Reasons why Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez is #1 P4P.

[SterlingStained]

Boom.............

boom what?

stop relying on others to speak for you.



HOW THE HELL YOU GONNA NAME A P4P#1 OVERALL FIGHTER WITHOUT A SINGLE WIN AGAINST AN OPPONENT YOU CAN RIGHTFULLY SAY WAS A GREAT FIGHTER????

stop being dumb.

if its just about looking good and flashy and slick hell give it to rigo. at least the man beat donaire who was p4p who beat montiel and darchinyan who were p4p overall.


i like roman gonzalez.

HE IS NOT DESERVING OF P4P #1 OVER OTHER FIGHTERS WHO HAVE BEATEN LEGIT GREAT OPPONENTS UNDER THEIR SCALP.

[crold1]

I agree with most of your post, but see, having seen Niida, Takayama, Yaegashi, I know they're accomplished precisely because those weightclasses are weak as hell, these are well conditioned men who have good technique compared to the rest and that's enough to become champs in the diluted wightclasses. No world class talent, power, speed, size, chin, skills, craft.........just solid professionals. They're rated in terms of accomplishments, and that's the credit Roman gets from me, but let's not forget a guy like Joyi for example, who has about the same level of resume at straw than Gonzalez before he started becoming a KO highlight reel victim...I'm just not impressed at all.

Sosa has struggled badly over the last few years with guys who posses power and speed, even club level guys...it's a nice putting an old guy out of his misery win and all, but again, not really something that builds a legacy.

Estrada was a career flyweight moving down for his first big step up, it's a nice win, but the rematch will really determine who's deserving of top p4p consideration.

Like I said before Roman has separated himself from the pack, but it;s not enough to say he is the best p4p, not by a long shot.

Sosa's struggles were with speed more than anything. And I'm not overly impressed with the depth that was there at 105 or 108. Both were top heavy when Roman was there. It's this class and run at Fly that does impress me. You do have the range: three Olympians, several seasoned former titlists, even a God awful bore who can go bad Hopkins/Wlad clinch and stick you to death in Ruenroeng. The field is there for him to prove his chops even more. The Flyweight field was probably this talented last in the 90s but the fights didn't happen. The fights are happening fairly regularly the last four years. I think this is the best 112 class since Canto-Gonzalez-Ohba-Oguma etc.

I don't know that anyone has separated. This is no runaway and I'll debate but I can't over argue with the other names floating around. That's the fun right now. You've got a group of talents in their prime, most of whom will get chances to define their place (except Rigo who will die on the vine, in part because he asks too high a price for little return on investment and in part because no one wants to bother with the L). IMO, Roman has the most balance of quality wins and total skill set of that bunch with Kovalev right behind him. If in 2016 we get Estrada II and Ward for those guys, we'll still be arguing.

[-Hyperion-]

Sosa's struggles were with speed more than anything. And I'm not overly impressed with the depth that was there at 105 or 108. Both were top heavy when Roman was there. It's this class and run at Fly that does impress me. You do have the range: three Olympians, several seasoned former titlists, even a God awful bore who can go bad Hopkins/Wlad clinch and stick you to death in Ruenroeng. The field is there for him to prove his chops even more. The Flyweight field was probably this talented last in the 90s but the fights didn't happen. The fights are happening fairly regularly the last four years. I think this is the best 112 class since Canto-Gonzalez-Ohba-Oguma etc.

I don't know that anyone has separated. This is no runaway and I'll debate but I can't over argue with the other names floating around. That's the fun right now. You've got a group of talents in their prime, most of whom will get chances to define their place (except Rigo who will die on the vine, in part because he asks too high a price for little return on investment and in part because no one wants to bother with the L). IMO, Roman has the most balance of quality wins and total skill set of that bunch with Kovalev right behind him. If in 2016 we get Estrada II and Ward for those guys, we'll still be arguing.

See, I agree that 112 is stronger right now, and I will guarantee that when those fights happen, Roman will not look like the P4P #1. I've been skeptical about guys like Moreno-Yamanaka-Hasegawa-Wonkongjam in the last few years because I know they weren't fighting anyone above the level of solid professional...and I don't think I've been proven wrong to be cautious when people start labeling these guys as p4p contenders....time will tell. I'd definitely think Kovalev would be #1 for beating Ward, but I would have no problem rating Roman top 2 or 3 if he beats Estrada again...considering the opposition available to other p4p contenders.

[crold1]

See, I agree that 112 is stronger right now, and I will guarantee that when those fights happen, Roman will not look like the P4P #1. I've been skeptical about guys like Moreno-Yamanaka-Hasegawa in the last few years because I know they weren't fighting anyone above the level of solid professional...and I don't think I've been proven wrong to be cautious when people start labeling these guys as p4p contenders....time will tell. I'd definitely think Kovalev would be #1 for beating Ward, but I would have no problem rating Roman top 2 or 3 if he beats Estrada again...considering the opposition available to other p4p contenders.

I bit on Hasegawa and was wrong there. Moreno I still think is top 15-20 in the sport. The Mares loss was just to another excellent fighter on a roll. Someone has to lose. He's a beautiful boxer and what he did to Darchinyan only one other guy ever did when it mattered. I was never quite sold on Yamanaka as top ten stuff and thought he showed he's just a good solid guy again Tuesday.

Let's face it: most of the guys who crack the top tens from year to year don't stick. Michael Nunn always a favorite example...#3! and so what in the long run?

[Left Hook Tua]

Hypothetical evaluation? Must be what the ring has been using lately on their rankings

P4P is always that.

hard to compare fighters when they all have different opponents.

[daggum]

why anyone takes p4p lists seriously always baffles me. it's clearly just based on popularity/what's in front of their eyes. they put floyd at #2 after beating hernandez and a solid manfredy, yet pac was lineal champ at 112, moved up 3 divisions and beat one of the best fighters and wasn't even on the list. even after he beat barrera for another lineal title they only placed him at #6. did pacs career just start at the barrera fight? because that's how these voters act. some people just have to do more when it comes to these lists. out of sight out of mind.

[Left Hook Tua]

he's also competed in the three most diluted weightclasses...they're as weak as the heavyweight division....

Gonzalez doesn't have the best resume, doesn't pass the eye test compared to others who are comparable in terms of opposition and hype.

the problem with 105-112 is it's hard to rank them.

1 the fights are rarely shown in the u.s. so most are unknown.

most ranked get there by winning a belt but those who have belts don't fight each other. not enough money to risk unification.

3rd most fighters don't stay in the divisions long enough.

but you can't compare 105-112 to heavy.

1. talent pool is deeper. more 5'2-5'4 guys out there than 6'2-6'4 guys. especially in latin america and asia.

also take amateur background. look at all the countries with medals 105-112.

heavyweight is what usually cuba and ex-soviet countries?

2. another thing 105-112 guys have is they're usually younger and better shape. hard to make 105-112 when you're old and don't train hard.

[Left Hook Tua]

btw ESTRADA-GONZALEZ wasn't close imo.

estrada put up a tough fight but gonzalez won most of the rounds.

i know mexican tv had it like 7-5, it wasn't.

[Left Hook Tua]

why anyone takes p4p lists seriously always baffles me. it's clearly just based on popularity/what's in front of their eyes. they put floyd at #2 after beating hernandez and a solid manfredy, yet pac was lineal champ at 112, moved up 3 divisions and beat one of the best fighters and wasn't even on the list. even after he beat barrera for another lineal title they only placed him at #6. did pacs career just start at the barrera fight? because that's how these voters act. some people just have to do more when it comes to these lists. out of sight out of mind.

i don't even care if roman is #1. i don't have a p4p list.

i just don't see the big deal with the criticism.

floyd retired, pac just loss, ward had 1 tuneup last 2 years, wlad is old and ggg has same resume questions as chocolatito.

so ring and others put chocolatito #1. that's their opinion. knowledgable opinion imo.

i don't see what there is to cry about.

[-Antonio-]

I don't like the term p4p. I more or less think of it as the most outstanding boxer currently combining resume and eye test. Wlad has been destroying everything in his path for 10 years now. He deserves the recognition now. If he beats Fury in dominant fashion then there should be no doubt.

To me Kovalev beating the great Hopkins 12 rounds to 0 even at Hopkins old age is better than Chocolatito has ever done. Rigo and Ward have been inactIvery so I understand rating them lower. If either guy has a decent win then they could very well be number 1.