Tweet
Pittsburgh, PA- If history, as Napoleon said, is a set of lies agreed upon, perhaps we should reexamine how some in boxing’s top tier have recently been judged compared to their peers. It seems that some enjoy a high rating because they have a high rating, while too much is made of others’ deceptive records. This list of the most overrated won’t include some you might expect, like Jermain Taylor, Zsolt Erdei, Amir Khan or Sergio Mora, because insiders already have good perspective on their place in boxing and the value of their accomplishments. Instead, let’s look at some highly regarded fighters of whom too much credit has been given.
10) “King Arthur” Abraham (29-0, 23 KOs)
The upside: The IBF titlist and Ring #1 contender has established himself as one of the best two middleweights (160 lbs) in the world and looked terrific stopping Edison Miranda last year in their rematch. The downside: He received a gift from the referee and judges in the first Miranda fight and owns a record inflated by bogus challengers. Maybe he’s the true “king” of the division, but we can’t assume that based his best win coming over Miranda.
9) Ricky “Hitman” Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs)
How can I include the man who’s ruled the junior welterweight (140) division for four years? Because, though he remained the division’s best until the Pacman’s arrival, the “progress” shown in the win over Paulie Malignaggi in November has been overstated. His defensive liabilities remained, the opponent just changed to one who matched up terribly with Hatton.
8 Sergio Martinez (44-1-2, 24 KOs)
HBO has fallen in love with Martinez, a very fast southpaw. The fact, however, that he has managed to go 47 bouts without us knowing who he is speaks volumes about his caliber of opponents. Alex Bunema and Kermit Cintron were good B-level opposition; now it’s time to see Martinez in against the A-listers.
7) Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs)
Undoubtedly, Darchinyan put on a spectacular performance against Cristian Mijares at the end of 2008. But #10 pound-for-pound by Ring? He’s still only one year removed from a draw with Z Gorres and two years from being dominated by Nonito Donaire, who’s not on their list. Against Jorge Arce, openings existed; Arce just couldn’t take advantage.
6) James Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs)
This former prospect has graduated to #1 WBA-WBO 154 lb. contender with impressive recent wins, including over Joel Julio last month. Yet he is not, as some suggest, an indestructible force. If he can get back onto the right path (he was arrested Sunday on a weapons charge), he’ll be among the best, but he’s not there yet; I’d favor fellow junior middleweight (154) Alfredo Angulo over Kirkland.
5) Oleg Maskaev (36-6, 27 KOs)
Why is this 40 year old Russian ranked in the top five by the IBF and WBC when he stands no more than a lucky puncher’s chance against the Klitschko brothers? He’s had a decent career featuring two come-from-behind knockouts of one-punch champ Hasim Rahman along with all six of his losses by knockout, but no hopers don’t belong in the top 10.
4) Michael “The Great” Katsidis (25-2, 21 KOs)
This Greek has a fan-friendly style that endears him to boxing critics, but he’s a poor man’s Ricky Hatton. If you can withstand his physical attack, and many will be able to, you’ll break him down.
3) Celestino Caballero (31-2, 22 KOs)
After his unification win over then solid-but-unspectacular IBF 122 lb. titlist Steve Molitor, coupled with Mijares’ drubbing by Darchinyan, Caballero has become the boxer du jour of commentators. Until he puts an Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chris John or even Yuriorkis Gamboa on his resume, his top ten status in Ring’s pound-for-pound list is dubious. I’ll give you five right now who belong above him: Paul Williams, Chad Dawson, Miguel Cotto, Josh Clottey and Lopez. Give me a couple minutes and I’ll name five more.
2) Kermit Cintron (30-2-1, 27 KOs)
Go ahead and give him back the two losses to Antonio Margarito, and still look at his resume: a gift draw with Sergio Martinez and nothing else to speak of in terms of being at the sport’s pinnacle. Against the right opponent, he’s still a good TV fighter, but he has yet to prove much else. Look for Angulo to pick him apart this summer.
1) Zab “Super” Judah (37-6, 25 KOs)
While the margin of error for most in boxing is negligible, Judah continues to get a pass (see his top ten welterweight ranking by ESPN and the Ring) despite having beaten absolutely no one since he wore the division’s crown in 2005. He’s 3-4 with 1 no contest since then, yet we let him coast. Why? Let him earn it, like everybody else.
10) “King Arthur” Abraham (29-0, 23 KOs)
The upside: The IBF titlist and Ring #1 contender has established himself as one of the best two middleweights (160 lbs) in the world and looked terrific stopping Edison Miranda last year in their rematch. The downside: He received a gift from the referee and judges in the first Miranda fight and owns a record inflated by bogus challengers. Maybe he’s the true “king” of the division, but we can’t assume that based his best win coming over Miranda.
9) Ricky “Hitman” Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs)
How can I include the man who’s ruled the junior welterweight (140) division for four years? Because, though he remained the division’s best until the Pacman’s arrival, the “progress” shown in the win over Paulie Malignaggi in November has been overstated. His defensive liabilities remained, the opponent just changed to one who matched up terribly with Hatton.
8 Sergio Martinez (44-1-2, 24 KOs)
HBO has fallen in love with Martinez, a very fast southpaw. The fact, however, that he has managed to go 47 bouts without us knowing who he is speaks volumes about his caliber of opponents. Alex Bunema and Kermit Cintron were good B-level opposition; now it’s time to see Martinez in against the A-listers.
7) Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs)
Undoubtedly, Darchinyan put on a spectacular performance against Cristian Mijares at the end of 2008. But #10 pound-for-pound by Ring? He’s still only one year removed from a draw with Z Gorres and two years from being dominated by Nonito Donaire, who’s not on their list. Against Jorge Arce, openings existed; Arce just couldn’t take advantage.
6) James Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs)
This former prospect has graduated to #1 WBA-WBO 154 lb. contender with impressive recent wins, including over Joel Julio last month. Yet he is not, as some suggest, an indestructible force. If he can get back onto the right path (he was arrested Sunday on a weapons charge), he’ll be among the best, but he’s not there yet; I’d favor fellow junior middleweight (154) Alfredo Angulo over Kirkland.
5) Oleg Maskaev (36-6, 27 KOs)
Why is this 40 year old Russian ranked in the top five by the IBF and WBC when he stands no more than a lucky puncher’s chance against the Klitschko brothers? He’s had a decent career featuring two come-from-behind knockouts of one-punch champ Hasim Rahman along with all six of his losses by knockout, but no hopers don’t belong in the top 10.
4) Michael “The Great” Katsidis (25-2, 21 KOs)
This Greek has a fan-friendly style that endears him to boxing critics, but he’s a poor man’s Ricky Hatton. If you can withstand his physical attack, and many will be able to, you’ll break him down.
3) Celestino Caballero (31-2, 22 KOs)
After his unification win over then solid-but-unspectacular IBF 122 lb. titlist Steve Molitor, coupled with Mijares’ drubbing by Darchinyan, Caballero has become the boxer du jour of commentators. Until he puts an Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chris John or even Yuriorkis Gamboa on his resume, his top ten status in Ring’s pound-for-pound list is dubious. I’ll give you five right now who belong above him: Paul Williams, Chad Dawson, Miguel Cotto, Josh Clottey and Lopez. Give me a couple minutes and I’ll name five more.
2) Kermit Cintron (30-2-1, 27 KOs)
Go ahead and give him back the two losses to Antonio Margarito, and still look at his resume: a gift draw with Sergio Martinez and nothing else to speak of in terms of being at the sport’s pinnacle. Against the right opponent, he’s still a good TV fighter, but he has yet to prove much else. Look for Angulo to pick him apart this summer.
1) Zab “Super” Judah (37-6, 25 KOs)
While the margin of error for most in boxing is negligible, Judah continues to get a pass (see his top ten welterweight ranking by ESPN and the Ring) despite having beaten absolutely no one since he wore the division’s crown in 2005. He’s 3-4 with 1 no contest since then, yet we let him coast. Why? Let him earn it, like everybody else.
Comment