Ricardo Lopez and the P4P rankings

[Fox McCloud]

A guy retires 51-0-1, and that 1 draw was avenged in the next fight after it.

How did this guy get no higher than #7 in the P4P rankings at any point in his career? Is the lack of exposure so bad that even experts don't recognize those accomplishments, or was it just that the minimumweight and junior flyweight divisions were so devoid of talent that he really didn't deserve to go much higher?

[Azteca]

He was a mininumweight. Reminds me alot like Calderon of today. To be fair, no one really cares about that division.

1990's
1 Whitaker
2 Holyfield
3 Jones
4 Trinidad
5 Chavez
6 RICARDO LOPEZ
7 Nelson
8 Canizales
9 Toney
10 DLH

....as you see. He is held in high regards in my books.

[-Antonio-]

Some people dont respect fighters they can pick up and throw.

I look at it in a p4p sense. It doesnt matter how big he is, the skill he had, the way he boxed is at the highest level.

[grayfist]

I am one of those who are convinced that on a number of occassions in his career, Ricardo should have been rated much higher than 7.

In my humble opinion, the reasons why he was never listed in the manner that he should have been, were:

1. He so dominated the divisions he fought in that many thought his opposition was weak, when, I think, the reality was that he had excellent challengers who would have been champions were he not around.

2. He was so good that he was seldom seriously challenged. Thus, some 95% of his fights were not considered all that exciting.

3. His style was so clinical that one writer, I remember, described it as, "as devoid of excitement as watching a brain surgeon go about his business on the operating table." Obviously meaning to say that one can be fascinated with the great skill of a surgeon but can scarcely be excited over it.

4. The weight classes that he dominated, historically, have never been really given their due in terms of fan following and experts' attention in the US, where P4P ratings are mostly formulated. These weight classes still don't. In most cases, they get what amounts to grudging acknowledgement.

[BmoreBrawler]

Some people dont respect fighters they can pick up and throw.

I look at it in a p4p sense. It doesnt matter how big he is, the skill he had, the way he boxed is at the highest level.

It is easier to look good at lower weights than at heavyweight, the difficulty in looking like a p4p fighter(of which fetishes for fighting styles account for about half of that ranking system I would say) at a higher weight is more difficult than the matrix-like speed of minimumweights.

I think that with that type of dominance at that weight he should be considered great and probably p4p, but not because of how we assess his skill because that is based on bias for certain styles and not on the realities in the ring.

[crillz]

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php...=521&cat=boxer

his greatness speaks for itself.. for the record I HAVE Finito fights in my collection scattered through a ****load of 6 hour tapes, I KNOW by SEEING him that he can fight, he was a GREAT technician and was a real BOXER, the guy had skills yo **** was just I'll, if y'all know anything about what I LIKE in Boxing you'll know thats the technical ****, I like the brutal **** too but the technical **** is my thing, hitting and NOT getting hit is what does it for me and Finito did that, he was a great it's just his division wasn't pumpin like that.. he beat mad undefeated guys including Rosendo Alvarez, I think I have those fights I ain't too sure, I know I have some good fights with him but I ain't familiar with the opponents, the guywas a beast yo he fought the best he could it's just in his division there wasn't too many good fighters, he beat the cans and the good opponents but the problem was that none of them had names that rung bells besides him, Rosendo alvarez was good but not too many more guys on his list stood out even to Boxing fans, it's a shame because he was a GREAT, he just didn't get the national exposure, you would really have to know your Boxing if you value him and menchin him amongst your greatest fighters of all time.. 100

[Azteca]

It's sad when a thread like this only gets 5 replies.

Learn your damn boxing, fellas.

[Burning Desire]

A guy retires 51-0-1, and that 1 draw was avenged in the next fight after it.

How did this guy get no higher than #7 in the P4P rankings at any point in his career? Is the lack of exposure so bad that even experts don't recognize those accomplishments, or was it just that the minimumweight and junior flyweight divisions were so devoid of talent that he really didn't deserve to go much higher?

Minimum Weight hasn't got alot of interest it is a shame Lopez is one of the most underrated boxers of all time.

[wmute]

Finito was great and yes #7 is too low.

Azteca, I think DW refers to Ring never having him hihgher than #7 in ANY year.

[Azteca]

Finito was great and yes #7 is too low.

Azteca, I think DW refers to Ring never having him hihgher than #7 in ANY year.

oh i know. The guy ahead of me stated the obvious though.

He was a talented mofo, though, wasn't he?