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November 5th, 2009 | by Jesse Campbell
My sports ideology is simple. Every game needs a winner and every sport needs a champion. Anything sports-related can be debated with the exception of the following sticking points: Nobody likes a tie, and no one likes a sport without a clearly defined champion.
The Lakers are the NBA Champions. They are the best team in the NBA, and until a team unseats them to become to the 2009-2010 NBA Champions, the Lakers are the best. Tiger Woods is the number one ranked golfer in the world. There are myriad tournaments throughout the golf “season”, but as long as Tiger is ranked number one, he is considered the very best. Since much of sports have been set up for debate (MVP races for instance), methods need to be set in place to define the best. Otherwise, there can be mayhem.
The ideology seems simple enough, right? So how does boxing mess it up? I know what you’re thinking, “But there is a heavyweight champion…and a middleweight champion, etc, right? Why doesn’t that define who the best is?” Well boxing, over the course of many years, has allowed governing bodies and promoters to dilute the significance of ANY of the titles. Boxing titles serve as nothing more than a waist trophy for boxers to note their accomplishments. It neither adds nor detracts from the marketing involved in selling a fight to the general public. Twenty years ago, it was about who was fighting for the heavyweight title. Now, it’s just about who is fighting.
When you have an IBF middleweight champion, WBC middleweight champion, WBO middleweight champion and RING Magazine middleweight champion, how can someone decipher who is actually the “best” middleweight? Well one could say, take a look at boxing’s pound for pound list.
The mythical pound for pound list was created by sportswriters during Sugar Ray Robinson’s career as a way to compare his boxing prowess with other fighters, irrespective of weight. Boxing magazines, columnists, aficionados and fans have their own “pound for pound” list. And with the illusionary value of the title belt picture, boxing does not have any way to assign value to the best fighters with the exception of their drawing power, which is nothing more than a popularity contest.
A quick look at Ring Magazine’s pound for pound list raises one very important question. Prior to his retirement, Floyd Mayweather Jr, sat atop of its pound for pound list. After an 18-month layoff, Mayweather returned to the ring to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, and after winning a blistering unanimous decision, he sits at number two behind Manny Pacquiao. During Mayweather’s hiatus, Pacquiao defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. While Manny defeated both Hatton and De La Hoya in more spectacular fashions, Floyd defeated both of them as well. The question remains: how can Manny be considered number one on the pound for pound list when the previous number one has yet to lose?
Manny Pacquiao may be boxing’s pound for pound best, but how can boxing be okay with Pacquiao as the disputed pound for pound king? And because the importance and value of the title picture scene has dwindled, the importance of the pound for pound list has skyrocketed. This creates a need for a consensus pound for pound champion.
A tournament style competition, similar to march madness, would prove difficult. Showtime is attempting a Super Middleweight tournament with the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a round robin style tournament with each fighter fighting at least three times. The winner will not be determined until 2011.
As exciting as this may seem to the hardcore boxing fans, injuries may serve as a roadblock (Jermain Taylor’s status is tenuous). With the roughly 18-month gap of the tournament, the interest from the general public might dissipate. Finally, a tournament style would prove difficult because what would happen after the winner is awarded the mythical pound for pound title? Who does it go to if he loses? Do we need to have ANOTHER tournament after?
A point system employed by the Association of Tennis Professionals would not work because fighters fight on a different schedule from one another, some fighters (most often the lesser-knowns) fight on a much more hectic schedule, while a headliner may only fight twice a year as opposed to the amount of tournaments tennis star Roger Federer may enter in a given year.
So, what’s the answer? The answer is easier than you think. If a “Pound for Pound” title was created as a belt by any of the major governing bodies, (IBF, WBC, WBA, Ring Magazine) and awarded to a consensus pound for pound champion, then this theory can be employed. Floyd vs. Manny for the pound for pound title could be a huge promotional tool.
Let’s say Manny beats Floyd and is awarded the title. He is now the consensus pound for pound champion. There is no reason to continue a pound for pound list, with the exception of trying to determine who is next in line for Manny’s belt. Heavyweights are excluded from the pound for pound equation.
Now, there is one hitch to this possibility, and it is what we can call the “Bernard Hopkins Cap.” Bernard Hopkins is on most pound for pound lists and fights at Super Middleweight and up, much heavier than many of the Welterweights and Junior Welterweights who fill out many of the other slots. To deal with the Bernard Hopkins issue, there can be a “cap” installed on the weight of anyone looking to compete for the pound for pound title.
The pound for pound list was created to compare the little man to the big man, so it makes no sense to include the big man in its discussion. Hopkins would miss the cut here unless he was willing to fight at a catchweight. I should also note here, that in the sport of boxing, moving up and down in weight is a part of the sport. The best fighters can and have fought in multiple weight classes. The original pound for pound champion fought between the welterweight and middleweight divisions. Whoever was to hold this pound for pound belt, would have to move up and down in weight in order to meet some of the challengers for the title. The Hopkinds Cap would give a ceiling weight limit for potential challengers, but its also the duty of the champion to move right up to that ceiling when necessary. It’s a rough challenge, but it is not easy being the king.
Having an undisputed pound for pound title would guarantee huge fights for boxing every year because the reigning champion would have to fight the number two pound for pound fighter. There would be only ONE official pound for pound list here because whichever governing body creates the belt would also list its contenders. And most importantly, the list will have value. College Football’s BCS standings are an integral tool for fans and pundits. If your team is in the top two at the end of the season, they will play for the National Championship. This type of value will be added to the official pound for pound list.
Now, let’s say Manny loses his pound for pound title in his next fight after winning it, let’s say in a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez would become the pound for pound champion. There is no need to debate or discuss who should be considered the best because the belt would simply pass on to Marquez.
Every sport needs a winner and right now, boxing is losing. Who is boxing’s king right now? Pacquaio? Mayweather? Cotto? Mosley? The way to determine a king is to have the best fight the best. The way things currently stand, it is only about the dollars. And that doesn’t make much sense.
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 12:18 PM.
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November 5th, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Great article!
November 5th, 2009 at 4:32 PM
great insights, very well written!
keep up the good work jesse!
November 5th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
I agree. Fact of the matter is this. Everybody gets on Floyd about being just about the money but lets look at it like this. the promoters are the ones who are ruining boxing not the fighters. If there were no promoters Floyd, Pacman, Cotto, Mosley and whoever else would have been fought by now. Its all a numbers game. Dana White talking shit because he is the promoter of the entire UFC. Boxing does not have that. This day in age it does not work like that in the sport of boxing. Remember a promoters job is not just looking at the next fight, their looking down the road and make the best business decision to make the most money. That’s what Aruum is doing with this fight. He is keeping the fight in ToP Rank and getting the money. That’s why this fight was so easily put together. Lets be real. yall knocking Mayweather cause he said he fihts for money. What fighter doesnt? If that was the case they would donate most of it to charity. Why would a guy like Mayweather fight someone like Williams or Mosley who are not PPV attractions and could fight someone like Marquez or Pacman or Cotto and could make more money. If Floyd did not talk alot nobody would not say anything. REAL TALK. No great athlete is going to say they are second to anybody. Thats y Floyd say he is the greatest. Ali said he his the greatest but ask Ali who he really feels is the greatest fighter he will say Ray Robinson. Comment if you agree or dissagree.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Pacquiao is ok without the p4p…he didn’t ask for it. He never said he is the p4p champion. You can give it to Mayweather and Pacquiao still wouldn’t care.
November 6th, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Truly there is not anything writing on whom he is the better pound for pound of the world. The true champions are proven combat after combat; looking for challenges in their career. Floyd Mayweather has not fought with nobody in 147 pounds. Could they say me a name in that weight that Mayweather has faced of respect? The only Zab Judah and with defeats and almost completed. It is a pain that Mayweather deceives to their fans, fight for business. You don’t fight by demonstrating that it is the better, you like him express the same. Now same Cotto and Pacquiao will face November 14. Doesn’t Mayweather reason face Mosley? Mayweather knows that Mosley could win you. You must accept that fight, everybody wants to see that fight. Mosley left in silence the world of the boxing upon defeating for nocaut to Margarito. Mayweather, you don’t deceive, neither you deceive you more than your fans neither of the boxing.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:15 PM
When you put a guy like Floyd in the picture yes, the P4P is in total chaos. People think he is the pound for pound number 1 yet he, with his own mouth and action, cannot prove it. The only way a boxer will earn point on the P4P list to fight the best opposition there is and the best opposition commands a lot of money. Cotto, Floyd, Mosley, so is Pac and Marquez(in their division)are big draw in boxing. Nothing is wrong with someone going up in weight to face great opposition but to go the opposite is a complete joke and a fraud.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:47 AM
If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 AM
This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.