Can anyone explain the lettered grading system? A Grade level fighter etc.

[pound per pound]

Forget all that its just as follows-
Elite
World class
contender
gatekeeper
Domestic
prospect
journeyman

I would say:

Elite. Top 12 pound for pound fighter. Gonzalez, Ward, Kovalev, GGG, etc,,
Top 3 contender in the weight class
Top 10 contender found in ring magazine
Fringe contender Top -15-30
Veteran Journeyman, once ranked in the top ten.
Gatekeeper / stepping stone, top 50-100
Top Prospect - Rising fighter, undefeated and looks good on video
Journeyman - Close to .500 record with 20+ fights
Trial Horse. Losses far more than he wins.
Tomato can - Just there for the pay check. Terrible records.

[littlepug]

Forget all that its just as follows-
Elite
World class
contender
gatekeeper
Domestic
prospect
journeyman

I would say:

Elite. Top 12 pound for pound fighter. Gonzalez, Ward, Kovalev, GGG, etc,,
Top 3 contender in the weight class
Top 10 contender found in ring magazine
Fringe contender Top -15-30
Veteran Journeyman, once ranked in the top ten.
Gatekeeper / stepping stone, top 50-100
Top Prospect - Rising fighter, undefeated and looks good on video
Journeyman - Close to .500 record with 20+ fights
Trial Horse. Losses far more than he wins.
Tomato can - Just there for the pay check. Terrible records.

As good a list as any

[SaadOffTheDeck]

That's the thing, tomato can is a more diverse class than elite.

[ImranSarwar]

That's the thing, tomato can is a more diverse class than elite.

Well.....That is "unique" way to look at things. How would you grade a RON STANDER at different time line break downs? [Lets say we measure it at SIX MONTH GAPS]
Certainly you would never call someone of his accomplishments any "Tomato can", Ha Ha!
What would you classify me? John Wilkinson

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Stander fought for a world title. I don't call anyone a tomato can, but if that is the lowest rung of your system you're going to have guys rated the same with a 19-15 record and someone 10-20 that he iced in 1 round. I'm not familiar with you.

[Undefeated49-0]

Level 1 - Beginning professional>>C.
5 to 10 fights. .

Level 2 - Tomato Cans.>>C-
The no hopers. Chums for beginning professionals. Probably boxing as a part time gig.

Level 3 - Young Prospect>>C+
Past the the beginning stage of their career. ready for the next step.

Level 4 - Journey Men>>B
Good enough not to be labeled as tomato cans but have no future in the sport. This might be your emmanuel augustuses, monte barrets & hector velasquezes.

Level 5 - Shot/Washed up Name>>due to being out of their primes >>B-
Former contenders, hall of famers who have no business fighting professionally & need to retire asap. These are your erik moraleses, evander holyfields, marco barreras, & sad to say roy jones jr.

Level 6 - Gate Keepers>>B++
Done as elite fighters but not done as a good honest pugilistic professional. Get past this bunch you are a serious professional that is ready for the next level.

Level 7 - Contenders>>A
Ready for a title shot, a shot at the champions.

Level 8 - Belt Holder/champion>>A-
This is a very ambiguous level. Sure they are above gate keepers & contenders but with the ubiquitous nature of belts & champions the boxers who reside in this level could also be considered level 7 contenders or even gate keepers. This is everybody with a title or belt.

Level 9 - Elite Fighter Status>>A+
This level is what differentiates a true champion with a belt to a ordinary fighter who happens to have a belt. This is your p4p top 10. You dont have to own a belt to be considered elite. .

Level 10 - Super Star/ Legend Status>>A++
This is a level above elite. You cant be too gracious with this designation. I think only 1 or 2 fighters can be considered in this level each year. Sometimes you go a year without anyone attaining this level. I think this level requires some out of ring attributes. I think you have to transcend the sport. I think You have to galvanize the fans, the media, & non boxing fans to consider yourself for this level. I can only think of 2 fighters currently fighting that fit this criteria: Manny Pacquiao & Floyd Mayweather jr.

[ImranSarwar]

Stander fought for a world title. I don't call anyone a tomato can, but if that is the lowest rung of your system you're going to have guys rated the same with a 19-15 record and someone 10-20 that he iced in 1 round. I'm not familiar with you.

No I am looking at names whom they fought. I can't quite pick up what you mean by "if that is the lowest rung of your system....."(?)
19-15-0 pro. 10-20-0 pro. This isn't any sort of true exposure. And, just because a boxer gets "iced" in a single round ("the FIRST") doesn't mean they do not have high rating. Shavers (vs Quarry), Dempsey (vs Flynn), M.Spinks that lone career defeat....
You need to define better if we are to have meaningful conversation.
Stander also Ko'd Ernie Shavers. Ron Stander far from a "lower rung standard". At his best he was 'B' grade Hvywt. Someone may of given him a B+ for little while!
Who do you yourself rate 1st, and then 2nd between SHAVERS, NORTON, LYLE?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

[ImranSarwar]

Level 1 - Beginning professional>>C.
5 to 10 fights. .

Level 2 - Tomato Cans.>>C-
The no hopers. Chums for beginning professionals. Probably boxing as a part time gig.

Level 3 - Young Prospect>>C+
Past the the beginning stage of their career. ready for the next step.

Level 4 - Journey Men>>B
Good enough not to be labeled as tomato cans but have no future in the sport. This might be your emmanuel augustuses, monte barrets & hector velasquezes.

Level 5 - Shot/Washed up Name>>due to being out of their primes >>B-
Former contenders, hall of famers who have no business fighting professionally & need to retire asap. These are your erik moraleses, evander holyfields, marco barreras, & sad to say roy jones jr.

Level 6 - Gate Keepers>>B++
Done as elite fighters but not done as a good honest pugilistic professional. Get past this bunch you are a serious professional that is ready for the next level.

Level 7 - Contenders>>A
Ready for a title shot, a shot at the champions.

Level 8 - Belt Holder/champion>>A-
This is a very ambiguous level. Sure they are above gate keepers & contenders but with the ubiquitous nature of belts & champions the boxers who reside in this level could also be considered level 7 contenders or even gate keepers. This is everybody with a title or belt.

Level 9 - Elite Fighter Status>>A+
This level is what differentiates a true champion with a belt to a ordinary fighter who happens to have a belt. This is your p4p top 10. You dont have to own a belt to be considered elite. .

Level 10 - Super Star/ Legend Status>>A++
This is a level above elite. You cant be too gracious with this designation. I think only 1 or 2 fighters can be considered in this level each year. Sometimes you go a year without anyone attaining this level. I think this level requires some out of ring attributes. I think you have to transcend the sport. I think You have to galvanize the fans, the media, & non boxing fans to consider yourself for this level. I can only think of 2 fighters currently fighting that fit this criteria: Manny Pacquiao & Floyd Mayweather jr.

Well. It's "interesting"! "Superstars". They fade in and they fade out and the -interest- is always on them. Floyd is RETIRED. You have to deal with someone "active". Gennady Golovkin is coming strong. Andre Ward is a "super star"/but....he has cooled down. Manny is there yes! Not w/o "crimp". Hopkins is yet a "RELEVANT" competitor. (Not far removed).
This is your OWN SYSTEM. IF YOU TRULY INVESTED YOUR TIME AND WAS GAGEING FIGHTERS CONSTANTLY YOU -COULD- make it something distinguished.
Why don't you do a TOPIC with BoxRec? "Feed" your active fighters in. I'm not sure all how you would care to do that, but.....their a LOT OF FIGHTERS ACTIVE [pick words sometime at the Jerry Quarry Foundation "letters". I can easily tell you are infatuated with the Sport. Jimmy Dorsey there KNOWS A LOT// & he is a "good FRIEND"! Good luck!

[Chepppaaa]

Example: Is Chagaev an A Grade fighter?

Hard to know if we can't agree on what an A Grade fighter is.

What is an A Grade fighter?

How many A Grade fighters are there in each weight division?

Is it a set number? If not, what is the criteria for being an A Grade fighter?

What is the criteria for a B Grade fighter?

What is the criteria for a C Grade fighter?

I've never seen definitive answers for the above questions.

All suggestions welcome...

a+ top of the top prime jones, robinson
a elite world level boxer like canelo, golovkin

b+ very good boxer like maidana or kessler
b good boxer like provodnikov or broner

c+ solid boxer like rios or malignaggi
c okay boxer like caparello or chudinov

does that answer your question

[ImranSarwar]

[quote="SaadOffTheDeck"][/quote] You only are not serious here. What's it prove? Only has you on Show!

[ImranSarwar]

Example: Is Chagaev an A Grade fighter?

Hard to know if we can't agree on what an A Grade fighter is.

What is an A Grade fighter?

How many A Grade fighters are there in each weight division?

Is it a set number? If not, what is the criteria for being an A Grade fighter?

What is the criteria for a B Grade fighter?

What is the criteria for a C Grade fighter?

I've never seen definitive answers for the above questions.

All suggestions welcome...

a+ top of the top prime jones, robinson
a elite world level boxer like canelo, golovkin

b+ very good boxer like maidana or kessler
b good boxer like provodnikov or broner

c+ solid boxer like rios or malignaggi
c okay boxer like caparello or chudinov

does that answer your question

Plus: when you have an entire field filled out with letter grades & if you know the Sport in that era you should get a pretty good feel for it!

[ImranSarwar]

^ ^ but I always come around to the current a.t. ratings within the BoxRec database. Rating any boxer is subject up to a point. You can't go and rate Chuck Wepner even with George Chuvalo it simply WILL NOT ADD- UP. & this off the strict line some but...how does BoxRec RATE Floyd Patterson as highly as they do? "Credit" for him being 1st to recapture? His whole career does not merit his lofty position in the a.t. rankings.

[Like a Boss]

Nearly ever interpretation is different to the previous one. Chinese whispers gone mad

[gilgamesh]

It's stupid.

Yep

[ImranSarwar]

The mags do their best to bring a comprehensive purpose to the "letter grades". I used to look at them with purpose. John Wilkinson what was their low rating(?)\\ 'E'(?) //they had me rated there I remember two years.