FIGHTER OF THE DECADE - Official Poll

[BrometheusBob.]

Would Pacquiao have ever been P4P #1 if Mayweather didn't have the break? I don't think so. Mayweather missing out on FOTD had nothing to do with boxing ability and everything to do with popularity.

Beating ODLH in '08 might not have been enough if I'm being honest, but his wins over Hatton and Cotto in '09 likely could have put him @ #1.

Also lol @ the poll. First off there are many years left, and these things tend to favor those who perform the best in the last half. Even if we honestly assess the totality of the decade, Mayweather will be hard to top and the fact that he is not at least a choice is laughable. Also laughable that Klitschko is not included as a choice.

Second off, all of these fighters are good but some have not demonstrated that they will ever be fighter of the decade caliber. Do you really think Danny Garcia or Donnie Nietes is in the running? I have a great deal of respect for Matthysse as well but I cannot imagine he will become fighter of the decade. I can't even recall a time when he was really on many p4p lists. (These aren't my only criticisms, but I think I've made my opinion of the poll clear.)

[Bald Shavers]

Even though Gonzalez will be 60-0 by the end of the decade, it won't be the undefeated record that will act as the main reason that he wins Fighter of the Decade - an undefeated record is basically useless if he avoids fighting the best fighters while they're still in their primes (waiting for particular opponents to be past their primes before fighting them will result in a tarnished legacy for Gonzalez even if he is 60-0 at the end of the decade). Look for him to be challenged in the years to come and expect him to pass the tests. These tests, not a fake undefeated record, will give Gonzalez Fighter of the Decade honors.

Gonzalez could wind up being the first Fighter of the Decade who was undefeated. Ali, Robinson, Duran, Leonard, and Pacquiao certainly weren't undefeated (an overrated feat) when they became Fighter of the Decade.

[GRIP STACCIN]

T-craw easily