Could a Heavyweight be crowned a P4P #1?

[Amir K Shareef]

You don't expect a guy the size of Klitschko to be the speed of Manny Pacquiao, do you? Do you expect Juan Diaz to hit like Mike Tyson? Pound for pound fighter is based on your relative skill for your division - if someone is faster, a bigger puncher, and has better movement than Floyd Mayweather they could still be bottom of the barrel if, like Zab Judah, they don't have the mental toughness and skill to put their assests to work in the ring. To be pound for pound you just have to be the relative best - in the sense that you outshine all others in the sport based on the toughness of your opposition, your performance in the ring, etc.

no im sayn u cant have all the power n be slow as hell
i think u need to have every attribute at a high level

[squealpiggy]

Pound for Pound means that if weight were not a factor (therefore size) which fighters would be the likely winners in any fight. For this reason it's tough to put someone like Lewis in the p4p category. He imposes his size upon his opponents, and uses his reach and power. If size were not a factor he wouldn't be as effective. On the other hand a small fighter like Tyson or Marciano was typically smaller than their opponent. Therefore a p4p ranking is no problem.

It's easy to put small heavyweights in a p4p list, but it's tough to put the big guys in there purely because their size advantage tends to become a major factor in their success.

[BrooklynBomber]

Pound for Pound means that if weight were not a factor (therefore size) which fighters would be the likely winners in any fight. For this reason it's tough to put someone like Lewis in the p4p category. He imposes his size upon his opponents, and uses his reach and power. If size were not a factor he wouldn't be as effective. On the other hand a small fighter like Tyson or Marciano was typically smaller than their opponent. Therefore a p4p ranking is no problem.

It's easy to put small heavyweights in a p4p list, but it's tough to put the big guys in there purely because their size advantage tends to become a major factor in their success.

What about p4p fighters in lower division that are bigger that all of their opponents(like Taylor or Pavlik being bigger then other MWs)

[squealpiggy]

Taylor beat Hopkins and drew with Wright. I don't think he'd be on anyone's P4P list without those results. Pavlik isn't on anyone's p4p list. Besides which the size differences are usually limited within a single division. The heavyweight division however often features bouts like Lewis and Holyfield with Evander giving up some 30 lbs to his opponent. When there's a 7lb swing within a division there's next to no chance of this happening barring a breach of the rules.

[BrooklynBomber]

Taylor beat Hopkins and drew with Wright. I don't think he'd be on anyone's P4P list without those results. Pavlik isn't on anyone's p4p list. Besides which the size differences are usually limited within a single division. The heavyweight division however often features bouts like Lewis and Holyfield with Evander giving up some 30 lbs to his opponent. When there's a 7lb swing within a division there's next to no chance of this happening barring a breach of the rules.

Well, but there we come back to the achievements arguments, I highly doubt that Taylor would have beat Hops if he was smaller and weaker man, on skills and spped alone. It was his size advantage that did it.

[Verstyle]

Tyson had everything a smaller weighted fighter had and equal or better. And 3 times the power as them also. And short in height. So of course he belonged. Ppl like Wlad? Hell no.

[squealpiggy]

Well, but there we come back to the achievements arguments, I highly doubt that Taylor would have beat Hops if he was smaller and weaker man, on skills and spped alone. It was his size advantage that did it.

Taylor really didn't have much of a size advantage over Hopkins. He may have slightly harder punches, and his shots are straighter but Hopkins wasn't the smaller man in there. Hopkins began his career at light heavy.

[Panamaniac]

It could happen again, but as I look in my crystal ball, it's not in the foreseeable future. It's possible that this heavyweight remains unborn at this very moment. In fact, I'm not even sure his parents have met yet.

As for the past, it could be argued that during their primes, Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali were the #4# best of their day...

[Feint]

Sure, why not? But like some people have already said P4P is based on opinion so although it is fun to debate, it really doesn’t mean a lot.

[yidish pugilist]

I would say if their was, he'd have to be #1. I can't see a heavyweight being like 7 or something.