Now that the dust has settled, it's clear that the dominant fighters of the last 5 years are Joe Calzaghe, Mannie Pacquiao, and Antonio Margarito...probably in that order. Let me explain.
Bernard Hopkins, though admirably competitive in his golden years, is way past his prime and was easily outpointed by Calzaghe and Taylor.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., got richer and remained undefeated, but in his career blatantly dodged the really big hitters such as Kostya Tszou, Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto. In football terms, Floyd played a "soft schedule."
Roy Jones, Jr. hasn't been a serious contender in at least 7 years. High octane fuel burns twice as hot, but the body burns out twice as fast.
Kelly Pavlic's sparkling reputation was dented by an over the hill Hopkins.
The heavyweights have Wladimere Klitschko, but the division has been sick and listless since Lennox Lewis retired. Klitschko and his combustible chin simply cannot be considered "dominant."
Mayweather. Undefeated, and while Cotto or Margarito might have beaten him, they never got the chance, and as much as i dislike the guy, got to give him his credit. Out of the choices in the poll, i guess i'd have to say Calzaghe. As much as i'd like to have seen him (has he announced his retirement yet?) fight higher competition, he beat who he fought, and wins over Hopkins and Lacy look good on his resume.
Mayweather was good, but he played dodge ball and fought a soft schedule. I'll give him a pass for dodging Tszu early on, but he cannot be forgiven for dodging Margarito and Cotto later on. History will, and is, judging him accordingly. He wanted to be the next Ray Robinson, but he ended up the next Ray Mancini. Fun but ultimately disappointing.
Mayweather. Undefeated, and while Cotto or Margarito might have beaten him, they never got the chance, and as much as i dislike the guy, got to give him his credit.
Your p4p list is ****ed up.
Mayweather. Undefeated, and while Cotto or Margarito might have beaten him, they never got the chance, and as much as i dislike the guy, got to give him his credit. Out of the choices in the poll, i guess i'd have to say Calzaghe. As much as i'd like to have seen him (has he announced his retirement yet?) fight higher competition, he beat who he fought, and wins over Hopkins and Lacy look good on his resume.
Joe C. From late '03 to now, he's the lone fighter of the 3 who hasn't lost.
Pacquiao's only loss was to Erik Morales, that he resoundingly avenged it... twice.
That's as good as undefeated in my book.
See that the thing, bro, in boxing that doesnt say it all. He was clearly beaten twice in the last five years. He has yet to avenge those losses, or even seek to as of late: Both guys have been calling him out since his one big win.
Margarito is a BMF, but the truth is he is a stylistic nightmare for Cotto. There are plenty of WWs that can trouble/beat him, and quite a few JMW I am sure would get him.
You're right: "Margarito is a BMF". And Mayweather dodged 8 MIL to fight him. Margarito destroyed Cotto who beat Shane Mosely who beat...who beat.... Now you can take that kind of reasoning too far. But, I think Margarito has gotten a bum rap. Nobody DESTROYS Miguel Cotto. Margarito did. It wasn't lucky, it wasn't "judgified," it wasn't a bad ref. It was destruction, pure and simple.
Best in the last 5 years? Margarito is in there.
I gave some thought to Israel Vasquez, but the parameters were the top 3. He doesn't break in that high, IMO. Clearly Hopkins is not a consideration, but I understand your props.
Haha, I bet when you saw I posted that I was coming to the defense of Mayweather didn't you?
What do you have to say to Margarito's 2 losses to Santos and Williams?
He can only really hedge a few key wins against those, and I'm not sure these are enough to get him into the top 3 of the last 5 years:
Martinez
Clottey
Cintron (X2)
Cotto
Cotto is the only one on there who has been a star for the sport, and not just the weight class he was in.
I'm not sure who I would replace Margarito with, but... I just don't think he really deserves to be in the top 3... top 5 though probably.
Margarito is on the list because he is top three baddest guys on the boxing planet....that's why. He destroyed Cotto. That says it all...
See that the thing, bro, in boxing that doesnt say it all. He was clearly beaten twice in the last five years. He has yet to avenge those losses, or even seek to as of late: Both guys have been calling him out since his one big win.
Margarito is a BMF, but the truth is he is a stylistic nightmare for Cotto. There are plenty of WWs that can trouble/beat him, and quite a few JMW I am sure would get him.
What is Margarito and Calzaghe doing in that list? The list should be Mayweather, Pacquiao and Hopkins.
Yeah Hopkins, who lost half of his last 6 fights vs an undefeated, undisputed champion in Calzaghe, makes perfect sense.
What is Margarito and Calzaghe doing in that list? The list should be Mayweather, Pacquiao and Hopkins.
Margarito is on the list because he is top three baddest guys on the boxing planet....that's why. He destroyed Cotto. That says it all...
And to answer your question, it would be Mayweather or Pacman. Pac is the guy you have on the poll, so thats who I voted for.
You can't even compare Pacman to Floyd. Pacman fought the best. Floyd went for the easy money.
Now that the dust has settled, it's clear that the dominant fighters of the last 5 years are Joe Calzaghe, Mannie Pacquiao, and Antonio Margarito...probably in that order. Let me explain.
Bernard Hopkins, though admirably competitive in his golden years, is way past his prime and was easily outpointed by Calzaghe and Taylor.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., got richer and remained undefeated, but in his career blatantly dodged the really big hitters such as Kostya Tszou, Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto. In football terms, Floyd played a "soft schedule."
Roy Jones, Jr. hasn't been a serious contender in at least 7 years. High octane fuel burns twice as hot, but the body burns out twice as fast.
Kelly Pavlic's sparkling reputation was dented by an over the hill Hopkins.
The heavyweights have Wladimere Klitschko, but the division has been sick and listless since Lennox Lewis retired. Klitschko and combustible chin simply cannot be considered "dominant."
Hopkins wasnt easily outpointed by anyone, homeboy, if you really believe that I doubt you saw those fights.
Margarito has two clear cut losses in the last five years, he is nowhere near the most dominant guy in the that time, thats just ridiculous.
Go ask Taylor and Calzaghe how easy those decision victories were against Hopkins.
I think Pacquiao probably trumps Calzaghe in 1-2.
Margarito lost to Williams recently as well, remember?
Israel Vazquez deserves a shoutout in this thread too.
I gave some thought to Israel Vasquez, but the parameters were the top 3. He doesn't break in that high, IMO. Clearly Hopkins is not a consideration, but I understand your props.
Now that the dust has settled, it's clear that the dominant fighters of the last 5 years are Joe Calzaghe, Mannie Pacquiao, and Antonio Margarito...probably in that order. Let me explain.
Bernard Hopkins, though admirably competitive in his golden years, is way past his prime and was easily outpointed by Calzaghe and Taylor.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., got richer and remained undefeated, but in his career blatantly dodged the really big hitters such as Kostya Tszou, Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto. In football terms, Floyd played a "soft schedule."
Roy Jones, Jr. hasn't been a serious contender in at least 7 years. High octane fuel burns twice as hot, but the body burns out twice as fast.
Kelly Pavlic's sparkling reputation was dented by an over the hill Hopkins.
The heavyweights have Wladimere Klitschko, but the division has been sick and listless since Lennox Lewis retired. Klitschko and combustible chin simply cannot be considered "dominant."
Go ask Taylor and Calzaghe how easy those decision victories were against Hopkins.
I think Pacquiao probably trumps Calzaghe in 1-2.
Margarito lost to Williams recently as well, remember?
Israel Vazquez deserves a shoutout in this thread too.