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Message: [QUOTE="JAXCUSE, post: 4279259, member: 516"] Allot of Top Rank guys on that ESPN list.… I wonder what a Showtime “commentators” list would look like. Lol…. That aside, I agree with the Top 4. A couple of selections open to debate, but most of the guys there belong on a list of the best in the sport, in some sort or way. In the end, P4P lists are opinion and conjecture. Douggie Fischer (Ring Magazine) once referred to them as “mental masturbation.” I tend to agree. Fun to think about…. I put together a list of my own “mental masturbation” - the top fighters I’ve watched during my lifetime. From 1970 or so forward. Wasn’t old enough (before that) to critically observe or appreciate what I was seeing or reading. Harder to watch all the high end talent, but allot of fights were on regular TV and early cable. Boxing was so regional in the 70’s especially - SOCAL, Philly, NY, Chicago, the Orient, Mexico, Argentina, even CNY, etc. But they were easy (and cheap) to attend. I watched many good fights at the Garden, Felt Forum, Blue Horizon, even saw a couple at the old Olympic in LA. My old man loved to road trip and see good fights. The boxing mags also had superb writers then too - all local and covered their respective “beats.” Like all media once did….. Anyways, here’s my list. Opinions are my own and worth what you paid for It. Lol…. Best fighters observed (by weight category) during my lifetime: Heavyweight - Ali (unfortunately, his Prime was pre-suspension, not after he came back in 1970) Cruiser - Holyfield (Usyk close 2nd - unfortunately, his was a weaker era than during the ”Real Deal’s”) Light Heavy - Michael Spinks (Bob Foster runner up) Super Middle - Roy Jones (thought it was his best weight, where he was most dominant, even though weak division) Middleweight - Marvelous Marvin Hagler (Carlos Monzon a close runner up) Jr Middlewight - Mike McCallum Welterweight - Sugar Ray Leonard (pre retinal surgery retirement) Jr Welterweight - Wilfred Benitez (many might say Aaron Pryor) Lightweight - Roberto Duran (Pernell Whitaker runner up) Jr Lightweight - Alexis Arguello Featherweight - Salvador Sanchez (died at 24 in car accident - in his prime) Jr Featherweight - Wilfredo Gomez Bantamweight - Carlos Zarate, Inoue (Eder Jofre, widely considered the best, was just a little before my time). Jr Bantamweight (115) - Jiro Watanabe (many consider Khaosai Galaxy as the best ever) Flyweight (112) - Miguel Canto (really liked Betulio Gonzalez as well - same time frame) Jr Flyweight (108/110) - Michael Carbajal (although “Chiquita” Gonzalez beat him 2 out of 3) Best P4P (at their best during my observation period): SRL RJJ Duran Sanchez Whitaker Ali Mayweather Jr Most Dangerous Puncher (one punch, KO power) - Julian Jackson (early-mid 80’s Jr Middle / Middle). Runner Up - Earnie Shavers (Heavyweight), Tommy Hearns (Welter-Middle), Wilder (Heavyweight) Heaviest Hands (pound into submission) - Big George Foreman, John Mugabi (mid 80’s Middleweight), David Tua Best Chin - Ali and Hagler Best Infighter - Duran Best Defense - Mayweather, Benitez Best Counterpuncher - Benitez, Whitaker, Mayweather Best Body Puncher - McCallum, Julio Caesar Chavez Sr, Carlos Palomino (Welter Champ late 70’s) Best Uppercut - RJJ, Tyson Best LH - Joe Frazier, Cyclone Hart, Bennie Briscoe (all Philly fighters), Pipino Cuevas (70’s Welter Champ) Best Jab - Larry Holmes, Ali, Lennox Lewis, Alexis Arguello, DeLaHoya Fastest Hands - RJJ (SRL’s reflexes were beyond worldly, but RJJ had the fastest mitts) Highest Ring IQ - Ali, SRL, Mayweather Strongest - Foreman Biggest “Bleeders” - Vito Antuofermo, Sean O’Grady, Alfredo Escalera, Jerry Quarry Fan friendly (excitement - win or lose) - Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Bobby Chacon (70’s Featherweights), Gatti (when not overmatched), Frank ‘The Animal” Fletcher, Matthew Saad Muhammad (Franklin) Best (competitive action) Fights - Pryor/Arguello 1, Castillo/Corrales 1, Foreman/Lyle, Marquez/Vasquez 2, Barerra/Morales 1, Pac/Morales 2, Gatti/Ward 1, Matthew Saad Muhammad/Marvin Johnson 1+2 Best Rd - Hagler/Hearns (1st) Best KO (1 Punch) - Jackson/Herol Graham, Hearns/Duran, Jackson/Terry Norris, Pac/Ricky Hatton, Marquez/Pac 4, James Toney/Charles Williams, Foreman/Moorer, McCallum/Donald Curry, SRL/Davey “Boy” Green Most Brutal Beatings - Frazier/Foreman 1, Thrilla in Manila, Ali/Shavers, Matthew Saad Muhammad/Dwight Qawi, Sanchez/Gomez, JCC/Edwin Rosario, JCC/Meldrick Taylor 1, Duran/Ray Lampkin, Duran/Davey Moore Biggest “Decision Robberies” - Tyrone Everett/Alfredo Escalera, JCC/Whitaker, Holyfield/Lewis 1 Biggest Unknown - How would the 70’s Heavyweights be remembered if Teo Stevenson (Cuban Amateur) was a Pro? Biggest Events - Ali/Frazier 1, Ali/Foreman, SRL/Duran 1, SRL/Hagler, Zarate/Zamora (undefeated Mexican Bantam clash in LA) Best Native CNY Pro Fighter - Billy Backus (Carmen Basilio, the unquestioned GOAT, I only watched on film) I guess because I’m old, I’m biased towards the “old timers.” There is some ATG talent out there today (Canelo, Crawford, Monster, Usyk). Mayweather and Ward retired unbeaten. Boxers today are bigger, stronger, faster; like every sport. Some is due to training and lifestyle, some of it is PEDs…. We are in the era of day before weigh-ins (some fighters are 10 lbs heavier when they enter the ring) and this generation no longer fights 15 in Championship bouts. For me, that separated the “men from the boys.” Fighters today are just not as battle tested as they once were. But, think today’s fighters fight allot less, take less punishment (good for long term health) and they make allot more money. Last two are good things.…. [/QUOTE]

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