Does Kessler Belong with PBF and Pac?

crold119y ago

I only do an official list once a year but with all the ish recently, a little check in on where the P4P list for 2007 is could be fun. BTW, I believe, truly, that P4P should be examined yearly, not weekly, because one performance never gives a clear enough picture; thus most of this is from the official 2006 list. Oh, and while 'accomplishment' counts for a lot, P4P is still about who are the ten best fighters in the world sans weight classes and these are it. So: #1 Manny Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34 KO’S) Career Titles: Lineal World flyweight (112 lbs.) and featherweight (126 lbs.) titles; additional alphabet title (IBF) at 122 lbs. Last Five Opponents: Erik Morales (thrice), Oscar Larios, Hector Velasquez, Fahsan 3-K Battery, Juan Manuel Marquez. Next Opponent: Jorge Solis My Take: Almost everyone’s ”Fighter of the Year” in 2006 should also be everyone’s number one Pound for Pound. Manny Pacquiao at 19 became the World flyweight champion with a 1998 KO of Chatchai Sasakul. Following the loss of that title he moved up ten pounds to upset Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001 and announce his arrival to the world outside Asia. Since 2003, he has knocked out future Hall-of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales while also dropping a narrow decision to Morales and sending Marquez and Larios to the deck a total of five times. No one in the last three years has faced better foes and his one loss since 1998 came to Morales for Gods sake. Oh, and did I mention that when he KO’d Barrera, he became the only fighter in history to win the fly and feather crowns (both by KO) and that the last guy to come close was Fighting Harada some thirty years ago? My dream match for Pacquiao would be a shot at World lightweight champ Joel Casamayor. If Pacquiao isn’t too sidetracked by promotional issues, a Marquez rematch is the second biggest money fight of 2007. In other words, Pacman is in position to be at the top of the heap again twelve months from now. #2 Floyd Mayweather (37-0, 24 KO’S) Career Titles: World jr. lightweight, lightweight, welterweight; alphabet belt at 140 lbs. Last Five Opponents: Carlos Baldomir, Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti, Demarcus Corley. Next Opponent: Oscar De La Hoya. My Take: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez II is only the second biggest fight because the biggest of the entire decade is on tap for Cinco De Mayo ’07. Mayweather has been in many respects the latest example of the ESPN/MTV phenomenon. Here’s the template made famous by Roy Jones: Get some impressive wins early in your career, secure giant HBO contract, start putting together highlight reel wins against the second tier for bragging rights to impress the style over substance Sports Center crowd and let your worshippers state that ‘no one else can beat him anyways’ when your opposition is questioned. It appears Floyd has made a move back towards substance. After three years feasting on fighters below his league, Floyd has become the only man in history to add the World welterweight title to his resume after capturing the legitimate World junior lightweight title. His win over Baldomir is sealing that feat was boring and brilliant at the same time and now he faces the best fighter he has ever shared a ring with. Oscar may not be ‘prime’ but he’s still a few yards better than Mayweather’s two best foes (Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo). Win or lose, I’d love to see him face long-time divisional number one contender Antonio Margarito if he stays at welterweight. #3 Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KO’s) Career titles: Two alphabet belts at 168. Last Five Opponents: Librado Andrade, Markus Beyer, Eric Lucas, Anthony Mundine, Manny Siaca. Next Opponent: ? My Take: I'm sure some are aghast. I don't care. Kessler is younger than almost anyone else on this list and youth matters. Older fighters usually lose to younger ones all things being equal and that hasn't changed today; contract structure and network safety nets just keep old guys around longer fighting each other and milking their stars. No other fighter has so thoroughly cleaned out the top of a division the way Kessler has in his last five and he's kicking down Joe Calzaghe's door. It's an abomination if Kessler-Calzaghe does not happen. Kessler has good speed, chin and pop but more important the best left stick in the game. #4 Winky Wright (51-3-1, 25 KO’S) Career titles: World junior middleweight (154 lbs.) Last Five Opponents: Ike Quartey, Jermain Taylor, Sam Soliman, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley (twice). Next Opponent: Bernard Hopkins My Take: Unlike most, I like Winky’s style and won’t punish him for the losses he’s had. Only one was definitive (a five knockdown debacle a decade ago against Julio Cesar Vasquez) and the other two, Fernando Vargas and Harry Simon were narrow. Oh, and Vargas and Simon were also top of the stack guys. I had him barely losing to Taylor in his bid to become the first man to win the lineal world title at 154 and middleweight (160) since "Sugar Ray" Leonard and his win over a game Ike Quartey isn’t getting the credit it deserves. I love the Hopkins fight and think they will entertain. #5 Bernard Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KO’S) Career Titles: World middleweight; Ring Magazine light heavyweight (175 lbs.) Last Five Opponents: Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor (twice), Howard Eastman, Oscar De La Hoya, Robert Allen. Next Opponent: Winky Wright My Take: Some retirement. I didn’t have Bernard losing either Taylor bout (win in the first, draw in the second on my cards), and while the ‘title’ he won from Tarver was NOT the lineal World light heavyweight title, Tarver was the consensus best at 175. That win came on the heels of 20 IBF middleweight title defenses over eleven years. Taylor is probably the only guy to win more than two rounds over Hopkins in that time span. A win over Winky would make it hard to argue that his wins resume does not equal Roy Jones. #6 Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KO’s) Career titles: alphabet belts at 126 and 130. Last Five Opponents: Marco Antonio Barrera, Jimrex Jaca, Terdsak Jaendang, Chris John, Victor Polo. Next Opponent: ? My Take: The last five are a mixed bag but here's what matters: I had him up a point at the end of the Pac fight; up four in the loss to John and finally against Barrera he got the win that he has always needed. The downside? He's not what he was three years ago much less ten. He's having his moment but also aging and losing speed with every fight. JMM can cash out in his next few. He's earned it. #7 Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33 KO’S) Career Titles: World 122 lb. champ; alphabet title at 118. Last Five Opponents: Israel Vasquez, Silence Mabuza, Ricardo Vargas, Mauricio Pastrana, Heriberto Ruiz. Next Opponent: ? My Take: Probably a better bet for the Hall of Fame than his big brother based on wins over Vasquez, Tim Austin and Mark Johnson, he's still not quite a better fighter. Rafael has two great challenges in front of him (Vasquez II and Celestino Caballero) and could rise another four pounds to right the family wronged against John. It'll have to be quick though. 30 year olds don't dominate long at 122 lbs. and like big brother the window to cash out is narrow as a marked drop in speed is already setting in. #8 Jermain Taylor (25-0-1, 17 KO’S) Career Titles: World middleweight. Last Five Opponents: Kasim Ouma, Winky Wright, Bernard Hopkins, Daniel Edouard, William Joppy. Next Opponent: Cory Spinks My Take: Taylor won almost every round versus Ouma but looked sloppy, perhaps amped by a hometown crowd. Regardless of the way his three fights with Wright and Hopkins were scored, Taylor showed he belonged and four of his last five were against champions or former titlists. Let’s hope he stays awhile at middleweight; he currently reigns over the most talented crop in the division in over a decade. A fight with Cory Spinks passes time but hear this...if he doesn't fight the winner of Kelly Pavlik-Edison Miranda after that, he should be held accountable and off TV. #9 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (63-2, 31 KOs) Career Titles: World flyweight. Last Five Opponents: Monelisi Myekeni, Everado Morales, Daigo Nakahiro, Gilberto Keb Bass, Isidro Balabat. Next Opponent: Possibly Koki Kameda My Take: His recent competition is sorely lacking but his career opposition never gets the credit it deserves. Names like Trash Nakanuma, Daisuke Naito, Hidenoubu Honda and Malcom Tunacao may not mean much on this side of the Atlantic, but all are solid professionals. He also defeated a then undefeated Hussein Hussein. Wonjongkam holds the record for most title defenses and fastest title fight knockout ever at 112 lbs. but is long overdue to face a top five challenger. Roberto Vasquez, Omar Narvaez and Vic Darchinyan are all fighters who deserve a shot at the champ and would make for great fights. There is some light: a rumored bout with Japanese mega star Koki Kameda could invigorate the whole division. #10 Joe Calzaghe (42-0, 31 KO’S) Career Titles: World super middleweight. Last Five Opponents: Sakio Bika, Jeff Lacy, Evans Ashira, Mario Veit, Kabary Salem. Next Opponent: Peter Manfredo. My Take: 19 defenses of the WBO belt would mean little without the devastating whooping he laid on Lacy last March. By all rights, Calzaghe has the talent to be much higher on these lists. His combination of speed, chin and endurance is rare but so rarely tested in his career. Regardless, Calzaghe stamped himself as THE man at 168 lbs. this year and is calling out American fighters louder than ever. He faces one of the better known this April in “Contender” runner-up Manfredo. If Calzaghe brings his A-game, it should be a romp. A win over number one contender Mikkel Kessler means everything to Joe's legacy and would stamp him the best ever at the class. Not taking the fight only reinforces the negatives held against Joe for years.

Comments (20)

TheEvilSaint

not right now, no. hes beaten a few good fighters and unified the titles. thats good. but hes not p4p, yet. however, if he beats calzone, yes, then he'll be p4per.

19y ago

FalconBaller23

i dont think that its totally insane to have kessler in the top 10 p4p... he could hover in the bottom of the list... third might be a little quick for right now, but if he beats calzaghe with ease, then he is definetly a top p4p

19y ago

Super_Lightweight

Roy Jones and Floyd were mid to high on P4P lists earlier in their careers for less. Kessler does not have guys who are as skilled as men like James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, Jose Luis Castillo, or Diego Corrales on his resume. The names on Kessler's dossier are more like the Emmanuel Augustus (for Floyd) and Jorge Castro (for Roy) type.

19y ago

squealpiggy

No, world champs means they held a world title. Hes beaten 12. One of those was Zab Judah who lost his last fight but thanks to some bizarre turn of politics managed to keep hold of his IBF strap. Re Kessler, he put in a great performance against Andrade but let's not get carried away! Andrade was there to be hit for 12 rounds. He would plod in with his hands down and throw single punches. It would be tough for an elite fighter not to look good against him. He didn't even attempt to spoil and roughhouse (as Lacy tried against Calzaghe and still was made to look foolish). Kessler wouldn't have anything like as much of an easy time against Calzaghe, or for that matter any fighter with a good defence.

19y ago

Dozer

I was impressed with Kessler's performance, But Andrade just looked sloppy. Plus after the beating Andrade took, he still looked as preatty as he did before the fight. If Lacy did not get hurt during the Typsko fight, I would love to see Kessler fight Lacy,and dominate Lacy like Calaghe did. It would never happen, But I think Kessler would win that fight Via Descision. At least Lacy looked like he was in A war after his A$$ whoopin from Calzaghe. So this tells me that Calzaghe would stop Kessler from cut's or TKO.

19y ago

crold1

It's not just for Andrade at all. His last three years have been phenomenal and he's a true talent at his peak. After 39 fights, we have a lot to judge by. Roy Jones and Floyd were mid to high on P4P lists earlier in their careers for less.

19y ago

Dozer

The top ten list was well written, But Kessler ranked third Is absolutly ridiculous. Just because he outboxed A mexican cab driver last weekend does not make him third in the god damn PFP list. What A kick in the nut's to ALL the men below him in that list. As A matter of fact I dont believe Calzaghe should be in the top ten either. And as far as Mayweather goes, I think He's movin up in weight to avoid guys like Pacman And Marquez, Dont get me wrong, He is the PFP king right now JMO. COME ON MAN KESSLER THIRD LOL

19y ago

crold1

Still disagree. I could even go with this sort of lame logic: Wright has a rough fight with Soliman; Soliman blown out by Mundine; Kessler >>>Mundine. Mostly though, it's just a gut feeling and I'm willing to voice it. If I'm wrong, time will bear that out.

19y ago

Super_Lightweight

Kudos for having Pacquiao at number one though. More people should have the nerve to say it. Pac is absolutely deserving of number one status based on the quality and fashion of his victories. Kessler could be higher than Calzaghe based on your logic, but still not over guys like Winky and so on.

19y ago

Gareth_Ivanovic

Even though what Kessler did last night was probably what he was supposed to do. Andrade was slow and had no defense at all, but IMO it was a pretty impressive performance. Most people would have been knocked out from a lot of those punches and Kessler kept coming even though he could have been frustrated because it seemed Andrade wasn't effected by those punches. He isn't a top p4p fighter yet. He would need some convincing wins on some good opponents to be put in the p4p category.

19y ago

wmute

#1 Manny Pacquiao that's where i stopped reading

19y ago

Njord777

You must be letting emotion get to you rather than using logic if you catapult Kessler into the top 5 pound for pound. Winky Wright has fought solid, tough opposition- including the undisputed middleweight champion in Taylor. How can you ignore what he's done with himself, the men he fought- even Ike Quartey is more respected than Librado Andrade- and shove him down? Kessler is young, promising and skilled but he has not yet done what it takes to show he can bump down those men who have fought respected, tough opponents like Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins. In summary, whoa- calm down. You're jumping the gun. Just because fighters are younger and hungry does not mean they deserve a pound for pound list over older fighters who belong there.

19y ago

crold1

Yippee, he beat twelve guys who paid their sanctioning fees. I put more stock in the five real champs he beat (and give him props because that's also the most in the sport right now among the guys on my list). You can give love to Sillyman and Maid Marian if you'd like though.

19y ago

EasyE

Floyd has not beaten 12 world champs; he's beaten five men who held/would hold world titles (G. Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Judah, Baldomir). Don't confuse world titles with alphabet straps. With four of those per weight class, that means dick. SRR (edit) faced 12 World champs; May may soon have six. On Rafa, the reason I don't have he and JMM higher is their age. Watch tapes from a few years back. They are fighting at a different speed now (as is Izzy Vasquez; watch Larios-Vasquez II v. Rafa-Izzy). Historically, the best fighters are the ones at the peak of experience and natural gifts. Calzaghe is still solid but he was better and faster against Brewer. Hopkins was better seven years ago. Kessler can still fight 12 hard at full speed; most of the over-30 bunch can't. Look at MAB-JMM and how bad MAB was fading. He didn't do that against McKinney. For those who would say: Kess doesn't deserve ranking ahead of Cal, I understand the perspective. You're weighing the whole career and that is a factor. However, of Cal's five best wins (Lacy, Mitchell, Woodhall, Reid, Eubank), aall but one were years ago. Kessler has done more over the last three years, against better, is younger...I just think at this moment he's better. Time will, hopefully, tell. It would be easy to do what everyone does and parse conventioanl wisdom to avoid the chanc e of looking bad later but if I honestly think Kess is that good why not say it? I speak with people who have held him up for awhile but they want to see that vindicating win first. I don't need it. I'd rather look prescient if he gets, and defeats, Cal then say "I secretly thought so but can't prove it later" a la Manny Steward's prediction abilities. :) No, world champs means they held a world title. Hes beaten 12.

19y ago

crold1

19y ago

TheDanniIce

Intresting list, i don't agree on Kessler being above guys like Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright and the Marquez brothers. I like how you have Bernard at #5 and i expect him to put a master performance and dominate Winky Wright. :boxing:

19y ago

Mik

Is this a joke?

19y ago

DarkSpyder

This thread is absolute bollocks.

19y ago

_El_Jefe

19y ago

Antonio

i didnt read what u wrote, but NOOO way does Kessler deserve to be in the top 20, 30, or even 40 p4p. He isnt good. hes so ordinary. When he takes a good step up in comp, he gets destroyed. Manfredo and Mora are better then this guy. When and IF kessler gets in with Calzage, HE GETS STOPPED!!!! Thats a bold statement. What have you seen in his fights that gave you that idea? I think Kessler is a good fighter, but he doesnt deserve to be on the p4p list yet. Anybody on the p4p list needs to have a big win, and he doesnt.

19y ago