World Ranked British fighters...

[JazMerkin]

I think we're all going to pick out different fighters who we think maybe don't deserve the ranking, but for the most part it is going to be down to perspective and what you judge and over what kind of period.

Sam Sexton's rank is surprising....but my bugbear with his only decent win over Rogan is well documented. Not sure Afolabi nor Hide can really be considered true Brits in the cruisers.

Welsh contingent Pryce and Rees are in there on luck more than form against quality opposition I think.

The other one I sort of have a problem with is the Hatton ranking. It's nearly a year away from his last victory over Malignaggi, and has a devastating defeat defeat more recently against a guy who stepped up to fight him. I sort of think he's really beyond the rankings now, like Pacquiao and Mayweather, where they will only fight the massive money fights where weight and division and title seem to be a side detail to a huge fight.

How so mate?

I mean both consider themselves Brits (I know Ola does because I know him) & both were raised here. Ola was actually born here. He only went to the States to box after he'd been doing it here awhile. I could see an argument about Olusegun, but not Ola or Hide. Let's put it this way, they're as British as Matthew Macklin or Paul McCloskey

Well, except they say they're Brits.

Had to laugh at Hatton only being one ahead of Rees in the WBO rankings

Matthew Macklin was born and reared in england and although both parents are from tipperary, hes as english as you can get. Paul mc Closkey would not consider himself British, even though hes british champion (that old politics shit again). Just watch McCloskey this next 12 to 18months. I honestly feel he can beat the other guys on that list, Hatton included. This guy should have been fighting championship fights 4-5yrs ago. Hopefully he'll win in early november and get a shot at khan because i've thought that he would beat him this past 2yrs, and i like khan. thats how good i rate McCloskey. Does anybody else think that the way Brian Magee has been treated is nothing short of disgraceful? I mean, the guy stood aside and let 2 others fight for his british title (which he didnt have to do) when he got injured. When the exact same scenario happened to Paul Smith (the winner of the 2) ,he refused to stand aside like magee did,to let Magee fight for his british title. Ok he didnt HAVE to do it, But if Magee was decent enough to let them fight for his title then surely the favour should have been reciprocated

Macklin actually says he considers himself Irish. My point was that he's no different to Ola Afolabi, who born & raised here, only difference was he chose to go the States to pursue his pro career. I agree on Magee, the way Smith acted has led to me really hoping Quigley batters him. I rate McCloskey, but I feel he's unlikely to get a fight with Khan, he's better off pursuing Urango, because the other guys have better money options available.

[skel1983]

How so mate?

I mean both consider themselves Brits (I know Ola does because I know him) & both were raised here. Ola was actually born here. He only went to the States to box after he'd been doing it here awhile. I could see an argument about Olusegun, but not Ola or Hide. Let's put it this way, they're as British as Matthew Macklin or Paul McCloskey

Well, except they say they're Brits.

Had to laugh at Hatton only being one ahead of Rees in the WBO rankings

Matthew Macklin was born and reared in england and although both parents are from tipperary, hes as english as you can get. Paul mc Closkey would not consider himself British, even though hes british champion (that old politics shit again). Just watch McCloskey this next 12 to 18months. I honestly feel he can beat the other guys on that list, Hatton included. This guy should have been fighting championship fights 4-5yrs ago. Hopefully he'll win in early november and get a shot at khan because i've thought that he would beat him this past 2yrs, and i like khan. thats how good i rate McCloskey. Does anybody else think that the way Brian Magee has been treated is nothing short of disgraceful? I mean, the guy stood aside and let 2 others fight for his british title (which he didnt have to do) when he got injured. When the exact same scenario happened to Paul Smith (the winner of the 2) ,he refused to stand aside like magee did,to let Magee fight for his british title. Ok he didnt HAVE to do it, But if Magee was decent enough to let them fight for his title then surely the favour should have been reciprocated

Macklin actually says he considers himself Irish. My point was that he's no different to Ola Afolabi, who born & raised here, only difference was he chose to go the States to pursue his pro career. I agree on Magee, the way Smith acted has led to me really hoping Quigley batters him. I rate McCloskey, but I feel he's unlikely to get a fight with Khan, he's better off pursuing Urango, because the other guys have better money options available.

I agree with Jaz how can Macklin be as British as they come?? If you ever listen to Macklin he refers to his irish roots as often as he can which I dont blame him for all my family are irish, he has also fought for the Irish title at Middleweight, he was born in England yes but to say hes as British as they come I think he is more prouder of his Irish roots.

Also McClosky should of been fighting championship fights 4/5 years ago??
You do realise he only turned pro 4 years ago? 19 fights in and fighting for the European Title in his own backyard seems if anything ahead of schedule to me, Khan would whoop him aswell.

[HattonTheHammer]

light middle division must be so shit if anthony small is ranked 6 and how the hell can cleverly not be on the ring magazine top 15 yet??

[ryanman]

Macklin considers himself Irish i believe.
Don't see at all why Hide wouldn't count as British.
Afolabi i hadn't really thought of as British although i knew he was born here. But If he was born here and considers himself British, then that is good enough for me. Who am i to argue?

[JazMerkin]

light middle division must be so shit if anthony small is ranked 6 and how the hell can cleverly not be on the ring magazine top 15 yet??

Maybe because it's a Top 10

[johnmaff36]

Matthew Macklin was born and reared in england and although both parents are from tipperary, hes as english as you can get. Paul mc Closkey would not consider himself British, even though hes british champion (that old politics shit again). Just watch McCloskey this next 12 to 18months. I honestly feel he can beat the other guys on that list, Hatton included. This guy should have been fighting championship fights 4-5yrs ago. Hopefully he'll win in early november and get a shot at khan because i've thought that he would beat him this past 2yrs, and i like khan. thats how good i rate McCloskey. Does anybody else think that the way Brian Magee has been treated is nothing short of disgraceful? I mean, the guy stood aside and let 2 others fight for his british title (which he didnt have to do) when he got injured. When the exact same scenario happened to Paul Smith (the winner of the 2) ,he refused to stand aside like magee did,to let Magee fight for his british title. Ok he didnt HAVE to do it, But if Magee was decent enough to let them fight for his title then surely the favour should have been reciprocated

Macklin actually says he considers himself Irish. My point was that he's no different to Ola Afolabi, who born & raised here, only difference was he chose to go the States to pursue his pro career. I agree on Magee, the way Smith acted has led to me really hoping Quigley batters him. I rate McCloskey, but I feel he's unlikely to get a fight with Khan, he's better off pursuing Urango, because the other guys have better money options available.

I agree with Jaz how can Macklin be as British as they come?? If you ever listen to Macklin he refers to his irish roots as often as he can which I dont blame him for all my family are irish, he has also fought for the Irish title at Middleweight, he was born in England yes but to say hes as British as they come I think he is more prouder of his Irish roots.

Also McClosky should of been fighting championship fights 4/5 years ago??
You do realise he only turned pro 4 years ago? 19 fights in and fighting for the European Title in his own backyard seems if anything ahead of schedule to me, Khan would whoop him aswell.

Your right my friend. In my haste in typing quickly i typed years when i meant fights and i'll explain why. I've spoken in the past to quite a few guys who have trained in Breens,john himself included, and have seen him spar and each one sang his praises highly. He had a good amateur pedigree and has been well ahead of himself from the off. Couple that with dedication (he drives 110 mile round trips to train god knows how many times a week) and good living, is a great start. You say Khan would whup him? fair enough but i disagree. As for the Macklin thing, that wasnt intended to come out the way it did. I was just trying to make the point that he was born in england and that you cant be anymore english than if your born there. Not having a pop, just saying. As for the irish title, please give me a break. An all-ireland senior title has more kudos than the pro equivalent. Even the lads will tell you that themselves but i digress. You made 2 great points there and i apologise and hope you accept my explainations

[dulcechristo]

if wbo has smith ranked #4 (seems kinda high), maybe instead of defending the british title against dodson in march, why doesn't he just challenge stieglitz for the wbo? wouldn't the wbo title carry more weight as far as getting big fights? a liverpool/manchester fight could draw enough live gate and tv $$ to make it attractive for stieglitz but smith would probably need to travel to germany. stieglitz was scheduled to fight edison miranda but instead just beat ruben acosta after miranda pulled out. april would be open for his 2nd defense. that fight would seem to make a lot of sense for both fighters for a lot of reasons

[skel1983]

if wbo has smith ranked #4 (seems kinda high), maybe instead of defending the british title against dodson in march, why doesn't he just challenge stieglitz for the wbo? wouldn't the wbo title carry more weight as far as getting big fights? a liverpool/manchester fight could draw enough live gate and tv $$ to make it attractive for stieglitz but smith would probably need to travel to germany. stieglitz was scheduled to fight edison miranda but instead just beat ruben acosta after miranda pulled out. april would be open for his 2nd defense. that fight would seem to make a lot of sense for both fighters for a lot of reasons

Maybe cos Smith is crap lol, nah I think he should try get a wbo shot Stieglitz isnt any world beater but either is Smith, I think Dodson has a shot at beating him in a few weeks.