BoxRec

Interesting Q&A with Lovemore.

http://www.fightnews.com/?p=19141#more-19141

He doesn't mind a chat by the look of it. Funny though he doesn't rate many people.

Marlin wrote:So how many fighters, in your opinion, in each division are world class? By the sounds of it you are saying only two or three, maybe four... no wonder none of the Title holders ever fight "world class" opponents...

Of course it's subjective and every division is different. It's just that winning a belt - even the IBF - does not in itself automatically make someone top world class, especially when involving vacant IBF titles.

Yes, Ndou is world class in the sense that he can hold his own - sometimes win - on the international stage. But there are degrees of world class. You simply can't make a case for comparing him with Pacquaio, R Hatton, Bradley, Cotto, Mosley, etc... therefore he is the next rung down: "fringe" world class.

But you're still saying that "world class" only refers to the top few guys in any particular weight class.

I always thought world class simply meant someone who was good enough to compete on the world stage, meaning you're looking at a broader range of fighters. Of course it is still subjective but I was thinking more of a top ten than top 3. Not every fighter can be undefeated and surely the top guys still need to beat credible "world class" opponents to keep their place at the top...

Marlin wrote:But you're still saying that "world class" only refers to the top few guys in any particular weight class.

I always thought world class simply meant someone who was good enough to compete on the world stage, meaning you're looking at a broader range of fighters. Of course it is still subjective but I was thinking more of a top ten than top 3. Not every fighter can be undefeated and surely the top guys still need to beat credible "world class" opponents to keep their place at the top...

Agreed, but still there is a need for distinctions even within the term "world class". I think for the purposes of simplicity, I'd say a top 10 too, or perhaps even most boxers who are eligible to compete for a legit world title. But still there is a big difference between a Cotto/Pacquaio and a Ndou/Urango. I'd even say there's a difference between a Berto and an Ndou. See what I mean?

I wasn't being deliberately antagonistic when I challenged your point about Ndou winning the IBF, and what that qualifies him as, but I think we can all agree that belts alone in this day and age no longer mean what they used to.

World class is one of those terms that people often disagree on. Rather than using it, I think it's best to say top 5, 10, 20, etc. in his division.

Asterix wrote:World class is one of those terms that people often disagree on. Rather than using it, I think it's best to say top 5, 10, 20, etc. in his division.

Very diplomatic, and probably a good call, but then ratings are often just as subjective as the argument about what constitutes world class!

Ndou is ranked something like 47 by BoxRec, which I feel is very unfair. He's certainly not top 10, but he's better than top 50 for sure!

oliverfennell wrote:

Asterix wrote:World class is one of those terms that people often disagree on. Rather than using it, I think it's best to say top 5, 10, 20, etc. in his division.

Very diplomatic, and probably a good call, but then ratings are often just as subjective as the argument about what constitutes world class!

Ndou is ranked something like 47 by BoxRec, which I feel is very unfair. He's certainly not top 10, but he's better than top 50 for sure!

Top 20 comfortably.

why dont waston or kel brook get the shot they are better fighters than fat boys brother

Because they are not fat boy's brother.

oliverfennell wrote:

Asterix wrote:World class is one of those terms that people often disagree on. Rather than using it, I think it's best to say top 5, 10, 20, etc. in his division.

Very diplomatic, and probably a good call, but then ratings are often just as subjective as the argument about what constitutes world class!

Ndou is ranked something like 47 by BoxRec, which I feel is very unfair. He's certainly not top 10, but he's better than top 50 for sure!

Yeah, pitfalls everywhere. I think your last sentence is a good answer though.