Who’s better p4p. Pavlik or Kessler? And why does Pavlik get a freebee?

[P4P Opinion]

They are of equal talent in my opinion, but Pavlik has the biggest win(s) on his record and is undefeated, therefore deservedly rated higher. Pavlik would lose his unbeaten status is he fought Calzaghe too. Pavlik vs Kessler is a fight that all boxing fans should want to see. I really couldn't call it.

[BattlingNelson]

The same euro who told the ref he could not continue, until the ref gave him about 5 minutes to recover...

The Abraham-Miranda fight is not the topic here. But for the record I think Miranda should have had the win. But the record says Abraham won and thats the fact.

Otherwise I could say that Sturm won over DLH.

[hunter010]

dont worry kelly will get a good ole spankin from calzaghe

[Silencers]

By the time Miranda was moved to no.2 he had signed to fight Abraham.

But that's beside the context of this thread.

I thought it was before.

[abadger]

It seems that the feeling on these boards has shifted away from "Kessler is the better P4P fighter" to "Pavlik is the much better P4P fighter", and I think that is unjustified, since all that Pavlik has added to his resume recently is a victory over Lockett.

I think this is because right now he is pretty much the only active American who legitimately could feature on the P4P list, and Americans have gone into defensive mode over him to make sure that he does. Not a diss, just an observation.

However, that is based on my subjective opinion of the two fighters, not cold hard facts, which are that right now Pavlik is ahead in what you might call the "numbers game". It is he who holds a Ring belt in his division, not Kessler, it is he who is currently undefeated (primarily bcause he hasn't faced Joe Calzaghe), and it is he who holds two career wins over Jermain Taylor, in MW terms, the man who beat the man, with that man being the most dominant MW of the modern era, Bernard Hopkins.

In reality there may not even be all that much difference between the quality of opponents for the two fighters if we are honest, notwithstanding the American description of Kessler's opponents as nobodies. Miranda is nothing really special, and Jermain Taylor is a question mark at best. Kessler's best wins are all against fighters at least as good as Miranda, and maybe Taylor too. Problem is judgements like this, once again are opinions, wheras Pavlik definitely has the stats on his side.

All these reasons mean that at the moment it is justifiable to rank Pavlik above Kessler in the P4P lists, but that is not the same thing as conclusive proof that Pavlik is the better fighter. IMO anyone with eyes can see that talentwise, he isn't. Now all Kessler has to do is go out and prove it.

[Live Dog]

Pavlik beat an elite fighter in Taylor twice. Kessler has never bested another elite fighter.

[Xplosivo]

After last weekends destuction of welshman Gary Lockett at the hands of Kelly Pavlik, Pavlik is praised from all around. Lockett is only about 50 in the computerized rankings of the IBO and 32 at Boxrec, but Pavlik, who’s no.1, gets a freebee since he’s fought so many big names lately so a soft touch is excuseable. Love keeps streaming towards Pavlik.

I’d like to make a comparison with Mikkel Kessler.

Later this month he is to fight Dimitri Sartison for the WBA SMW title. Kessler is dissed all around for fighting such an unknown quantity. Why? Sartison is also about no. 50 in the IBO rankings but 14 in Boxrec, and Kessler has fought for his life in his last 6 fights.

Pavlik is ranked around no. 7 in various p4p ratings while Kessler is not in the top 10.

Pavlik’s last 6 opponents:

Lockett KO3
Taylor W12 (Former MW champ)
Taylor KO7 (MW champ)
Miranda KO7 (eliminator)
Zertuche (NABF title)
Pierre (rather obscure)

Kessler’s last 6 opponents:

Calzaghe L12 (all-time great)
Andrade W12 (mandatory)
Beyer KO3 (WBC champ)
Lucas KO10 (former WBC champ)
Mundine W12 (current WBA champ, fought in Oz)
Siaca KO8 (WBA champ; Kessler was a late sub)

My questions are:

1) Why are Pavlik the higher ranked p4p?
2) Why does Pavlik get a freebee and Kessler not?

calzaghe an all-time great?

[majestiC]

But Kessler would destroy Pavlik if the two met.....style wise Pavlik would be put on chicken street.....

[hunter010]

calzaghe an all-time great?

yeah xplosivo you love calzaghe dont you?

[Chase8400]

After last weekends destuction of welshman Gary Lockett at the hands of Kelly Pavlik, Pavlik is praised from all around. Lockett is only about 50 in the computerized rankings of the IBO and 32 at Boxrec, but Pavlik, who’s no.1, gets a freebee since he’s fought so many big names lately so a soft touch is excuseable. Love keeps streaming towards Pavlik.

I’d like to make a comparison with Mikkel Kessler.

Later this month he is to fight Dimitri Sartison for the WBA SMW title. Kessler is dissed all around for fighting such an unknown quantity. Why? Sartison is also about no. 50 in the IBO rankings but 14 in Boxrec, and Kessler has fought for his life in his last 6 fights.

Pavlik is ranked around no. 7 in various p4p ratings while Kessler is not in the top 10.

Pavlik’s last 6 opponents:

Lockett KO3
Taylor W12 (Former MW champ)
Taylor KO7 (MW champ)
Miranda KO7 (eliminator)
Zertuche (NABF title)
Pierre (rather obscure)

Kessler’s last 6 opponents:

Calzaghe L12 (all-time great)
Andrade W12 (mandatory)
Beyer KO3 (WBC champ)
Lucas KO10 (former WBC champ)
Mundine W12 (current WBA champ, fought in Oz)
Siaca KO8 (WBA champ; Kessler was a late sub)

My questions are:

1) Why are Pavlik the higher ranked p4p?
2) Why does Pavlik get a freebee and Kessler not?

Answers:
1)Pavlik beat a ranked P4P fighter. (Taylor) and better comp in Miranda.
2)Pavlik was defending in a mandatory for the WBO. And Kessler is fighting his freebee in his next fight after getting soundly beat by a P4P ranked fighter.(Calzaghe)