Who's the world's best light heavyweight right now?

[Guest]

Records against "Top 50" ranked opponents:

Glen Johnson (9-11-2)
Bernard Hopkins (24-3-1)
Chad Dawson (6-0)
Zsolt Erdei (10-0)
Antonio Tarver (12-4)
Clinton Woods (8-3-1)
Adrian Diaconu (4-0)
Chris Henry (0-0)
Joe Calzaghe (23-0)
Roy Jones (34-4)

Some interesting statistics from the IBO website.

http://www.iboboxing.com/rankings/175.html

The right now part makes me pick Hop who beat Tarver. Tarver beat Jones 2 out of 3 and Johnson and Dawson still has to win his money fight although the Adamek victory was pretty impressive.
Zsolt is kinda crude and he hasn't beaten any names, I think he's lucky to be top 5.
Cal has potential and Diaconu is just begging to fight someone, anyone.
Clinton Woods had his chances but Johnson has been his bane (thought Johnson won another of those fights)

As of today I say Hop, but as of April 13th, I could be singing another tune.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Who has Dawson beaten?

Adamek was weight-drained for the fight with Dawson, and he's just a B level fighter anyway. Since then, Dawson has defended the title against two weak challengers: Jesus Ruiz, a D level fighter, one of the worst voluntary title defense opponents of the past few years, and Epifanio Mendoza, a C level late-replacement opponent. Now he's ducking his mandatory, Adrian Diaconu, to fight a past-prime age 39 Glen Johnson.

Chad Dawson hasn't beaten anyone, so why would anyone consider him the best light heavyweight?

Who has Calzaghe beaten at light heavyweight? His accomplishments at super middle doesn't mean a damn thing because its an entirely different division with a different set of fighters.

Adamek was 31-0 and was WBC light heavyweight champion when Dawson beat him. Eric Harding was rank #10 by the ring magazine at the time Dawson beat him as well. That alone should put him above Hopkins and Calzaghe beecause he beat two top 10 fighters with one of then being a champion.

What makes Adamek b level? Because Dawson's made him look that way? Its just laughable the way people forget how good he was and completely dismiss him because of how easily Dawson dismantled him. Don't take anything away from Dawson, Adamek was a very good champion that was unbeaten. Pretty good win for a fighter when he only has 22 fights. (Dawson)

Also, Diaconu pulled out because of injury to his hand. Get your facts straight. When Dawson fought Jesus Ruiz, Paul Briggs was offered a shot at the title but he didn't want it. He remains top 5 in the division as of now because he was champion last year.

Dawson saying that he is willing to fight the best.

[vBTube]vYnIBYyBwts[/vBTube]

[Guest]

Slicksouth. I can see you coming hard with the smack talk if Dawson wins on Saturday.

Damn.....

[slicksouthpaw16]

Slicksouth. I can see you coming hard with the smack talk if Dawson wins on Saturday.

Damn.....

WHOAAAAA i can't wait.

[The Hammer]

Also, Diaconu pulled out because of injury to his hand. Get your facts straight.

You're wrong. Diaconu's hand injury was last September. Adrian was trying to get his mandatory shot early this year, but Dawson ducked him to fight old Johnson! Now, Diaconu has to fight for an interim WBC title against Chris Henry on Apr 19.

As far as Adamek is concerned, he's a decent B level fighter but he's not really world class. He's going to get beaten by O'Neil Bell next week and that will prove I'm right about him. But even Adamek had the china-chinned Dawson on the canvas in a late round, even though he was weak from being weight-drained.

Dawson has never beaten a world-class opponent. He will defeat Johnson, but only because Glen is over the hill.

[Mozza]

Given the fights coming up this weekend and next it seems pretty pointless to vote in this poll at the moment so I'll reserve judgement until after Calzaghe v B-Hop.

[slicksouthpaw16]

You're wrong. Diaconu's hand injury was last September. Adrian was trying to get his mandatory shot early this year, but Dawson ducked him to fight old Johnson! Now, Diaconu has to fight for an interim WBC title against Chris Henry on Apr 19.

Diaconu's injury happened at the time Dawson fought Mendoza. Thats the night that Diaconu was supposed to challenge for the title and that was Dawson's last fight. Where is he being ducked? Dawson was trained and prepared to fight Diaconu until Adrian pulled out. Its not Dawson's fault at all.

Dawson wants Johnson because he is one of the key names in the division and a win over him would be much for significant that a win over the unknown Diaconu.

You are babbling about Dawson not fighting quality opposition but what about your fellow russian/Romanian Diaconu? Who has that guy beat? Rico Hoye? The guy that the non elite paper champion and light punching Clinton Woods stopped for the title? Please, Diaconu has yet to beat even a top 15 fighter and will be in for a rude awakening if he fights top opposition.

As far as Adamek is concerned, he's a decent B level fighter but he's not really world class. He's going to get beaten by O'Neil Bell next week and that will prove I'm right about him. But even Adamek had the china-chinned Dawson on the canvas in a late round, even though he was weak from being weight-drained.

Are you seriously telling me that for a guy that only has 22 fights, handling beating a WBC champion, unbeaten, top 10 fighter, and 31-0 is not impressive to you? Dawson was is still a bit green and a win over Johnson will be finishing school. He will be a complete fighter.

Also, you are one of the few people say that Adamek was weight drained. At the post fight press conference, he himself said that he had no excuses and that Dawson was simply too fast for him to catch up with. Adamek did not look drained for tired at all throughout the fight, he was in excellent condition and its seems like this is just another excuse from you in attempt to take away from Dawson's victory.

Adamek is also a heavy hitter so him knocking Dawson down is nothing to be ashamed about. The point is how Dawson responded to it. He got up from the knock down, fought back gamely and actually went on to seriously hurt Adamek in the very next round.

Dawson has never beaten a world-class opponent. He will defeat Johnson, but only because Glen is over the hill.

Ignorant post. Johnson is currently ranked #3 by the ring magazine and is still a good fighter. A win over Johnson for Dawson will excel his name and make him more of a draw to the bigger names/elites.

[The Hammer]

You are babbling about Dawson not fighting quality opposition but what about your fellow russian/Romanian Diaconu? Who has that guy beat? Rico Hoye? The guy that the non elite paper champion and light punching Clinton Woods stopped for the title? Please, Diaconu has yet to beat even a top 15 fighter and will be in for a rude awakening if he fights top opposition.

I've never said Diaconu is any more proven than Dawson. Hoye was just a B- opponent, not even as good as Adamek. But Woods is a decent B+ fighter. I also rate Dawson as B+.

Also, you are one of the few people say that Adamek was weight drained.

Adamek moved up to cruiser because he can't make 175. He said after the fight he would never try to make LH again.

Ignorant post. Johnson is currently ranked #3 by the ring magazine and is still a good fighter. A win over Johnson for Dawson will excel his name and make him more of a draw to the bigger names/elites.

Johnson has a record of 9 wins and 11 losses against opponents ranked in the top 50.

http://www.iboboxing.com/rankings/175.html

And Glencoffe is 39 years old! How can you say defeating an old man with 11 losses "excels" his name? Omar Sheika defeated Johnson, and then was destroyed in his next fight, against Joe Calzaghe.

[robjr]

I truly dont think there is a clear best at 175 right now.. We should have an answer for this within a year

[slicksouthpaw16]

Johnson has a record of 9 wins and 11 losses against opponents ranked in the top 50.

http://www.iboboxing.com/rankings/175.html

And Glencoffe is 39 years old! How can you say defeating an old man with 11 losses "excels" his name? Omar Sheika defeated Johnson, and then was destroyed in his next fight, against Joe Calzaghe.

Johnson is a lot better than what his record says. Since he got in the Jones/Tarver/Woods mix, then he has not lost to a lesser opponent like that. He is a tough fighter that went to other fighters home town to fight them, he was robbed in a lot of those fights as well. I though that he beat the unbeaten long reigning champion Sven Oktte as well as Sheika. After he loss to Hopkins, he became a stepping stone for many fighters but he is ALOT better than what his record shows. If he had the right management and was being promoted correctly, then he would have been more known.