Kostya Tszyu-where does he rank?

[Cardinal Buck]

AA has been a top P4P fighter for a decade, was lineal, undisputed champion and reigned as one of the only true champions in boxing? Could have fooled me.

This is my point on how overrated Zoo is:
1. Zoo was pfp 7 in 95 and 96 and number in the lower half from 01-03 (6-9). He had a brief time period when he was high up in 04 as the number three guy, before disappearing after Hatton handled him. Not pfp for a decade, and generally on the lower half when he was in.
2. He had 14 wins in title fights. Comp was okay in spots, not great.
3. He did unify, but the only legit guy he beat to unify was the inconsistent and chinny Zab Judah, who had been floored plenty of times already. No rematch given.
4. Two unavenged loses to Hatton (quit) and Phillips (stopped).

AA:
1. Never cracked the pfp rankings according to the Ring. Zoo has him there.
2. 16 wins in title fights, ahead of Zoo. The Edison Miranda rematch was in the middle of his reign at middleweight, but wasn't a title defense. Comp was okay in spots, not great.
3. Didn't unify. Did move up in weight to win the 168 WBO belt twice. Did knockout former middleweight champ Taylor when it meant something.
4. Lost to Dirrel, Froch, and Ward outside of his weightclass. Ward was better than Zoo ever was. Froch looks HOF bound. Dirrel was very talented, but has underachieved so far. All three were better than Phillips and all were fought outside of his weight. Lost to Stieglitz past prime, but avenged it.

It's close. The main challenge for Abraham at this point is adding to his legacy when Ward is at 168 and Kovalev is at 175. These men are too good and big for old Abraham to ever beat.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

This is my point on how overrated Zoo is:
1. Zoo was pfp 7 in 95 and 96 and number in the lower half from 01-03 (6-9). He had a brief time period when he was high up in 04 as the number three guy, before disappearing after Hatton handled him. Not pfp for a decade, and generally on the lower half when he was in.
2. He had 14 wins in title fights. Comp was okay in spots, not great.
3. He did unify, but the only legit guy he beat to unify was the inconsistent and chinny Zab Judah, who had been floored plenty of times already. No rematch given.
4. Two unavenged loses to Hatton (quit) and Phillips (stopped).

AA:
1. Never cracked the pfp rankings according to the Ring. Zoo has him there.
2. 16 wins in title fights, ahead of Zoo. The Edison Miranda rematch was in the middle of his reign at middleweight, but wasn't a title defense. Comp was okay in spots, not great.
3. Didn't unify. Did move up in weight to win the 168 WBO belt twice. Did knockout former middleweight champ Taylor when it meant something.
4. Lost to Dirrel, Froch, and Ward outside of his weightclass. Ward was better than Zoo ever was. Froch looks HOF bound. Dirrel was very talented, but has underachieved so far. All three were better than Phillips and all were fought outside of his weight. Lost to Stieglitz past prime, but avenged it.

It's close. The main challenge for Abraham at this point is adding to his legacy when Ward is at 168 and Kovalev is at 175. These men are too good and big for old Abraham to ever beat.

Valid points but tsyzu is a lot higher ranked guy than Abraham- historically speaking..
I think tsyzu gets overrated, but I think he gets underrated if he is compared to Abraham

Tsyzu is basically on level or notch below calzaghe or Kessler

[Cardinal Buck]

Valid points but tsyzu is a lot higher ranked guy than Abraham- historically speaking..
I think tsyzu gets overrated, but I think he gets underrated if he is compared to Abraham

Tsyzu is basically on level or notch below calzaghe or Kessler

This is how I'd put it right now:
1. Calzaghe (by a lot)
2. Zoo
3. Abraham (still active and relevant)
4. Kessler (lacks longevity, but at his peak may have been better pfp than Abraham ever was)

[Sugar Adam Ali]

This is how I'd put it right now:
1. Calzaghe (by a lot)
2. Zoo
3. Abraham (still active and relevant)
4. Kessler (lacks longevity, but at his peak may have been better pfp than Abraham ever was)

I would put Kessler ahead of Abraham.. His win over prime froch trumps anything on Abrahams resume

Longevity is about the same, or even more for Kessler. He won his first belt and unified few years prior to Abraham becoming a mw champ..

Plus even now I think he beats Abraham.. And he doesn't have the bad losses/performances that Abraham has.. Kessler only lost to great fighters in their primes like calzaghe, ward, froch, and was always competitive. Same can't be said for Abraham...

I totally agree about your top 2 rankings

[Cardinal Buck]

I would put Kessler ahead of Abraham.. His win over prime froch trumps anything on Abrahams resume

Longevity is about the same, or even more for Kessler. He won his first belt and unified few years prior to Abraham becoming a mw champ..

Plus even now I think he beats Abraham.. And he doesn't have the bad losses/performances that Abraham has.. Kessler only lost to great fighters in their primes like calzaghe, ward, froch, and was always competitive. Same can't be said for Abraham...

I totally agree about your top 2 rankings

Actually, I might agree with you. It's not an easy call. You're right about longevity, but Kessler wasn't on my radar right when he won a title whereas I paid attention to Abraham.

Froch beating the crap out of Abraham and fighting on close to even terms with Kessler doesn't help Abraham's case. Abraham is a two division champ, has more defenses, and beat Taylor who came really close to beating Froch. It's splitting hairs really.

Kessler would beat Abraham if they fought, but Abraham was a tough guy at middleweight and lost a lot of steam moving up.

[Rspen46]

3rd!

Aaron Pryor
Antonio Cervantes
Kostya Tszyu
Barney Ross
Julio Cesar Chavez

And with the Punchers chance to beat the top 2 on any Given Sunday!

[Suckmedry]

Valid points but tsyzu is a lot higher ranked guy than Abraham- historically speaking..
I think tsyzu gets overrated, but I think he gets underrated if he is compared to Abraham

Tsyzu is basically on level or notch below calzaghe or Kessler

IMO he's only Calzaghes level- Calzaghe just higher causes of the Hopkins win.

He's definitely above Kessler come on man

[Suckmedry]

I think Tszyu is unquestionably a top 5 140lber.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I think Tszyu is unquestionably a top 5 140lber.

No way.... His best wins are Judah, tackie, etc....

Guy is lucky he never fought Oscar or shane

[Suckmedry]

No way.... His best wins are Judah, tackie, etc....

Guy is lucky he never fought Oscar or shane

Im basing it more off how i perceive his abilities than his resume- i agree its not the strongest.

I seriously think Tszyu vs those two would have been highly competitive fights.

Oscar on his best day could outbox virtually anyone though.

But Shane was pretty limited at times. I think Tszyus timing could give him a lot of trouble