Every Wednesday ESB will feature a new published letter directly from hardcore fight fans just like you! For those fight fans who don’t like what the average boxing scribe has to say, there’s only one way to get your point across…..SOUND OFF! Send all ‘Open Mic Fan Mail’ letters to wallace@boxing247.com, and remember, there are 3 simple rules to the game: Keep content short and concise, profanity free, and don’t be shy…..just shine….the mic is yours!. Today’s segment comes from Marcus W. (Los Angeles, CA):
Vivek,
There are so many fighters in the sport with so many different types of talent. Boxers, brawlers, technical, etc. The media is eager to label men pound-for-pound contenders, but most of the men they label rarely pan out to be the talent they predict. I’ve been a boxing fan for years, and never have I seen so many men considered pound-for-pound worthy who really aren’t. Last week was a perfect example. Chad Dawson was an undefeated fighter with a huge upside before his fight with Pascal. His effort was poor at best, and he showed no urgency to keep his undefeated record, and no effort to win the fight until it was too late.
Then you have fighters like Juan Manuel Lopez, and Andre Berto. Men who are really just average fighters, but they have exceptional promoters who make them look better than they will probably end up being when we see their final resume.
When you look at boxers around the sport, around the world, who stands out in your mind as a true pound-for-pound fighter that you would put your money on to be recognized that way when they leave the sport for good?
RESPONSE:
Marcus,
I’ll start by saying that I totally agree with several of your points. Although I don’t agree with the specific fighters you pointed out, I think your assessment about some average fighters in the sport having exceptional promoters who make them look better than they prove to be is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY ON-POINT! Without question, there are far more fighters today that never reach their stated potential, than those who do. That being said, I think promoters, as a result of working closely with their fighters, have a certain sense of confidence in the men that they promote, and may be inclined to promote them the way they do, not knowing that somewhere in the Philippines there’s a little ‘kid dynamite’ who will be incredible enough to scale 7 weight classes, or somewhere in Michigan is a kid whose family bleeds the pure fundamentals of boxing, and his incredible talent will be fundamentally unparalleled.
In other words, although there are some decent guys out there, you have a lower level, and you also have that small percentile where you find the Pacquiao’s the Mayweather’s, the Hopkins, etc. The list is far too long for me analyze who’s the good, the best, and the better, but in short, there are a couple of fighters that I would classify as P4P worthy, and at least one in which I can guarantee will be THEE P4P king before he walks away. Since there are so many amazing fighters around the world, I’ll span across a few of the continents to even the score:
MEXICO: The Mexican fighter of this era that I think truly exemplifies the workmanlike, rugged, warrior spirit of the Mexican brand is a guy that remains one of my top 3 fighters in the sport…..Juan Manuel Marquez. Absolutely incredible skills, an personally, an incredible guy. In this era, as many great Mexicans as we’ve seen, there is no one better to represent this country!
EUROPE: Joe Calzaghe finished with a career mark of perfection, but in today’s class, there’s another guy that I think really has the skills to be one of the greats if he can continue to build and evolve. That man is Amir Khan. In an era where men taste defeat and never rebound, this young man literally got (for lack of better terms) ‘KTFO’, but he never stopped. His dream was to be a perennial all-star, he got back on the road to accomplish that, and never looked back! His talent is easily the most under-rated of ANY fighter from the UK in this era. He remains a work in progress, therefore, my current P4P representative for Europe is Vitali Klitschko. Easily the most dominant fighter from this region in today’s market.
ASIA: Nonaito Donaire is solid, Chris John has been amazing to watch, and there are a few other guys coming on strong, but Manny Pacquiao steals this one like a thief in the night. Easily the Asian continents P4P representative for this era, every one of the past, and perhaps the future as well.
SOUTH AMERICA: With so many Latin fighters from South America in the lower weight divisions, it’s a bit tough to narrow down, but the the standout fighter who deserve most P4P recognition from this neck of the woods currently would be Sergio Martinez. As tough as they come….absolutely fearless! Marcos Maidana may unseat him, depending on how he fares over the next few years, but as of now, Martinez gets the nod.
AUSTRALIA: From the land down under, there are currently a few men who find themselves jockeying for position to carry this mantle. Katsidis and Green are clearly the front-runners, with Katsidis getting the nod, based on past accomplishment, and overall ability.
AFRICA: The continent of Africa has given us some brave warriors over the years, but right now, it’s a bit difficult to pinpoint a true P4P contender amongst the selection. Joshua Clottey is the most notable, but after his attempt to unseat Manny Pacquiao, his name could be received as a slight to most. Ali Funeka had been coming on strong as well, but a recent suspension and lackluster performance removes him from immediate contention as well. As of now, there is no true P4P leader from this continent. That question mark can only mean the table is set for a young prospect to rise to the occasion and prove his mettle. Stay tuned.
NORTH AMERICA: Without question, semi-retirement withstanding, Floyd Mayweather jr. currently holds this seat. Standing in his shadow is a young man from Oakland, California, who has not only proven his worth on the Olympic stage, but also received the endorsement of Floyd’s trainer/uncle, Roger Mayweather. Andre Ward has demonstrated what I find to be the best fundamental skill-set in the sport behind Floyd Mayweather jr, and a sound victory over Andre Dirrell could be enough to not only cement his place on today’s list, but subsequently establish some equity in his ultimate quest to be a hall-of-famer. A rare feat in today’s market.
Categorically, these are a few men that I would add to my list of P4P contenders today. They say great minds think alike, but you may consider someone else. That being said, now it’s time to hear what you guys think!….SOUND OFF!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), FaceBook, and Myspace)