Category: Rankings

Pound-for-pound: King Tyson can’t be denied after that performance

Tyson Fury climbs from honorable mention to No. 8 on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list after stopping Deontay Wilder on Saturday.

The pound-for-pound concept was devised as a means of comparing fighters regardless of weight.

For example, not so long ago, we could’ve asked: Who would’ve won a bout between Floyd Mayweather and Wladimir Klitschko had they been the same size? Easy. Mayweather, whose skill set was far superior to that of the big Ukrainian and everyone else.

So where does Tyson Fury fit into the equation after his tremendous performance against Deontay Wilder on Saturday in Las Vegas?

Fury, who has been an honorable mention on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list for some time, dominated a feared, previously unbeaten opponent en route to a spectacular seventh-round stoppage before a sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand.

That kind of performance — on that kind of stage — certainly works in Fury’s favor. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Fury would stack up favorably against the stars that make our Top 10 if they fought in same division.

In the end, we decided after some back-and-forth discussion that we had to elevate Fury into the Top 10 in light of his dominance on Saturday but we didn’t want to get carried away: He jumps to No. 8, behind Errol Spence Jr. but ahead of Juan Francisco Estrada. That pushes Kosei Tanaka (No. 15 on the most-recent list) to honorable mention.

Of course, another victory over Wilder or one over Anthony Joshua in an all-U.K. title-unification bout by Fury could push him even higher.

Check out our pound-for-pound list below. And let us know what you think.

BOXING JUNKIE

POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Vasiliy Lomachenko
  2. Terence Crawford
  3. Canelo Alvarez
  4. Naoya Inoue
  5. Oleksandr Usyk
  6. Gennadiy Golovkin
  7. Errol Spence Jr.
  8. Tyson Fury
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada
  10. Mikey Garcia
  11. Artur Beterbiev
  12. Josh Taylor
  13. Manny Pacquiao
  14. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
  15. Leo Santa Cruz

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Miguel Berchelt, Mairis Briedis, Teofimo Lopez, Shawn Porter and Kosei Tanaka

Read more:

Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III: It’s seems likely

Tyson Fury prepared to face Anthony Joshua if Deontay wilder opts out

Good, bad, worse: Tyson Fury had perfect game plan, perfect execution

Tyson Fury beats the heavyweight title out of Deontay Wilder

Great Eight: Tyson Fury leaves no doubt that he is No. 1

Tyson Fury disassembled Deontay Wilder on Saturday to reclaim a major title and leave no doubt that he is the best active heavyweight.

Who are the best boxers in each of the original eight weight classes? Check out Boxing Junkie’s new “Great Eight” feature.

***

Thank you, Tyson Fury. You made our job easy.

The “Gypsy King” disassembled Deontay Wilder on a dramatic Saturday night in Las Vegas to reclaim a major title and leave no doubt whatsoever — at least in our collective opinion — that he is the best heavyweight in the world.

Thus, the colorful and remarkably skillful Englishman supplants Wilder as the heavyweight champ in Boxing Junkie’s Great Eight feature, in which we determine the best boxer in each of the original eight weight classes — heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight.

It’s difficult to imagine that anyone will have a problem with our decision but hardened cynics are out there.

They might point to Anthony Joshua, who holds three of the four recognized sanctioning-body titles. We roll our collective eyes at that notion. Joshua had his behind handed to him by chubby underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. two fights ago, losing his belts in the process, before rebounding with an uninspiring points victory in the rematch.

We feel that Joshua is still rebuilding what he lost in the first fight with Ruiz, if that’s even possible.

And think about what Fury has done. He stunned the boxing world by easily outpointing seemingly untouchable Wladimir Klitschko to become the heavyweight champion in 2015 only to leave the sport to battle his inner demons for a few years.

Then, after losing about 150 pounds of blubber, he comes back (probably too soon) and outboxes Wilder in the opinion of most observers but has to settle for a draw in 2018. And, finally, with a new trainer and a new, aggressive style, he pummels and then stops his then-unbeaten rival in less than seven full rounds.

That’s legendary stuff.

The only remaining argument against Fury is that a victory over Wilder is overrated because Wilder is a crude boxer who has only one weapon, his big right hand.

We don’t buy that. Forty-one of Wilder’s 42 victories have come by knockout. He doesn’t have the skill set of, say, Fury, but that punching power ends up being the deciding factor in virtually all of Wilder’s fights. And, in this case, Fury just didn’t allow it to play a role in the outcome.

Brilliant performance, exceptional fighter. Fury arguably is the best big man since countryman Lennox Lewis was at the top of his game a generation ago.

Check out our Great Eight below.

 

HEAVYWEIGHT – Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT – Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs)

MIDDLEWEIGHT – Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs)

WELTERWEIGHT – Terence Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs)

LIGHTWEIGHT – Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs)

FEATHERWEIGHT – Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18 KOs)

BANTAMWEIGHT – Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs)

FLYWEIGHT – Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 KOs)

 

Pound-for-pound: The fall of Julian Williams

Julian Williams’ knockout loss to Jeison Rosario on Saturday put a damper on his pound-for-pound hopes.

Julian Williams had said that his goal was to become the No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound. Well, that’s going to be a lot more difficult now.

Williams, who had been an honorable mention on the Boxing Junkie list of best fighters, was knocked out in five rounds by relatively obscure Jeison Rosario to lose his junior middleweight titles Saturday in Philadelphia.

“JRock” probably will get another crack at Rosario because of a rematch clause. However, even a victory would only be a small step toward pound-for-pound supremacy.

Williams rebounded from disappointment before, climbing back to elite status after he was knocked out by Jermall Charlo. But coming back from two knockouts? That’s not easy.

Alas, Williams is off our list after his setback Saturday. Replacing him as an honorable mention is Teofimo Lopez, the unbeaten lightweight titleholder who is coming off a sensational second-round knockout of Richard Commey in December.

Lopez, 22, could face his own Waterloo soon; he’s negotiating to meet Vasiliy Lomachenko, Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter. Of course, a victory would catapult Lopez into the Top 10.

You just never know. Ask Williams.

Check out our pound-for-pound list below. And let us know what you think.

BOXING JUNKIE

POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Vasiliy Lomachenko
  2. Terence Crawford
  3. Canelo Alvarez
  4. Naoya Inoue
  5. Oleksandr Usyk
  6. Gennadiy Golovkin
  7. Errol Spence Jr.
  8. Juan Francisco Estrada
  9. Mikey Garcia
  10. Artur Beterbiev
  11. Josh Taylor
  12. Manny Pacquiao
  13. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
  14. Leo Santa Cruz
  15. Kosei Tanaka

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Miguel Berchelt, Mairis Briedis, Tyson Fury, Teofimo Lopez, Shawn Porter

Great Eight: Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury to decide who’s No. 1

The Feb. 22 rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will determine the Great Eight heavyweight representative.

Who are the best boxers in each of the original eight weight classes? Check out Boxing Junkie’s new “Great Eight” feature.

***

The Great Eight, Boxing Junkie’s list of the best fighters in each of the original eight weight divisions, could look different soon.

On Feb. 22, Deontay Wilder defends his sanctioning-body heavyweight title in a rematch with Tyson Fury at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. And Canelo Alvarez could announce that he’s finished at middleweight, although he hasn’t ruled out another fight at 160 pounds.

The Wilder-Fury fight is unusual in that the winner will be recognized as the top big man even though Anthony Joshua holds three of the four major belts.

Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) and Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs), who fought to a draw in December 2018, remain unbeaten. By comparison, Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) was put down four times and stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. to lose his belts this past June and regained them in a convincing, but safety-first manner in December.

Thus, the Feb. 22 winner will be the Great Eight heavyweight. (Boxing Junkie loves when such things are decided in the ring.)

Meanwhile, Alvarez still holds two middleweight titles but – having fought as heavy as 175 pounds – it seems inevitable that he’ll give up his 160-pound belts and settle in as a 168-pounder in the near future.

Who could replace him at middleweight in the Great Eight? No-brainer: Gennadiy Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs).

Triple-G has accomplished a tremendous amount in his career and is only a hair behind Alvarez at 160 pounds right now. He’s the obvious candidate to step in if Alvarez leaves.

That said, Golovkin will be 38 on April 8. We don’t know whether he has begun to decline but that or possibly retirement can’t be far off. Among those in position to replace him: Jermall Charlo, Demetrius Andrade, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Derevyanchenko.

Who knows who might emerge or move up from 154 pounds and make a statement at 160.

And we should consider one last thing: Alvarez could decide to fight Golovkin for a third time at 160 pounds. In that case, of course, they would decide Great Eight matters in the ring.

The others six fighters in our Great Eight seem to firmly ensconced at the moment but, as we know, things change quickly in boxing.

Stay tuned. And check out our Great Eight below.

 

HEAVYWEIGHT – Deontay Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT – Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs)

MIDDLEWEIGHT – Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs)

WELTERWEIGHT – Terence Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs)

LIGHTWEIGHT – Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs)

FEATHERWEIGHT – Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18 KOs)

BANTAMWEIGHT – Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs)

FLYWEIGHT – Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 KOs)

 

Great Eight: Boxing Junkie’s best fighters in each of original divisions

Boxing Junkie has established its Great Eight, in which we determine the best boxers in each of the original weight classes.

Who are the best boxers in each of the original eight weight classes? Check out Boxing Junkie’s new “Great Eight” feature.

***

Sadly, the proliferation of sanctioning body titles has diluted the value of once-precious championship belts.

If we accept that there are four major sanctioning organizations and allow each of them one “champion,” then we have 68 titleholders. That ridiculous number, which grows when the organizations add even more self-serving belts, drives boxing aficionados who want the best for the sport absolutely mad.

In effect, the sanctioning body titles mean next to nothing unless they’re unified. And even then, they’re value is often limited.

That’s why some of us look back longingly at a time when boxing had only eight divisions and one true champion in each of them. Everyone knew who the champions were and they had tremendous respect.

With that in mind, Boxing Junkie has decided to turn back the clock and establish its Great Eight, in which we determine the best boxers in each of the original weight classes – heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight.

To be clear, heavyweight includes cruiserweight, light heavyweight includes super middleweight, middleweight includes junior middleweight … all the way down to flyweight, which includes junior flyweight and strawweight.

Also, pound-for-pound has nothing to do with this. We believe the fighters selected in each division would defeat anyone else at that weight.

And, finally, this feature will be presented periodically.

Have a look:

HEAVYWEIGHT – Deontay Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT – Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs)

MIDDLEWEIGHT – Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs)

WELTERWEIGHT – Terence Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs)

LIGHTWEIGHT – Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs)

FEATHERWEIGHT – Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18 KOs)

BANTAMWEIGHT – Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs)

FLYWEIGHT – Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 KOs)

Kyler Murray not included in PFF all-rookie team

Garnder Minshew is named QB of the team over Murray.

With the regular season over, the time has begun to honor the best players in the league. There will be teams put together by many outlets. One such team is the all-rookie team. The first to announce its team of the top rookies at each position is Pro Football Focus.

The analytics site used its grading system to determine the top rookies. To the surprise of many, Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray did not make the cut.

Instead of Murray, Gardner Minshew of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the quarterback of the all-rookie team.

The highest-graded rookie quarterback in the NFL wasn’t Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins or Daniel Jones; it was the sixth-round pick, Gardner Minshew. His 70.3 overall grade on the season ranked 20th among 32 qualifying quarterbacks. Despite some concerns over his arm strength coming into the NFL, Minshew was one of the top deep-ball passers in the league this season. His 129.0 passer rating on passes 20 or more yards downfield was the highest mark in the league, and his PFF grade on those throws trailed only Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson.

Minshew completed 60.6% of his passes for 3,271 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions and he was 6-6 in his 12 starts.

Murray’s completion was four points higher. He had almost 500 more passing yards but threw six more interceptions and Minshew won more games. Murray rushed for 200 more yards and four more touchdowns.

Minshew had a very good season. He was good. Murray entered the season with high expectations, met them, improved the team and did something only Cam Newton did as a rookie only five other players ever did — throw for more than 3,500 yards and rush for more than 500.

Murray should be the rookie of the year. Any rookie team that doesn’t include him isn’t a good enough team.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 254

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Cardinals fall four spots in final USA TODAY power rankings

They finish No. 21 overall, four spots ahead of their spot in the NFL draft.

The Arizona Cardinals lost their final game of the season, a 31-24 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. After two consecutive wins and a big jump in USA TODAY’s power rankings, they fell four spots.

After jumping up to No. 17 after beating the Seattle Seahawks, they finish the season No. 21.

“Air Raid” offense ranked 24th passing, no Arizona receiver averaging 55 yards per game. Only Redskins worse in time of possession.

It is true. The passing game didn’t take off like some thought it would. The running game was the focus of their success, averaging more than five yards per attempt. However, quarterback Kyler Murray did finish with more than 3,700 passing yards, good for No. 8 on the all-time single-season passing list in Cardinals history.

This is a good spot overall. Their draft status is No. 8 overall. These power rankings put them four places better in terms of overall ranking.

What does it mean? It means the perception of the team is better than their actual record, and that is more or less what Cardinals fans feel after one year of the Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 254

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Pound-for-pound: What will the list look like in 2020?

Nos. 1 and 2 Vasiliy Lomachenko and Terence Crawford are still amazing in their early 30s but many gifted fighters are hot on their heels.

The Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list has been fairly stable since its inception. That could change in 2020.

Nos. 1 and 2 Vasiliy Lomachenko and Terence Crawford are still amazing in their early 30s but a number of gifted fighters — some much younger — are hot on their heels.

No. 3 Canelo Alvarez is always a threat to climb higher if Lomachenko and/or Crawford slip. No. 4 Naoya Inoue, only 26, already is No. 1 on some lists. No. 5 Oleksandr Usyk, now a heavyweight, probably will rise if he takes down the giants in the sport.

No. 6 Gennadiy Golovkin still lurks but is 37. No. 7 Errol Spence Jr., recovered from his car accident, has No. 1 pound-for-pound written all over him. No. 8 Juan Estrada is probably underappreciated. No. 9 Mikey Garcia shouldn’t be dismissed because of his loss to Spence. And No. 10 Artur Beterbiev, an imposing brawler, is on the ascent.

That’s a strong Top 10.

Beyond them, our Nos. 11-15 are all poised to move up if the opportunities are there. And hot young fighters like Gervonta Davis, Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez are knocking on the door.

Bottom line: There are many talented, hungry fighters who dream not only if winning titles but also gaining recognition as the very best in the sport.

Check out our final Top 15 list of 2019 below. Check back next year. And let us know what you think.

BOXING JUNKIE

POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Vasiliy Lomachenko
  2. Terence Crawford
  3. Canelo Alvarez
  4. Naoya Inoue
  5. Oleksandr Usyk
  6. Gennadiy Golovkin
  7. Errol Spence Jr.
  8. Juan Francisco Estrada
  9. Mikey Garcia
  10. Artur Beterbiev
  11. Josh Taylor
  12. Manny Pacquiao
  13. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
  14. Leo Santa Cruz
  15. Kosei Tanaka

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Miguel Berchelt, Mairis Briedis, Tyson Fury, Shawn Porter, Julian Williams

The 10 best boxing movies of the decade

As we get closer to the Final Bell of the 2010s, let’s take a look at the 10 best.

By now, you know most of the great boxing movies. There’s Rocky, the ultimate battle of uncontested headshot to uncontested headshot against Apollo Creed, or that time he won over the hearts of Russia while defeating Ivan Drago. Humphrey Bogart’s performance in The Harder They Fall was perfect, just as Hitchcock’s imagery and choreographed perfection in The Ring was anything—oddly enough—but silent. And it’s almost impossible not to hoist Raging Bull and Million Dollar Baby atop the “All-Time Boxing Films” list.

Because the genre works so well with audiences, complemented by the rise of documentary films, more and more boxing tales are being produced, including over 10 in this decade.

As we get closer to the Final Bell of the 2010s, let’s take a look at the 10 best.

 

Undercard: China Heavyweight

(Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage)

I.M.B.D. Score: 5.9

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

So, technically this makes the 11th entry, but what’s a good boxing experience without a solid undercard? China Heavyweight is an interesting look at the rise of boxing in China after the 1959 ban was finally lifted. The documentary follows boxing coach Qi Moxiang and his search for boxing hopefuls who will compete in the Olympics (and beyond). The makeup of the documentary follows a widespread theme boxing film fans are used to experiencing: Rags to Riches.

In this case, it’s a chance for peasant teenagers to escape hardships and obtain something better. With that kind of stakes, director Yung Chang does a beautiful job capturing the all-in desperation each fighter is willing to subject themselves to, with the hopes of one day competing for not just a medal but also the admiration of the country.

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Cardinals keep climbing in USA TODAY power rankings

They are now all the way up to No. 17.

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be playing their best football at the end of the season. After a 27-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks on the road, they are now 5-9-1. They went winless for four weeks, won three in a row, lost six straight and now have a two-game winning streak.

Their performance has moved them up again in the latest power rankings from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis.

They moved up another spot from No. 18 to No. 17.

Nice to see Larry Fitzgerald deservedly make NFL’s 100th anniversary team. Can you imagine Fitz in slot between Rice and Moss outside?

This is a promising spot for Arizona. They are well above their draft status in the top 10 of the 2020 draft. They are playing better, which suggests this could carry over into next year.

And their latest win is over a top team in the league.

Where does the rest of the division rank?

The Los Angeles Rams, Arizona’s Week 17 opponent, are one place above the Cardinals at No. 16.

The Seahawks’ loss to the Cardinals and the many injuries they have suffered sent them down five places from No. 3 to No. 8.

The San Francisco 49ers sit at No. 2 after their win over the Rams.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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