The Real Meaning of "Pound for Pound"

[boliodogs]

Exactly. OP used the original meaning of the term P4P which I avoid because I don't feel it's fair to the big guys. Smaller guys are always gonna LOOK more skilled because less mass typically leads to more agility which leads to more finesse.

The ole "If everyone was the same weight class" always tends to favor the smaller fighter for this reason. It's as if people don't realize that at equal size, no fighter will move the same. I like to keep things fair and simple. The fighter with the best resume is the best fighter in the sport.


I agree 100%

I think this could be overcome with a little imagination. If you are comparing a heavyweight pfp against a lightweight you would have to assume he would be much faster if a he were a lightweight. If a heavyweight was an extremely fast heavyweight then you must assume he would be an extremely fast lightweight if he was a lightweight. If you just compare a top lightweight directly against a top heavyweight skill for skill, speed for speed the lightweight will always win. He will be much faster and throw a lot more punches.

[boliodogs]

Just stick to who they beat all that eye test crap is nonsense. So many fighters look fantastic when fighting low level opposition and then don't look so good when they step up.

This very true but if a boxer had not already fought at least once against top level opposition very few would even consider ranking him in the top 10 pfp. When you are comparing two boxers who have both faced and defeated quality opposition then the eye test becomes very valuable. The boxer with the better resume may be on a downhill slide so you need to go at least partly by how good they look in the ring today in my opinion.

[GoldenGloveLove]

Did GGG really look skilled to you in the Canelo fight? What I saw was a guy who was clueless, lost, and shooting in the dark. He could hardly land any of his power shots, while Canelo did several times. Skill for skill, Canelo is way better.

Of course he looked skilled. They both looked skilled to anyone who can see skills.

It’s strictly subjective so the list isnt that relevant.

Only noobs talk about pfp and sht like it means something.

Teddy Atlas, Emanuel Steward, Muhammad Ali and Bert Sugar all have or had in common that they were...noobs? Really? Because they all talked about p4p rankings.

Just stick to who they beat all that eye test crap is nonsense. So many fighters look fantastic when fighting low level opposition and then don't look so good when they step up.

Exactly. If a guy looks like a caveman to you with no rhyme or reason for doing anything and horrible technique but he moves through three weight classes murdering a bunch of slick boxers who fight like Pernell Whitaker, what is the point of the eye test? Sure, to a degree, you can see skill, and you can see it help a fighter, or a lack of it hurt a fighter, but if they prove they can get the job done, they have to be rated on the ability to do it, not if it looks polished or diverse or orthodox or pretty.

Remember, due to physical differences, smaller guys don't usually fight or win fights the same way big guys do. You won't see any HWs moving like Manny Pac and you won't see many FWs sending guys into seizures after a few punches like Wilder. Certain traits don't move up and down. The idea of P4P is rating who the best are, without just picking the biggest.

Yes. That's why a heavyweight can be rated and why weight-jumping isn't some kind of ultimate proof necessarily either.

[Madison Boxing]

'GGG for example has many skills. But his main tool is a jab, constant effective pressure and KO power in both hands. The style he fights won't be effective a SMW or LHW' so it wouldnt be effective at just 8 pounds above the limit he fights at? klitschko ran the heavyweight division for about 6 years mainly with his jab. dont really get this thread at all lol, you mention resume then mention crawford later on. also spence is hardly a fighter who fights with a huge amount of finesse, he was getting outboxed by brook for a good chunk of the fight and applies 'constant effective pressure' but he can be p4p and golovkin cant?