British Top 30 P4P June 2008

[Horse]

1. (1.) Joe Calzaghe
2. (2.) Ricky Hatton
3. (3.) David Haye
4. (4.) Junior Witter
5. (5.) Clinton Woods
6. (6.) Alex Arthur
7. (8.) Carl Froch
8. (7.) Enzo Maccarinelli
9. (10.) Jamie Moore
10. (13.) Rendall Munroe

11. (9.) Scott Harrison
12. (11.) Nicky Cook
13. (12.) Gavin Rees
14. (14.) Amir Khan
15. (15.) Bernard Dunne
16. (16.) Matt Skelton
17. (17.) John Duddy
18. (19.) Wayne Elcock
19. (20.) Kevin Mitchell
20. (30.) Ian Napa

21. (18.) Colin Lynes
22. (21.) Wayne McCullough
23. (22.) Kevin McIntyre
24. (23.) David Barnes
25. (RE.) Danny Williams
26. (24.) Jonathan Thaxton
27. (25.) Carl Johanneson
28. (26.) Michael Jennings
29. (27.) Howard Eastman
30. (28.) Tony Oakey

Out - (29.) Bradley Pryce

[Horse]

Any comments, criticisms or P4P lists are very welcome.

[jammidodger]

fair play for munroe creeping in there.. good list mate..

[DavidPayne]

As I've said since you started, Wayne McCullough, Scot Harrison have been inactive for 3 and 2 years, I cannot comprehend how they could be ranked.

[Horse]

fair play for munroe creeping in there.. good list mate..

Thank you.

[twenty six]

OK cut to the chase.
Using your methodology, Horse, why isn't Rhodes in the bottom 5 ?

[whatashambles]

I'd have Maccarinelli over Arthur. I've never been impressed by him, and at least Macca beat Braithwaite. It was about time Harrison was taken off the list, if not now you have to wonder when? His last bout was November 2005? and doesn't have a licence.
I think Colin Lynes should be higher. He lost a tight decision, some say undeserved, in Italy and is below Kevin Mitchell who I thought was lucky to win the British title against Johanneson.

[Horse]

As I've said since you started, Wayne McCullough, Scot Harrison have been inactive for 3 and 2 years, I cannot comprehend how they could be ranked.

When I first started this list 25 months ago, neither Harrison or McCullough were particularly out of place with their rankings.

Wayne McCullough is scheduled to fight this month, if he fights and if he wins then his place in the list will be largely justified.

Scott Harrison, in my defence, moved down two places this month and is out of the top 10 for the first time since the top 30's inception. Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems, not because he does not wish to continue, so I do not wish to stop counting him as a modern/active boxer because of that.


Harrison and McCullough should have both dropped a lot sooner as a result of their gross inactivity but I, as I have not been doing this list that long, have in the past miscalculated how much to reward wins and punish losses and as a result inactive fighters have not moved down quickly enough. Hopefully, in the future I will get the balance right.

[twenty six]

Just as I thought, a load of bollocks.

[whatashambles]

Scott Harrison, in my defence, moved down two places this month and is out of the top 10 for the first time since the top 30's inception. Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems, not because he does not wish to continue, so I do not wish to stop counting him as a modern/active boxer because of that.

He hasn't fought since you started this, 2 1/2 years and won't be for the next 6 months to a year at the very least. You can't tell me you will be ranking him 3 1/2 years after his last bout?

[03mcgs0]

From an Irish point of view I would have Duddy higher up the list, most definitely higher than Dunne. No disrespect to Dunne.

I honest think people are reading far…far too much in what was a poor performance last time out to the tough but still journey man, Smichet. Imagine it from his angle, he was really preparing for the Pavlick fight and just wanted to get blow this guy out early and it just didn’t happen. At the end of the day he won, a difficult fight which he made difficult on himself.

I really think Duddy has a hell of a lot of potential and if he tightens up his defence he’s more than capable of fighting Pavlick down the line. One thing we all know about Duddy is that he can take a punch!!!

[Horse]

Just as I thought, a load of bollocks.

What are you talking about? I have not even responded to you yet.

OK cut to the chase.
Using your methodology, Horse, why isn't Rhodes in the bottom 5 ?

I considered Gary Woolcombe to be a weak British champion. Woolcombe won the belt by beating Marcus Portman who was not a strong British title contender and Woolcombe had also recently lost, by TKO in 5 rounds, a one sided fight against Andrew Facey. So, considering Rhodes recent accomplishments had not been overly impressive, a win, albeit a convicing one, over Woolcombe was not enough, in my consideration, to jump Ryan Rhodes staight into the top 30.

A defence of his British title against any fighter deemed worthy enough to fight for the title is likely to jump Rhodes into the top 30, especially if he defends against a strong contender.

[JDC]

Quote:
Scott Harrison, in my defence, moved down two places this month and is out of the top 10 for the first time since the top 30's inception. Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems, not because he does not wish to continue, so I do not wish to stop counting him as a modern/active boxer because of that.

Horse. When Cantona and Ferdinand served there respective bans in the football world they didnt get voted into the PFA team of the year awards dispite there justification in ability terms. They didnt play, and so didnt get ranked

Quote:
Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems

Why not put Prince naz in there too, he would be in the ring again if he wasnt so fat. Lennox Lewis if he wasnt old and rich. The list could go on and on, but the fact is they along with Harrison arent active.

If you havent seen someone box in over 12 months you have no idea about there current ability. Your insistance on having him in is why people dont vote on your list, thus making it even less credible.

[twenty six]

Horse,
So go on then, what has Pryce done to be booted out ?
I dont even need to wait for a reply.
You justify leaving Rhodes out because of your perceived value of his opponent then leave the likes of Eastman, McCullough, and FFS Harrison in, we ain't even fought !!
Worse than that, Harrison isn't even licensed to fight !!!!!
Total crap.
Using your methodology, why aren't Simpson, Pickering, and Edwards in ?
If Lockett loses inside 3 rounds against Pavlik, will that get him a place in the top 30 ?

[Horse]

I'd have Maccarinelli over Arthur. I've never been impressed by him, and at least Macca beat Braithwaite.

I appreciated Arthur's British, Commonwealth and European title reigns, during which Arthur beat Gulyakevich who was, and still is, highly ranked by all four of the main sanctioning bodies and went on to win the European title. I think Arthur's best wins are on a similar level to Maccarinelli's and I just feel Arthur is more solid and talented than Enzo, but there is not much in it and it could easily change when Arthur or Enzo next fight.

It was about time Harrison was taken off the list, if not now you have to wonder when? His last bout was November 2005? and doesn't have a licence.

Well, he may remain on the list for a while yet, but I hope that when McCullough has fought and Harrison has dropped into the lower half of the rankings people will pay less attention to him, as Harrison will not be in such an important position and he will be the only fighter that most people think really should not be there.

I think Colin Lynes should be higher. He lost a tight decision, some say undeserved, in Italy and is below Kevin Mitchell who I thought was lucky to win the British title against Johanneson.

I think Mitchell's win over Johanneson is better than any single win on Lynes's record, even though Lynes has the better record overall. I also believe Mitchell is a more talented fighter than Lynes. Lynes was unlucky to lose to Branco, but he did lose and I think in the past I have not punished losers enough so, even though I didn't think it was particularly fair, I dropped Lynes a few places.

[Horse]

Scott Harrison, in my defence, moved down two places this month and is out of the top 10 for the first time since the top 30's inception. Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems, not because he does not wish to continue, so I do not wish to stop counting him as a modern/active boxer because of that.

He hasn't fought since you started this, 2 1/2 years and won't be for the next 6 months to a year at the very least. You can't tell me you will be ranking him 3 1/2 years after his last bout?

3 1/2 years after Harrison last fought would be in May 2009. I think by that stage there is a good chance Harrison will have dropped out of the list, will have fought or retired.

[twenty six]

He's locked up and fuckin unlicensed you dick !

[Peter Hick]

Haye should be above Hatton in that list.

[Horse]

From an Irish point of view I would have Duddy higher up the list, most definitely higher than Dunne. No disrespect to Dunne.

Dunne has shown he is a solid European level fighter and I think he has proven more than Duddy at this point, but Duddy fights this month so he might overtake Dunne if he wins.

I honest think people are reading far…far too much in what was a poor performance last time out to the tough but still journey man, Smichet. Imagine it from his angle, he was really preparing for the Pavlick fight and just wanted to get blow this guy out early and it just didn’t happen. At the end of the day he won, a difficult fight which he made difficult on himself.

He had the worst defence I have ever seen, perhaps it looked worse because he was able to take so many flush shots without getting knocked out, but it was still a very worrying performance. If Duddy sorts out his defence he could be a solid contender, but he needs to start fighting in a more considered manner.

I really think Duddy has a hell of a lot of potential and if he tightens up his defence he’s more than capable of fighting Pavlick down the line. One thing we all know about Duddy is that he can take a punch!!!

He certainly has a good chin, I agree.

[Horse]

Scott Harrison, in my defence, moved down two places this month and is out of the top 10 for the first time since the top 30's inception. Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems, not because he does not wish to continue, so I do not wish to stop counting him as a modern/active boxer because of that.

Horse. When Cantona and Ferdinand served there respective bans in the football world they didnt get voted into the PFA team of the year awards dispite there justification in ability terms. They didnt play, and so didnt get ranked

It is not quite the same situation, but I get your point.

Harrison is out of the ring because of legal problems

Why not put Prince naz in there too, he would be in the ring again if he wasnt so fat. Lennox Lewis if he wasnt old and rich. The list could go on and on, but the fact is they along with Harrison arent active.

If you havent seen someone box in over 12 months you have no idea about there current ability. Your insistance on having him in is why people dont vote on your list, thus making it even less credible.

Hamed and Lewis retired, and have been out of the ring a lot longer than Harrison. I think the longer a fighter is out of the ring the less idea one has of their current ability, but it is not quite as bad as having "no idea".

[twenty six]

You are a pedantic shite, I'll give you that.
So go on, when did Hamed officially anounce his retirement ?

[banjo]

I'd have Mitchell, Rhodes and Napa in the top 15 in place of Cook, Rees and Scott Harrison (who I think is finished for good now).

[EddieShredder]

Fair enough for taking the time to do the rankings and generating discussion

However, keeping Scott Harrison in your rankings is just rediculous and has no justification whatsoever.... I, along with almost everyone else, just cannot understand it. Nonsensical at best.

[Horse]

Horse,
So go on then, what has Pryce done to be booted out ?
I dont even need to wait for a reply.

Pryce left the list because he was 30th on the list and I decided Williams recent win was good enough to enter him in the list, so Pryce fell out as he was bottom of the list. Pryce had not fought for 6 months and his last win was against Martin Concepcion, which I didn't consider a very important victory.

You justify leaving Rhodes out because of your perceived value of his opponent then leave the likes of Eastman, McCullough, and FFS Harrison in, we ain't even fought !!

They are still in the list because of their achievements in the past, perhaps they should be lower but they have all reached a higher level than Ryan Rhodes has.

Using your methodology, why aren't Simpson, Pickering, and Edwards in ?
If Lockett loses inside 3 rounds against Pavlik, will that get him a place in the top 30 ?

Simpson fell out because he was overtaken by fighters below him on the list and he fell out before he could get a meaningful victory. Pickering left the list after losing to Sean Hughes. Edwards lost to Bell recently, so I don't think he is a strong candidate for a place on the list. A fighter can only enter the list following a win, so Lockett will not be entering the list next month unless he beats Pavlik.

He's locked up and fuckin unlicensed you dick !

Calm down dear. Just because your lover boy Ryan Rhodes is not on the list there is no reason to throw a hissy fit.

[Horse]

Haye should be above Hatton in that list.

Haye has yet to prove he can hang around with world class fighters on a consistent basis like Hatton has. Haye could yet prove to be a bust at heavyweight and he is likely to be unable to go back down to cruiserweight if he is. If Haye fights a top heavyweight in his next fight then he may do enough to overtake Hatton, but it would have to be impressive.