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I've come across the SkySports P4P rankings for British fighters and find them to be a bit inaccurate so I thought I would list mine. You are all welcome to list your own, discuss and dissect my list. I'd especially like to read the opinions of non-UK boxing fans.
Here is the SkySport list:
1. Carl Froch
2. Martin Murray
3. Scott QUigg
4. George Groves
5. Amir Khan
6. Kell Brook
7. Jamie McDonnell
8. Ricky Burns
9. Tyson Fury
10. Carl Frampton
Here is my effort, based on world championships or championship fights, skills and opponents amongst other criteria:
1. Carl Froch
Completely agree with this, Carl has the best resume of any fighter north of middleweight and is often underrated in the skills department. His jab is awkward and his power legitimate, a top 10 P4P internationally too.
2. Scott Quigg
One of the most skilled guys at superbantam and easily a top 5 in the division. He is quick ad determined but can sometimes be guilty of starting slow. There is no denying the quality and talent on offer, now he just needs the opponents.
3. George Groves
Young George proved himself against James DeGale some years ago, showing us his potential and against Carl, he may well have fulfilled it. There is no doubt that George is skilled enough to compete with any super middleweight on the planet and has the power to hurt all of them. The rematch with Carl will show us if he can be a champion.
4. Amir Khan
Purely based on opponents faced and beaten Amir is up there with the best of them, add in immense talent, handspeed to rival that of a prime Pacquiao or Leonard and you have on of the best fighters on the planet. Sadly his punch resistance has let him down and he still lacks that big, marquee win. But he is just on the fringe at world level and no doubt a top 5 British boxer.
5. Carl Frampton
Quick, skilled and with a real hunger to show who is best, Frampton may be the second best super bantamweight on the planet. He just needs the fight to prove it and may get his match this year. The division is ripe for the taking and outside of Rigondeaux, I'm not sure who can beat him.
6. Kell Brook
Kell is the best contender at welterweight and one of the most talented fighters I've seen a long while. I haven't seen him as good as he was against Matthew Hatton some years ago but that may be due to a lack of ambition with mediocre opponents sent his way. He deserves a title shot and his skill and power will gain him a belt against anyone outside of the top 3 at 147 lb.
7. Tyson Fury
Future heavyweight champion of the world? Who knows. Exciting? Undoubtedly. Tyson Fury is loud and brash and absolutely arrogant but he has come a long way since his debut. He is in better shape now, his footwork has improved and his jab is a real weapon now. By modern standards, he is a skilled heavyweight with size on his side. This is a big year for the traveling heavyweight.
8. Ricky Burns
The Scottish star is clearly past his prime, the years in which he beat Roman Martinez are long gone. He has still shown immense heart and determination and against Crawford, he was far from outclassed by a man who was a big betting favourite. Burns can come again I believe, Crawford is not too big a job for him, he allowed himself to be outworked, something burns himself was an expert in.
9. Martin Murray
When looking at Murray who see a well rounded fighter, a Jack of all Trades if you prefer but he seems to lack that internal self belief. Against both Sturm and the great Martinez, he slowed down in the championship rounds and allowed the fight to be taken away from him, something to which he has admitted. Why? We may never know. What we do know is that he is highly skilled and can take a shot, all he needs now is a big return to form.
10. Derek Chisora
Only ever beaten by the best, Derek Chisora is, in my opinion a top 5 heavyweight, who has often been let down by his own lifestyle. To his credit, he has worked hard to redeem himself and the results have shown. He is a tad slow and lacks stamina for a full 3 minute assault but he makes up for it with a big heart and a decent defence. Another future heavyweight champion?
Here is the SkySport list:
1. Carl Froch
2. Martin Murray
3. Scott QUigg
4. George Groves
5. Amir Khan
6. Kell Brook
7. Jamie McDonnell
8. Ricky Burns
9. Tyson Fury
10. Carl Frampton
Here is my effort, based on world championships or championship fights, skills and opponents amongst other criteria:
1. Carl Froch
Completely agree with this, Carl has the best resume of any fighter north of middleweight and is often underrated in the skills department. His jab is awkward and his power legitimate, a top 10 P4P internationally too.
2. Scott Quigg
One of the most skilled guys at superbantam and easily a top 5 in the division. He is quick ad determined but can sometimes be guilty of starting slow. There is no denying the quality and talent on offer, now he just needs the opponents.
3. George Groves
Young George proved himself against James DeGale some years ago, showing us his potential and against Carl, he may well have fulfilled it. There is no doubt that George is skilled enough to compete with any super middleweight on the planet and has the power to hurt all of them. The rematch with Carl will show us if he can be a champion.
4. Amir Khan
Purely based on opponents faced and beaten Amir is up there with the best of them, add in immense talent, handspeed to rival that of a prime Pacquiao or Leonard and you have on of the best fighters on the planet. Sadly his punch resistance has let him down and he still lacks that big, marquee win. But he is just on the fringe at world level and no doubt a top 5 British boxer.
5. Carl Frampton
Quick, skilled and with a real hunger to show who is best, Frampton may be the second best super bantamweight on the planet. He just needs the fight to prove it and may get his match this year. The division is ripe for the taking and outside of Rigondeaux, I'm not sure who can beat him.
6. Kell Brook
Kell is the best contender at welterweight and one of the most talented fighters I've seen a long while. I haven't seen him as good as he was against Matthew Hatton some years ago but that may be due to a lack of ambition with mediocre opponents sent his way. He deserves a title shot and his skill and power will gain him a belt against anyone outside of the top 3 at 147 lb.
7. Tyson Fury
Future heavyweight champion of the world? Who knows. Exciting? Undoubtedly. Tyson Fury is loud and brash and absolutely arrogant but he has come a long way since his debut. He is in better shape now, his footwork has improved and his jab is a real weapon now. By modern standards, he is a skilled heavyweight with size on his side. This is a big year for the traveling heavyweight.
8. Ricky Burns
The Scottish star is clearly past his prime, the years in which he beat Roman Martinez are long gone. He has still shown immense heart and determination and against Crawford, he was far from outclassed by a man who was a big betting favourite. Burns can come again I believe, Crawford is not too big a job for him, he allowed himself to be outworked, something burns himself was an expert in.
9. Martin Murray
When looking at Murray who see a well rounded fighter, a Jack of all Trades if you prefer but he seems to lack that internal self belief. Against both Sturm and the great Martinez, he slowed down in the championship rounds and allowed the fight to be taken away from him, something to which he has admitted. Why? We may never know. What we do know is that he is highly skilled and can take a shot, all he needs now is a big return to form.
10. Derek Chisora
Only ever beaten by the best, Derek Chisora is, in my opinion a top 5 heavyweight, who has often been let down by his own lifestyle. To his credit, he has worked hard to redeem himself and the results have shown. He is a tad slow and lacks stamina for a full 3 minute assault but he makes up for it with a big heart and a decent defence. Another future heavyweight champion?
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