ESPN Reveals It's Pound 4 Pound Rankings Of Last 25 Years *Updated* #1 revealed on 3rd page!!!!!!!!!

GREENandYELLOW

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10. Ricardo Lopez
  • Record: 51-0-1, 38 KOs | Years active: 1985-2001

  • Weight classes: Strawweight, junior flyweight

  • Ttitles: 4

  • Top 3 signature wins: Saman Sorjaturong, TKO2, 1993; Kermin Guardia, UD12, 1994; Rosendo Alvarez, SD12, 1998
Stats & Info: Lopez finished his career with a record of 25-0-1 (19 KOs) in world title fights, including 21 consecutive title defenses from 1990-1999.

ESPN's take: "Finito" was a marvel to behold, a fluid stylist who dispatched victims with elegant precision. Considered by many to be the finest pure boxer of his era. Undefeated in 52 pro fights (38 KOs), the classy Mexican was limited only by his size and dearth of quality opposition. -- Nigel Collins


9. Juan Manuel Marquez
  • Record: 56-7-1, 40 KOs | Years active: 1993-Present

  • Weight classes: Featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight

  • Titles: 7

  • Top 3 signature wins: Manny Pacquiao, KO6, 2012; Juan Diaz, TKO9, 2009; Marco Antonio Barrera, UD12, 2007
Stats & Info: Marquez was involved in the RING Magazine and BWAA 2009 Fight of the Year against Juan Diaz and 2012 Fight of the Year against Manny Pacquiao.

ESPN's take: The four-division titlist and Mexican legend built a reputation as one of the toughest and smartest boxers of his era. A master counter puncher, his legacy will also be defined by longevity. Marquez rebuilt his body late in his career and had success at higher weight classes as a puncher. -- Brian Campbell

8. Pernell Whitaker
  • Record: 40-4-1, 17 KOs | Years active: 1984-2001

  • Weight classes: Lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight

  • Titles: 6

  • Top 3 signature wins: Azumah Nelson, UD12, 1990; James "Buddy" McGirt, UD12, 1993; Jose Luis Ramirez, UD12, 1989
Stats & Info: Whitaker won the lineal and WBC welterweight champion from Buddy McGirt in 1993 and made eight title defenses from 1993-1997.

ESPN's take: The 1984 U.S. Olympic gold medalist was a defensive wizard who was nearly impossible to hit in his prime. Known for his quick jab and ring generalship, "Sweet Pea" won titles in four divisions and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.-- Brian Campbell


7. Evander Holyfield
  • Record: 44-10-2, 29 KOs | Years active: 1984-2011

  • Weight classes: Light heavyweight, cruiserweight, heavyweight

  • Titles: 11

  • Top 3 signature wins: Dwight Muhammad Qawi, SD15, 1986; Buster Douglas, KO3, 1990; Mike Tyson, TKO11, 1996
Stats & Info: Holyfield is the only fighter in history to win a portion of the World Heavyweight Championship four times.

ESPN's take: I would have ranked him higher -- top 5- even though his greatest fights came in the 1990s. The toughest, most determined heavyweight I ever covered. Insisting the fight continue after Tyson bit off a chunk of his ear in their 1997 rematch has got to be ranked among the most courageous moments in boxing history.-- Wally Matthews


6. Oscar De La Hoya
  • Record: 39-6, 30 KOs | Years active: 1992-2008

  • Weight classes: Junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight, middleweight

  • Titles: 10

  • Top 3 signature wins: Julio Cesar Chavez, TKO4, 1996; Hector Camacho, UD12, 1997; Ike Quartey, SD12, 1999
Stats & Info: De La Hoya won world titles in 6 different divisions, more than any American boxer in history.

ESPN's take: Often overlooked is that despite Oscar's movie star looks, suave style and mad skills, he was a genuine badass inside the ring. Never ducked anyone. Almost always went for the KO. All of which, made him boxing's biggest crossover star and PPV king of the 1990s and early 2000s. -- Nigel Collins
 

GREENandYELLOW

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From Dan Rafael's chat wrap:

Matt (Philly)
Dan, I love the Top 25 PFP list. Great idea by the ESPN staff. I'm interested to hear who makes the top few spots. Any surprises on the list?

Dan Rafael, King Fight Freak
(12:25 PM)

Yes there are a few major surprises that I won't give away but let's just say I am extremely disappointed with how some of the top 5 turned out and dramatically disagree.

Edit:
Dan reveals how he voted (as the list is announced):

25. GGG
24. Calzaghe
23. Norris
22. Sergio Martinez
21. Chocolatito
20. Hamed
19. Cotto
18. Holyfield
17. Lennox Lewis
16. Too Sharp
15. Ward
14. Toney
13. Barrera
12. Tito
11. Mosley
10. Winky
9. DLH
8. JMM
7. JCC
6. Ricardo Lopez
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. RJJ
 
Last edited:

MJ Truth

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So the top five is going to be Mayweather (who's going to be #1), Pacquiao, Roy, Bernard Hopkins, and Pernel, but in what order? Personally I got it 1-Mayweather, 2-Roy, 3-Whitaker, 4-Pac, 5-Hopkins.

Extremely surprised to see Rafael have GGG on his list over Bradley, though there was no doubt in my mind that GGG was going to make ESPN's list. They need the clicks/talk so he had to make the list because him being on there will generate conversation. I don't look at it as any different than Steph Curry being above Isiah, Wade, etc., on the all-time NBA lists.

Edited, had Chavez instead of Pernel
 
Last edited:

malbaker86

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So the top five is going to be Mayweather (who's going to be #1), Pacquiao, Roy, Bernard Hopkins, and Chavez, but in what order? Personally I got it 1-Mayweather, 2-Roy, 3-Pac, 4-Hopkins, 5-Chavez.

Extremely surprised to see Rafael have GGG on his list over Bradley, though there was no doubt in my mind that GGG was going to make ESPN's list. They need the clicks/talk so he had to make the list because him bething on there will generate conversation. I don't look at it as any different than Steph Curry being above Isiah, Wade, etc., on the all-time NBA lists.

Bingo. You even got folks in this thread that fail to realize this.
 
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