What is the criterion of an ATG?

[Ben Bolt]

WBC vs WBA, HBO vs Showtime, Golden Boy vs Top Rank … Sigh!

As today’s ‘champs’ can exploit on this fact and apparently ain’t always that eager to face the best opposition available – as yesterday’s champs were forced to do to recieve superstar status – I have no issues with rating yesterday's warriors above present pugilists when compiling an ATG list.

For ex., Pac Man entered the welterweight division in 2009. The potentates of today’s boxing have had five years to arrange Pacquaio vs Mayweather. Nothing happened.
So, Henry Armstrong and fellow welter stars of bygone days maintain their top positions in the division’s ATG rankings.

Note: this criticism is not directed at Manny or Floyd, but to the assh***s who have hijacked the sport.

[Ray Corso]

Someone who contends with the top fifteen in his division then becomes champion. He defends his title against the divisions top ten and defeats them with regularity. If defeated he wins the rematch clearly and continues to sustain a high level in performance. 'His division needs outstanding contenders to compete against men who are high level competitors in any era and have sustained themselves as contenders for at least 10 years.

Personally an ATG for me is a boxer/puncher with obvious Methods and Techniques that any student could recognize and the fighter employs them and carries them out meticulously!

I have no problem with losses because if you box often enough against quality opponents you can have off nights coupled with an opponents outstanding outing and loose. Again the loss needs to be rectified if the fighter is still a champion or top flight contender.

Todays fighters are hampered with division that are void of any depth, the heavyweight division is extremely shallow and although it has allowed Wlad to remain on top it certainly isn't his fault that the contenders are far below standards and the few up and coming men don't seem to be interested in challenging him. Today there is no top ten its more like a top five!

ATGreatest for me is Sugar Ray Robinson. Great boxer/puncher, speed with hands and feet. Tremendous lateral movement KO power in both hands.
Incredible experience in over 300 bouts (amateur & pro) was tko once by extreme heat exhaustion as he was winning the light heavy title on all cards easily! Known for KO wins while stepping off and setting people up.

Ray.

[soul_survivor]

I've always judged ATGness with the following criteria, a criteria used by great writers such as Bert Sugar and others:

1. Impact on the sport
2. How good he was in his division and among his contemporaries
3. Title wins, reign, defence
4. Quality of opposition
5. Dominance over opponents
6. Overall ability, whether it be defensive, offensive or physical tools such as chins, power, speed, reflexes, IQ etc

Follow that criteria, maybe with a point or 2 I might be missing (it's late) and you can't go wrong.

[TBear]

I have always questioned the definition of "ATG". All time great 10, top 20, or top 100? If we are referring to a certain division like heavyweight for example and someone says he is an all time great, it could mean anything from top 5 thru top 100 depending on how he might perceive the definition. I understand there are several all time greats that are widely seen by most fans as such. But with no finite definition we could see most of top fighters throughout history as ATG's.

[RINGG]

All current fighters are ATGs to someone in the NSB.

[greeh]

All current fighters are ATGs to someone in the NSB.

Well, do you have any evidence that says otherwise?

[billeau2]

Well, do you have any evidence that says otherwise?

you causin trouble again?

[greeh]

you causin trouble again?

Me? Trouble? Nah… Never has, never will. Unless… :hey:

By the way, I returned to this site and section for the first time in about a month yesterday. Saw the title of your thread, and you sure weren’t lying. What the heck has happened with this place?

[SBleeder]

Everybody better Alex Leapai than is an ATG.

[greeh]

Everybody better Alex Leapai than is an ATG.

You know what they say; "If he had fought in the 60’s/70's..."