1. Joe Louis-Max Schmeling II
2. Sonny Liston-Cassius Clay I
3. Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier I
4.Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns
5. Glen Johnson - Clinton Woods III
6. Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward I
7. Evander Holyfield- Riddick Bowe III
8. Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe I
9. Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield I
10. Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield II
11. Meldrick Taylor-Julio Cesar Chavez
12. Oscar De La Hoya-Pernell Whitaker
13. Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns I
14. Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns II
15. Michael Nunn-Iran Barkley
16. Marquez-Vasquez I
17. Marquez-Vasquez II
If he is allowed to return to training in 3 weeks, it means that there was fortunately no ligament or tendon damage. Lucky son of a bitch - 100 stitches is a LOT.
Update: The doctor says he is fine and can return to training in 3 weeks, so it is unlikely that the feb. fight will be postponed. The injury was caused by a slip while repairing something, and he put his hand on the wall to keep from falling. That wall happened to be a window!
This is the word on the street in Youngstown, nothing official.
Out of these two? Pavlik-Taylor. The real foty is Vasquez-Marquez II. Pavlik gets the fighter of the year unless Hatton wins or Mosley gets KOd in round 1. Calzaghe gets put in the ATG list - which is reward enough.
Yeah but Hatton and Oscar are far better opponents than Miranda and Taylor.
Combined? Maybe. It's close. Remember, Oscar is 34 and was not on the ring's p4p list. Hatton is #8 p4p and Taylor was #6 I think. Also, Floyd has only fought twice this year. Zertuche was nothing special, but you can't ignore a top 20 mw. Another thing to take into consideration is that Pavlik KOd Taylor while Mayweather fought a competitive but clear decision.
If both Pavlik and Floyd were equally ranked beforehand I could see an argument for FOTY going to Floyd. But Floyd was #1 p4p already - he is expected to take these kinds of fights and to win.
He didn't prove that age doesn't matter. Age affects some earlier than others. Mosley has already shown in his last fight that he is far further on the downward slope than Calzaghe is.
Everyone already knew Calzaghe was a great fighter. This fight basically told us he is a little better than many thought, and is incredibly resistant to age. Still, fighter of the year is a year-long achievement, and given to people who improve their stock dramatically.
I think Pavlik has to win this year, assuming Hatton loses. The big comparison for Cotto-Pavlik is Mosley - Jermain. If Cotto wins, Pavlik still should get the nod as foty. Jermain was a prime, undefeated, unified champion, pound for pound favorite, while Mosley is a post-prime, 4 times defeated, non-champion, non pound-for-pound underdog.
Pavlik was an 8 to 5 underdog vs. Jermain and an even bigger underdog vs. Miranda. He KOd them both in 7 rounds. He went from relative to obscurity to the undisputed champ who is on many people's pound for pound list.
Wait, wait, wait... Kessler deserves to be ahead of Pavlik? Since when does a guy who just lost an 8-4 decision deserve to be ahead of a unified, lineal champion?
I think Mora would do better than a lot of you guys think. I think Taylor had the ability to go more of the boxing route and not trade with Pavlik as much and coast to a win but that wasnt his game plan. Miranda and Taylor stood in front of Pavlik too much and paid the price. I know for a fact that Mora wouldnt be caught dead standing still in front of pavlik. I'm not saying Mora would win, but you guys seem to think Pavlik could beat any boxer in any weight division now.
Zertuche, Miranda, Taylor........... anyone see a pattern here? Zertuche is a brawler, Miranda is the same with a little more skill, and Taylor chose to fight more than box. Pavlik doesnt like guys that move and can box really good. Three fights with guys that can punch that stood right in front of Pavlik for the most part. I think the Pavlik guys are making sure he doesnt get in the ring with someone thats a little bit slick even.
Yah I see a pattern... top 20 middleweight, elimination match for #1 rank, championship.