Heres my list:
1.) Vitaly Klitschko: I think he's beatable, but he has to be the favorite right now going into any fight.
2.) John Ruiz: I can see him beating #3 Byrd, in an ugly fight ofcourse.
3.) Chris Byrd: I think his age is catching up with him. I wouldnt be surprized if McCline wins by KO in their upcoming fight.
4.) James Toney: He might be the most skilled guy in the division if only he could stay healthy. Lets see if he can bang with the big boys in the division.
5.) Andrew Golota: Golotas always been a good fighter. I think hes still got something left in the tank.
6.) Jameel McCline: With a little confidence I think he might be IBF champ soon.
7.) Danny Williams: Still has alot to prove. He's got a big heart and he packs a good punch. He also has a 1st round KO win against Kali Meheen.
8.) Hasim Rahman: He's got enough ability to get something done. I say he beats Kali Meheen easily and then fights someone whos atleast half decent.
9.) Monte Barret: He's been on a role lately. I think he'll beat Beck and then he'll be in contention for a title shot.
10.) Lamon Brewster: He makes the list because he has a belt but I'd say he loses to any of the 1-9 guys I have on this list.
Vitali Klitschko - The recognized champ by Ring magazine, he has a weak resume. His most 2 impressive fights were technically losses. If Byrd benefits from "official wins", Vitali suffers from them. His post-fight Lewis opponents were a fat, out of shape Johnson and a fat, out of shape Sanders. A win over Danny Williams doesn't prove much more - Vitali needs to fight one of the other champs or someone else ranked in my Top 6 or so to gain some credibilility.
Vitali beat a crap out of everyone he fought with. Many people simply do not care whether some of his impressive battles were "technical losses." The Ring Magazine does not seem to care as well.
I'll do a top five, becuase 6-10 is a crap shoot.
1. VK
2. Ruiz (hurts me to say, but he keeps winning)
3. Byrd
4. Golata
5. Barrett
ok...#6 Toney (reluctantly becuase he hasn't beaten a true heavy yet under the age of 40)
this is almost painful becuase the division is so pathetic. Arguments can be made for almost anyone. My list is who I think are the best right now.
This coming from a guy with Kirk Johnson on his list and Andrew Golota, who has lost every big fight he's ever been on? And still putting Wlad in the top 10?
I gave the reasons for my selections; Come on now...
But still Guinn ahead after Barrett?
You are usually a pretty good poster, but that has to be the worst list here. Ruiz 1? Guinn ahead of Barrett? Mesi?
This coming from a guy with Kirk Johnson on his list and Andrew Golota, who has lost every big fight he's ever been on? And still putting Wlad in the top 10?
I gave the reasons for my selections; Come on now...
My list of omissions has bigger names and potentially better champions, but this is how I feel I must rank the current "Top 10" heavyweights.
1. John Ruiz - through process of elimination. I put the three champs against each other, and Ruiz is the guy I think might survive a tournament. His recent opponents and "performances" though boring as hell are the most impressive of the three and I see him frustrating the other two like crazy. Plus, he seems to have a decent chin since his 1996 disaster. The guy dominated Rahman, TKO'd Oquendo; after Golota, he needs to try to schedule an opponent that will be more fan-friendly.
2. Chris Byrd - These rankings are based on results on paper; I think Chris lost his last 2 decisions, but if he won them, as he officially did, he deserves this spot. He's fought good competition, he owns a "win" over Vitali, he hasn't lost in ages. He will make McCline look stupid and that'll make some critics forget about Oquendo dominating him.
3. Vitali Klitschko - The recognized champ by Ring magazine, he has a weak resume. His most 2 impressive fights were technically losses. If Byrd benefits from "official wins", Vitali suffers from them. His post-fight Lewis opponents were a fat, out of shape Johnson and a fat, out of shape Sanders. A win over Danny Williams doesn't prove much more - Vitali needs to fight one of the other champs or someone else ranked in my Top 6 or so to gain some credibilility.
4. Joe Mesi - It's funny how I'm listing the top heavyweights, and what I'm doing is listing excuses for how I feel I have to rank guys. I'm not sold on Mesi, either, and his medical condition is scary, his stamina's in question - but the guy's undefeated - he destroyed Williamson and beat Barrett and Jirov. And that's enough to have enough momentum to be in this situation. Is lightyears ahead of fellow unbeatens Sam Peter and Gerald Nobles.
5. Dominick Guinn - The heavyweights aren't so blessed with talent that a bad loss ruins one's career right now. The top 2 guys have them and many others on the list, too. Guinn has maybe the greatest upside of all these guys because of his skills and talent and age. He's got a shot at being a longer champion than Vitali. He needs another big fight but ought to be a champion by 2006.
6. Hasim Rahman - Suffered a string of bad recent luck. Should have got a decision vs. Tua, but then lost to Ruiz and fought some bums to pad his record and get his confidence back. After he beats Meehan, he'll get another shot at Ruiz or maybe fights Byrd.
7. Monte Barrett - Benefitting from momentum right now. May get a shot at Vitali after defeating Owen Beck Nov. 13.
8. Andrew Golota - Back from the dead, he probably beat Byrd and has a shot at beating Ruiz. Still has been destroyed by Tyson and Lewis and self-destructed against Bowe. Needs to put together a string of impressive heavyweight wins to change how history will view him.
9. Jameel McCline - he gave Cedric Boswell his first 'L', destroyed Lance Whitaker, but McCline still has big questions and may be schooled by Byrd. His winning streak comes at the right time to be placed on this list.
10. James Toney - yeah, he's a heavyweight now. He knocked out a shot legend and beat an undefeated kid on TV, officially. 2 fights into his heavyweight career, we're not sure when he fights again or in what condition. But these heavyweights all come with baggage.
Omissions: They've all got big enough punching power to potentially be exciting champs, but big big question marks about inactivity, heart, diminishing skills and conditioning all keep David Tua, Mike Tyson and Wladimir Klitschko off the list. No fights to legitimize their records on the elite level keep off Nicolay Valuev, Audley Harrison, Juan Carlos Gomez, Gerald Nobles,and Sam Peter. I know too little of Owen Beck, Luan Krasniqi or Oleg Maskaev. Lamon Brewster has done too little to warrant a Top 10; he just happened to not be KO'd on the night Wlad self-destructed, then lost 7 or 8 rounds to sparring partner Kali Meehan. Even with the official "win", his lack of quality wins keeps him off the list. Meehan might jump into the Top 10 with a win over Rahman, but that's a big if. Evander Holyfield seems to not win more than he wins lately, but a win over Larry Donald could set up the old man with Brewster and could actually make Holyfield a champ again in 2005. Lance Whitaker shouldn't still be hanging around, but hey, it's a depleted division. That's why would-be prospects Sinan Samil Sam and DaVarryl Williamson haven't been completely written off. Bruce Seldon, Oliver McCall, Michael Moorer and Riddick Bowe are just old names still in the division. Vassily Jirov still doesn't have a heavyweight win, does he? Roy Jones Jr ought not to fight at this weight (or probably any weight) again.
Here is my 10 cents:
1) Vitali Klitschko
2) Chris Byrd
3) James Toney
4) Lemon Brewster (very big uncertainty here)
5) Wladimir Klitschko
6) Andrew Golota
7) Ruiz (big uncertainty here as well)
8) Monte Barrett
9) Jameel McCline
10) Kirk Johnson
I expect Wlad to climb back on top at some point. Wlad needs to get married, then he will have something to fight for. He has nothing to fight for right now, other than for his fame.
Fame is not worth fighting for.
Yeah I saw your list and I realized I had forgot about Barret.He is a much more deserving of the #10 spot then Peter is at this point.
I agree as well.