Comments Thread For: Russell: The Pound-For-Pound List Is A Popularity Contest, It's Not Based Upon Skill

[BodyBagz]

Initially, your idea of TBC or Errol Spence jr. unifying after their chief rival moves up, appealed to me. But on second thought, it would only serve to water down Terence Crawford second 'undisputed' reign, like before at 140 -- which many till this day use as a argument to diminish Crawford, claiming that it was a weak division, in this scenario that 'Bud' never beat Spence and thus his reign would be considered trivial -- like Josh Taylor's.

I was saying ''if'' they don't fight, one would move up while the other stayed and collected all belts.
Of the 2, Spence clearly has the better resume. Every compliment given to Bud is what he did BEFORE he came to WW.
The onus is on Bud to prove himself, IMHO.
Beating Porter isn't good enough.

[Bronx2245]

The Colbert fight is the only one of those that seems possible.

The Tank fight is possible, if Floyd wanted it! That would be a great for for the DMV area, and GRJ has been very vocal about wanting that fight!

[Bronx2245]

See here's the thing, those fighters are black. Gary has NEVER fought a black fighter. If he did he would find that his 'skill set' isn't all that great after all, but more importantly YOU would get to see that as well. He couldn't claim greatness anymore. So those fights will never happen.
Gary is like an undefeated division 2 football team who refuses to schedule teams like Ohio St. since they got pummeled the one time they did. So once every 2 years they beat SMU, or Illinois , go undefeated again, and think the winning record proves they are as good as Alabama.

Here's the thing, Gary WANTS Tank! Gary WANTS Shakur! It's Floyd and Arum that don't want to make those fights! Colbert has never called out anyone, so that would be up to Gary to get that fight!

Shakur Stevenson: Me And Gary Russell Jr. Would Be A Hell Of A Fight
June 6, 2020

“That would be a hell of fight, me and Gary,” Stevenson (13-0, 7KOs) acknowledged during a recent media conference call to otherwise discuss his upcoming fight versus Puerto Rico’s Felix Caraballo. “I really believe we are the two most skillful fighters in the division. That would be a hell of a fight...”

“He knows I’m the only one that... you see how he talk about everyone else,” notes Stevenson. “He don’t respect a lot of other fighters but he respects me a lot. He’s been around me, he knows my mindset. He knows what I’m about. So, I understand Gary when he (called for a fight).”

https://www.boxingscene.com/shakur-stevenson-me-gary-russell-jr-hell-fight--149326

Gary Russell Jr calls Gervonta Davis a cherry picker, says it almost backfired against Mario Barrios
September 6, 2021

“I’m pretty sure you’ve seen my interviews, you know who I want. I definitely wanted the Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, I still want him. I wanted to break my foot off in Leo, Leo ran away from me for the longest. He was in my weight division, we could’ve made it happen. Everybody that was in 126, when they was fighting, Shakur Stevenson, Josh Warrington — whoever the guys was at the time, when they had the opportunity to compete against me, none of them guys was in a rush to get in the ring with me.”

https://www.badlefthook.com/2021/9/6/22659321/gary-russell-jr-calls-gervonta-davis-a-cherry-picker-boxing-news-2021

GARY RUSSELL JR. WANTS TANK DAVIS, BUT FOCUSED ON MAGSAYO
January 11, 2022

“I never overlook anybody. Of course I want the Gervonta Davis fight,” said Russell Jr. during a recent virtual press conference. “But I’m focused on Magsayo. He’s the one who worked his way into this position to fight me. Davis is in no rush, so I’m going to remain focused on a true warrior who’s getting into the ring with me.”

https://roundbyroundboxing.com/gary-russell-jr-wants-tank-davis-but-focused-on-magsayo/

[Dizneyfist]

Below I present the current P4P list for the boxingscene. I think that Josh Taylor is overrated at #6. I doubt that the writers actually believe that he beats a Tyson Phooey, Vasily Lomachenka, Juan Francisco Estrada, or Gervonta Davis.

The 'experts' would feel a little embarrassed to put the 'undisputed' jr. welterweight champion around 7 or 8, but I assure you that they would do that to Jermell Charlo, no doubt in my mind.

1. Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez

2. Terence Crawford

3. Naoya Inoue

4. Oleksandr Usyk

5. Errol Spence

6. Josh Taylor

7. Tyson Fury

8. Vasyl Lomachenko

9. Juan Francisco Estrada

10. Gervonta Davis

How could you believe this when like Ward he competed in a (Jr welterweight) tourney and won convincingly then went on to unify and beat the other two belt champion in Ramirez. The competition he has faced was solid in Prograis, Berenchyk, Martin and Postol dating back to 2018. Who else besides TC, Usyk have accomplished as much. He deserves to be at the very least#6.

[Dizneyfist]

The premise of this discussion is P4P, meaning excluding weight, all other factors being equal I say Gary Russell jr. decisions Josh Taylor, easy.

If you know boxing then you know you are incorrect. JoJo Diaz brought hell to GRJ Josh Taylor is longer stronger faster, throws in bunches and is more skilled. If GRJ happens to beat JT he'd be in a fight for his life ala Frazier vs.Ali style.

[1hourRun]

I was saying ''if'' they don't fight, one would move up while the other stayed and collected all belts.
Of the 2, Spence clearly has the better resume. Every compliment given to Bud is what he did BEFORE he came to WW.
The onus is on Bud to prove himself, IMHO.
Beating Porter isn't good enough.

There is a glaring flaw in your logic, Terence Crawford's dominant performances in two divisions against the highest ranked available opponents, merits credit.

For 'Bud' to continue the campaign of domination in his third weight and be considered the #1 welterweight in the world. and favorite against Spence already says enough about his level. Canelo Alvarez is probably the only other boxer that has been rated as long as Terence Crawford in the P4P, and yet Saul was removed for a year for violating VADA.

Lastly, if it takes just won boxer to validate 'Bud' who has been seriously injured in a car-wreck and recently had a injury to the retina of one of his eyes, I can imagine that critics will never give Crawford his due respect.

How could you believe this when like Ward he competed in a (Jr welterweight) tourney and won convincingly then went on to unify and beat the other two belt champion in Ramirez. The competition he has faced was solid in Prograis, Berenchyk, Martin and Postol dating back to 2018. Who else besides TC, Usyk have accomplished as much. He deserves to be at the very least#6.

Context in Josh Taylor's best wins needs to be weighed when rating Taylor amongst the elite. I have noticed constant struggle, peril and controversy at the end of Taylor's best wins.

For example : Regis Prograis had him on *****-street and on the verge of being KO in the 12th round of the WBSS 140 tournament.

Crook Ian John Lewis, aided Josh Taylor against Viktor Postol, who had him buzzed in round 5.

Josh, rabbit-punched Ryan Martin then punched him whilst his back was turned, but paid-off ref Victor Loughlin did not see any reason to penalize Taylor.

When Josh Taylor met to unify with Jose Ramirez, in spite being credited two knockdowns, Ramirez convinced all three judges in rendering a razor-thin decision ; all three cards read 114-112.

Now, most of the P4P entrants have outstanding resumes, but their skills stand-out, when I look at Josh Taylor fight, I always see a KO waiting to happen.

[Wacked_Out]

Guess I gotta see it otherwise it's a lot of talk. I think all 3 defeat him if he did.

[Marchegiano]

Well, duh, it's a promotional magazine's promotional ratings that don't actually mean anything and have always been corrupt, for sale, and positioned by promoters.

Always, not when Oscar bought Ring, always. Nat Fleischer is a bigger piece of ****, liar, and scam artist than Oscar even attempted to be. Always been a useless promo rating bought by promoters from a promo magazine and **** all else.

[Bronx2245]

Guess I gotta see it otherwise it's a lot of talk. I think all 3 defeat him if he did.

Father Time is undefeated, so no surprise there! However, I still want to see Tank vs. GRJ! Both 5'5", both Slick Southpaws, both from the DMV! I love it!

[Lomadeaux]

Jealousy and Envy is a Muthua.........

Yes it is.... He's been that way for a long time now.