George Chuvalo Ring Rankings

[Simon Lock]

Can anyone give a reasonable explanation as to why George Chuvalo was not ranked by Ring Magazine in their top 10 heavyweights at the end of 1969, but was ranked at #7 by the end of 1970?

His fights in 1970 were as follows:

Beat Willie Tiger (16 losses in 35 fights)
Beat Gino Ricci (debutant)
Beat Charlie Reno (4 losses in 10 fights)
Lost to George Foreman (not ranked in 1969)
Beat Mike Bruce (28 losses in 38 fights)
Beat Tommy Burns (6 losses in 14 fights)
Beat Tony Ventura (8 losses in 20 fights)
Beat Charles Couture (deburant)

So it appears that he lost his 1 fight against a good opponent, who wasn't a ranked fighter according to Ring, and won a bunch of fights against journeymen or debutants.

Why would Ring Magazine give him a ranking as a result of this, and put him above Sonny Liston?

[Ambling Alp II]

Guess I will take a stab.

1969 Rankings
Champion Ali
1. Joe Frazier
2. Jimmy Ellis
3. Jerry Quarry
4.Leotis Martin
5. Mac Foster
6. Sonny Liston
7. Oscar Bonavena
8. Al Jones
9. Henry Cooper
10. Gregorio Manuel Peralta


1970 Rankings

Champion Frazier
1. Muhammad Ali
2. George Foreman
3. Oscar Bonavena
4. Jerry Quarry
5. Mac Foster
6. Henry Cooper
7. George Chuvalo
8. Sonny Liston
9. Jose Ibar Urtain
10. Jose Luis Garcia


They dropped 4 guys that were ranked in 1969, which created some openings.

Leotis Martin -Had to retire. Obviously he had to be dropped.
Al Jones-Draw against a journeyman in his only fight.
Jimmy Ellis- Lost to Frazier
Peralta lost to Foreman

I would have only dropped Martin and Jones. Two guys had to be added and obviously one was going to Foreman. I think Chuvalo at #9 or 10 would have been OK.

The biggest problem is why Ellis was dropped completely. His loss to Frazier after all. Probably would have had him at #6 or #7.

[Cholo_cws]

I wonder if Chuvalo has been given credit for his win over Quarry on 12 December 1969 (forgetting any issue over Quarry and the count.)
If the rankings being used here are the ones on Boxrec do we know that the March '70 issue of The Ring includes all of December's results or just those part way through? Any cut-off date in December would still be the current rankings leading into 1970 and could be said to be 'end of year.'

[Simon Lock]

Agree about Jimmy Ellis - his removal seems very odd given he had only lost to the new champion, and was so highly rated the previous year.

Cholo, I think that must be the answer. With Quarry ranked at #3 at the end of 1969, and Chuvalo not ranked, the cutoff must have been before their fight.

Thanks!

[HomicideHenry]

I would argue as well that Chuvalo had a pretty hyperactive 1970 with those eight fights. Even if you are fighting a bunch of nobody's the fact that you are hyperactive in comparison to somebody fighting once or twice a year is going to move you up the rankings.