11/20/06

#1 Wlad Klitschko

--at the top only because he KO'd Byrd, who was the longest reigning (& best).
--consistent jab/cross and excellent hook
--I was at the garden for the brock fight and wlad was not impressive at all. ( i know that i'm late, but he held for rouns 3-5, doing no work.)
--Any power puncher with marginal skills will be able to counter his 'jab and hold technique.' What makes me laugh is that the same commentators were criticizing John Ruiz for using the same tactics!

#2 James Toney
--uncrowned WBA champ (steroids charge was trumped from arm medicine)
--draw against WBC champ Rahman
--clearly beat the #2 contender (S.Peter)
--KO'd Evander Holyfield (no rankings, please!) in his FIRST heavyweight fight!
--his size is his only concern, because the speed does alot for his loss of power

#3 Chris Byrd
--only 3 losses to 2 people as a Heavyweight (where are you, Ibeabuchi?)
--dominant as IBF champ for 4 years after Lennox would not fight him
--one of the most talented heavyweights since Larry Holmes
--ranked under Toney b/c of KO loss and inactivity

#4 Shannon Briggs
--only 6 of 48 wins were NOT KO's; only 4 losses in 53 fights
--12 for 12 with 12 KO's since losing to Jameel McCline in 2002
--has the best (and worse) resume of all boxers below him
--can use his power alone to unify the division

#5 Oleg Maskaev*--MAY APPEAR AND BE REMOVED BY A SINGLE LOSS
--only 7 of 33 wins were not KO's
--durable fighter who beat a recognized champion
--resume shows experience runs deep

#6 Sam Peter
--power, Power, POWER!!!
--is a smaller version of Briggs with less boxing skills & accuracy
--needs better competition to challenge him in the ring

#7 Nicolay Valuev
--undefeated in 44 fights is no easy task
--height and power are beneficial
--knows how to close when he hurts an opponent

#8 Lamon Brewster
--still in rankings because he is the last to beat Klitschko
--also tamed a rising Krasniqi with one good punch
--hasn't fought or planned a fight
--will he fight now that his eye is damaged?

#9 Ruslan Chagaev
--undefeated contender
--just beat a game and fighting John Ruiz
--brought up well in his development

#10 Sultan Ibragimov
--Looked strong in his fights before v. Austin
--remains undefeated
--still a contender with an unknown variable

Honorable mentions:

CalvinBrock
--a B-rated fighter
--one of those people who get 3, 4, 5 shots at the title but doesn't quite pull it off.
--he will always be good enough to get into the lower 10 rankings.

Sergei Lyakhovich
--looked great against Brewster & Dominick Guinn
--ok boxing skills; would like to see him against Brock

John Ruiz
--lost a tough decision to Chagaev
--3x champ who always finds a way to win
--can't endure real power punchers & pure boxers

Tony 'the Tiger' Thompson
--the next pure boxer in the HW division
--will give lots of top ten fighters fits
--has trouble with people's power

Sinan Samil Sam
--always in the Intcontinental title mix
--fights & sometimes beats ranked boxers
--would be good to see his contention stateside

Oliver McCall
--one thing--punching power.


David Tua does NOT belong in the rankings until he actually fights...
Hasim Rahman does not belong in the rankings until he finds his ba s again...
Ray Austin does NOT belong in the rankings, period.
Chris Arreola does get a shout, but he is too young. Give him time to settle down.
Chazz Witherspoon... HA~!

FINALLY...
If Evander should be in the top ten after he beat Oquendo, then why wasn't Oquendo in the top ten? Why weren't people calling for Oquendo to be in the top ten? Besides that, he barely squeeked by with a decision...

holla back!