Should Americans stop getting...

...the benefit of the doubt in P4P lists? The most respected boxing media in the world all rests in the USA, this site for example is American with a high majority of posters American. And this influences our -Americans and the rest of the world alike-take on whos good and whos better. It is of my opinion that, to a certain degree, with give Americans boxers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to ranking them. By this i mean they dont have to prove themselves compared to other boxers, we just assume they deserve their place. For example Chad Dawson was very high on alot of lists when he had done very little to warrant that spot. His last four fights before Pascal were againest 40 somethings who were no where near the P4P lists. Devon Alexander was also highly regarded after his win over Urango. I saw some people rank him as high as #3. I think the Kotelnik fight has brought some sense into most people. He is young and has plenty of time to get into the top ten in the world but right now he is not there yet. You wouldnt see anyone put Khan into their top 10. Kotelnik would have struggled to make most people top 50s before that fight. Ward as well is another young fighter who i expect to makes splashes the the P4P pool soonish but i beleive people are rushing to put him in there. A win over that version of Kessler does not warrant a P4P place. If he wins the super 6, or perhaps mybe just his next fight i wouldnt have any problems him being there. But i think he caught Kessler on a bad night who hadnt looked good in fights leading upto the fight. we wouldnt put Pascal in our top 10, would we? This may just seem like an over-reaction to recent fights but i do really beleive they expose the flaws in our ranking system. we had other examples over the years like Pavlik who just should have not have been ranked the way they were. So do you agree or am I just a yank basher?

Comments (8)

KlownvonnomaD

Well I think like you say the problem lies with the top journos being american. They see these fighters from fight 1, so they can see the fighters develop and start to get a liking for them. Hence there going to favour them over say some of the european, who they may have only seen a handful of fights.

15y ago

JDezi4

The thing about this is America is the WORLD STAGE when it comes to boxing. If fighters from other countries want to make something of themselves, they need to fight here. That's why a lot of fight fans consider Joe Calzaghe a fraud. He spent most of his career fighting in Europe, coinsidently, when fighters like Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins were in the primes. Then he come sto America to fight and expects everyone to label him the best when he hasn't proven it in the global stage. I don't care how good u r at doing something, ur not gonna get credit for it unless someone sees u do it.

15y ago

Redemption

What is up with this whole nationalism crap? No nationalism intended. I am just stating that perhaps we arent as critical of Americans fighters as we are of others. I would still have many Americans in any lists. I just think there is too many in contrast to their acheivements. I'm a Brit. nd i wouldnt have any Brit in a top 10 P4P.

15y ago

tredh

People shouldn't care or read too much into any of that stuff. We all know journalists and all media have bias so that will come out in their work instead of the complete unbiased truth. Make your own P4P list if you feel by what YOUR eyes tell you not what some biased media outlet tells you.

15y ago

jrosales13

What is up with this whole nationalism crap?

15y ago

Redemption

I agree but the P4P is subject to individual interpretation and bias/hype which is why we see some pretty odd lists on here. Yeah I dont get Ward being on the list either was Kessler on the lists before the loss of those who now now rank Ward there? Nope :lol1: Its almost like playing fantasy football or something people do the lists for fun. But you get the same thing happening in the media. I cringe sometimes when i hear boxing journos talk about some fighters. very few properly professional opinions out there, most seem like mild fanboys with a job title.

15y ago

Crazylegs77

15y ago

Pirao

They should, but it won't happen because boxing's primary market is America. Sucks but we have to deal with it.

15y ago