"Fighter of the Decade" Rankings

[C-Lo]

Now for the actual numbers...

If you are going to rate the best of the decade, you definitely have to give credence to the undefeated's, especiallly if they were champions through that time.

1. Joe Calzaghe
2. Floyd Mayweather
3. Bernard Hopkins
4. Winky Wright
5. Manny Pacquiao
6. Juan Manuel Marquez
7. Shane Mosely
8. Miguel Cotto
9. Erik Morales
10. Antonio Margarito

.

Arawak,

I find it, er, "curious" that you would belittle me saying that Jermain Taylor is 'a top fighter' and then you list Joe Calzaghe above Mayweather.

FMJ was on the p4p list for a decade, and at the #1 slot for four years. Has Joe ever been the Ring Mag p4p #1?

FMJ beat top fighters across FIVE different weight classes. Joe recently entered his second weight class, and few were impressed by that performance. Yes, I know. Nobody looks good vs. B-Hop. But still.

I'm going to need your help here: what has Calzaghe accomplished that Mayweather did not?

Nice post!

Calzaghe has had a good two years in terms of opposition but not a good enough decade. Mayweather, Pacquiao, Hopkins IMO are way further ahead than Calzaghe is in a "fighter of the decade" perspective.

I'll give Calzaghe a huge amount of credit for staying undefeated throughout the decade but those other guys have better accomplishments. Mayweather also stayed undefeated BUT rose through the weight classes while fighting some BIG names, not to mention holding the P4P king spot. Pacquiao fought in the greatest featherweight era ever (Hamed, Barrera, Morales, Marquez) and came out the winning fighter and is the best P4P currently while teasing with the top spot while Mayweather was still active. Hopkins is a no brainer, beat ALL the big names, but when he loses, it's controversial. Someone can make a case for Hopkins being undefeated this decade.

[ross]

If you mean who has been the most consistent over the last 10 years it has to be Calzaghe, 10 years ago Jones was the best fighter p4p but for consistancy no one can match what Joe has done.

To stay at the top of his game and to beat a very good young undefeated fighter like Kessler (who will go on to prove his class) AFTER being the top dog in his division for 10 years and to piss all over him, totaly outclassing him.

If Mayweather can manage 10 years as champ in 1 weight and then after the ten years beat the best available competiton with ease (not avoiding the best fighters in certain weight classes to fight recenetly defeated)and has been names), then I would rank him higher than Joe but as it is he wont.

Mayweather wont be an undisputed or linear champ in any weight at 36, Joe was, in 2 differnt weights after being a champ undefeated for 11 years.

[C-Lo]

If you mean who has been the most consistent over the last 10 years it has to be Calzaghe, 10 years ago Jones was the best fighter p4p but for consistancy no one can match what Joe has done.

To stay at the top of his game and to beat a very good young undefeated fighter like Kessler (who will go on to prove his class) AFTER being the top dog in his division for 10 years and to piss all over him, totaly outclassing him.

If Mayweather can manage 10 years as champ in 1 weight and then after the ten years beat the best available competiton with ease (not avoiding the best fighters in certain weight classes to fight recenetly defeated)and has been names), then I would rank him higher than Joe but as it is he wont.

Mayweather wont be an undisputed or linear champ in any weight at 36, Joe was, in 2 differnt weights after being a champ undefeated for 11 years.

Like I said before, Calzaghe gets a lot of credit for remaining undefeated in my eyes but don't get carried away here. Who has he fought in 10 years with the exception of the past two years? A bunch of fighters people barely know.

The consistency award goes to Calzaghe but taking bigger/better fights or trying to get his name out there didn't happen until his thrashing of Lacy. Joe has had a hell of a 2 years, but other fighters have done more with a longer period of time.

I don't see how Calzaghe can be ahead of Mayweather in a "fighter of a decade sense." Yea Calzaghe dominated a weight class, but not a tough class. Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class). Joe moved up one weight class and won a questionable decision over Hopkins. Had Calzaghe moved up the weight classes like Floyd, he would've been destroyed a while ago.

Don't take this as Calzaghe bashing, I'm just trying to prove my point on a Mayweather vs Calzaghe "fighter of the decade" sense. Again, Pacquiao and Hopkins is still further in my list than Calzaghe is. 2 years does not equal a decade...

[ross]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

[C-Lo]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

You honestly think P4P Calzaghe would beat Mayweather? Calzaghe struggled against Hopkins who LET Joe back into the fight by not throwing punches. Mayweather is much harder to hit than Hopkins IMO and would have never stopped throwing punches. Either way, Joe over Floyd, NEGATIVE...

[QUISQUEYA]

[quote=ross;622821]

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

Chuckles.

There is nothing that Joe Calzaghe does in a boxing ring better than PBF.

p4p power
defense
speed
chin
ring generalship
accuracy
non-slappery

....nothing

[ICB]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

You can always count on Ross to give an unbiased opinion regarding British fighters

[CGM]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

Such as Hatton?

[ICB]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

Such as Hatton?

Don't bother he hasn't got a clue its well known fact swarmers like Jesus Chavez, Ricky Hatton, Phillip N'dou all got a pasting off Floyd Mayweather.

And Ross if you reply to this please don't say Jose Luis Castillo, he didn't swarm he bobbed and weaved picked his shots. And went almost entirely to the body.

Plus Floyd Mayweather had a injured shoulder in that fight, so he wasn't 100 percent. Joe Calzaghe had trouble against defensive counter puncher Bernard Hopkins.

And Floyd Mayweather is a better counter puncher, and also has a better defense than Bernard Hopkins. Joe Calzaghe was getting caught with straight right hands down the pipe all night, Floyd Mayweather would easily avoid Joe Calzaghe's slapping combinations, and would counter and pot shot Joe Calzaghe all night winning a clear cut UD.

[kingfrnk]

[Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class..

Or light welter

If Joe and Floyd were the same weight, Joe would win, Floyd needs fighters to give him space and time to be able to work, Joe would give him niether.

that is the dumbest shit i ever heard.

[Andre]

If you mean who has been the most consistent over the last 10 years it has to be Calzaghe, 10 years ago Jones was the best fighter p4p but for consistancy no one can match what Joe has done.

To stay at the top of his game and to beat a very good young undefeated fighter like Kessler (who will go on to prove his class) AFTER being the top dog in his division for 10 years and to piss all over him, totaly outclassing him.

If Mayweather can manage 10 years as champ in 1 weight and then after the ten years beat the best available competiton with ease (not avoiding the best fighters in certain weight classes to fight recenetly defeated)and has been names), then I would rank him higher than Joe but as it is he wont.

Mayweather wont be an undisputed or linear champ in any weight at 36, Joe was, in 2 differnt weights after being a champ undefeated for 11 years.

Like I said before, Calzaghe gets a lot of credit for remaining undefeated in my eyes but don't get carried away here. Who has he fought in 10 years with the exception of the past two years? A bunch of fighters people barely know.

The consistency award goes to Calzaghe but taking bigger/better fights or trying to get his name out there didn't happen until his thrashing of Lacy. Joe has had a hell of a 2 years, but other fighters have done more with a longer period of time.

I don't see how Calzaghe can be ahead of Mayweather in a "fighter of a decade sense." Yea Calzaghe dominated a weight class, but not a tough class. Mayweather moved up in weight and proved to be the best fighter in each class (with the exception of welterweight because I don't think he fought the best at that class). Joe moved up one weight class and won a questionable decision over Hopkins. Had Calzaghe moved up the weight classes like Floyd, he would've been destroyed a while ago.

Don't take this as Calzaghe bashing, I'm just trying to prove my point on a Mayweather vs Calzaghe "fighter of the decade" sense. Again, Pacquiao and Hopkins is still further in my list than Calzaghe is. 2 years does not equal a decade...

Yeah I agree, it cant count above fights taken, if we are adding undefeated into fighter of the decade why no put the retired German Okkte in there as well?

[QUISQUEYA]

If you mean who has been the most consistent over the last 10 years it has to be Calzaghe, 10 years ago Jones was the best fighter p4p but for consistancy no one can match what Joe has done.

To stay at the top of his game and to beat a very good young undefeated fighter like Kessler (who will go on to prove his class) AFTER being the top dog in his division for 10 years and to piss all over him, totaly outclassing him.

If Mayweather can manage 10 years as champ in 1 weight and then after the ten years beat the best available competiton with ease (not avoiding the best fighters in certain weight classes to fight recenetly defeated)and has been names), then I would rank him higher than Joe but as it is he wont.

Mayweather wont be an undisputed or linear champ in any weight at 36, Joe was, in 2 differnt weights after being a champ undefeated for 11 years.

Wait a minute. You are giving more credit to the guy who stays undefeated at ONE weight class than you give to the guy who moves up and consistently fought BIGGER opponents? That doesn't quite seem right. The most "consistent" thing about JC was his refusal to come to America to fight top comp.

Mayweather COULD have stayed at LW and dominated that division to this day. He didn't move up because of weight problems. He fights at WW weighing less than the guys at LW/JWW. Keep in mind that he had already beaten the guys who went on to dominate the LW division: Corrales and Castillo. The only guy he missed is Casamayor.

Let's do a quick recap:

130: Hernandez, Corrales (the best guys)
135: Castillo 2x (the best guy)
140: Hatton (the best guy, though the fight was at 147)
147: Judah (a top 5 guy at the time)
154: Delahoya (one of the best 2-3 guys)

So, in truth, PBF beat the best guys at THREE weight divisions. Possibly FOUR. Concur?

[Kev]

I love Calzaghe, the guy is a legend, but he's not even close to Floyd over the last decade.

Truth be told I'd put Pacquaio above him for the whole decade too. Knocking out Barrera and Morales plus a win over Marquez and world titles in 3 weight classes.

He fought everybody and beat them all.

[Hulk]

I vote John Ruiz.

[SweetPea]

Floyd is the fighter of the decade, and I don't think it's even up for debate.

The real debate is where people slot in behind him. I don't list Jones high, because he was only elite for the first 3-4 years of the decade. He belongs more on a list for top fighters of 90s.

If Pacquiao either beats DLH or looks very very good in defeat, I'd have him at #2. No offense to Calzaghe, but his opposition doesn't match up to Manny's.

I rank Billy Dib 10,374th.