Hi there
I have been trying to get the grip of the new system.
Firstly I am very glad, that we now can see decimals on the fighters. It gives a way better understanding of the fighters. Though I would wish, that it was possible to switch, like it is with kilos, lbs og st. Could it be possible to have a choice, where you can pick one decimal after "."? Like 1430.3, 357.3, 25.0, 7.9 and 0.1. It would make it more manageable. Easier to get the picture of a career fast when looking on a record.
About the connection thing. I understand it, as you are trying to avoid the "Ali Raymi"s of boxing. (
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/561186) That is boxers who fight nobodies, who only fought nobodies in some sort of closed circuit. They shouldn't be allowed to rise high in the rankings. And I agree with that position. These fights are often bogus, and former Soviet-state Georgia is an example of that. But I think you may create a bigger problem, with the way the rankings are now.
Here are some examples:
Britton Norwood is a very ordinary fighter. Nothing special, but there nothing wrong with being that.
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/782991
But he is affecting a lot of fighters ranking.
James Ballard is a fighter, who came in at 9-0 fighting Norwood at light heavyweight. He gets knocked out, but wins the rematch. Norwood came in at 0.050 and goes out at 27.36, Ballard entered at 1.501 and went out at 0.715. Comparing with the rankings Norwood must have risen from number 6-700 to 87 by beating a guy who was around 268. In the rematch Ballard win a clear decision. He now moves up to 7.008, despite Norwood had lost most of his points and end entered at 12.57. This put Ballard around no. 185 in the world. So splitting fight with a very ordinary fighter moved him more than 80 spots up.
Norwood gained a lot on the fights as well. But we’ll come back to that.
After his initial win, Norwood - now a top100 fighter - fought in cruiserweight against David Gilberto Mendoza (2-7) with 0.046 points, which means, Mendoza came in just outside number 1000 of less than 1200 cruisers. Norwood had 18.35 at cruiser. Mendoza wins RTD2 and exits the fight with 34.85 points and a spot around no. 65 in the world. Jumping almost a thousand spots. In his next fight Mendoza fights Norwood, who has lost half his points since their first meeting. Norwood wins TKO4 and moves to 45.89 points. After splitting wins with a fighter outside top1000, he is now close to top50 at ca. no. 53. Norwood now moves down to light heavyweight and is at 68.48 points in his next fight. That is no. 39 in the world.
Norwood now fights Gervonte Davis (not Gervonta) who is 4-7-1. Davis has lost his last three and his last win is 10 years old. He enters at 0.377 points and around no. 350. He beats Davis and goes to 34.91 points and is no. 74 at 175 lbs. Norwood goes to 33.95 points and is no. 75. What happens, if Norwood wins a rematch KO1?
So here are a lot of points in the hands of some very ordinary fighters. And they are going to spread in the rankings of boxrec. Managers/promoters will want to put their fighters in against such highly rated fighters. They are a shortcut to recognition. But they are clearly overrated and easy prey.
If it is not them, then it will be the likes of:
Adewale Masebinu (2-2) #87
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/726999
Sylvain Laval (3-5-2) #105
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/795270
Tommy Spahija (5-13-2) #132
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/555612
That was an example of a group. Here is what I would call a chain example:
Rob Nichols, an ok fighter, starts a chain reaction.
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/477120
Nichols (5-1 at the time) enter the heavyweight fight against Jared Kilkenny (4-0-2) with 1.357 points. Nichols was ranked around #293. Kilkenny had 0.418 points #350. Nichols wins KO2 and goes to 28.04 points and #102.
Nichols then loses at cruiser to Jordan Smith (2-0-1) who goes from 0.050 to 15.85 points or from #6-700 to #109.
Jordan Smith then loses to Taylor Bull (2-4). Taylor Bull goes from 0.049 points to 33.74 or from ca. #800 to #68 in the world.
Taylor Bull loses to Gary Kopas (6-11) who goes from 0.844 to 42.40 points and from #253 to #55 in the world.
Examples like these are quite frequent, and the points from journeymen like these will spread in the system.
Viacheslav Yarkin is an example:
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/742372 vs Mykyta Trubchanin and Viktor Kornienko
Adam Fitzsimmons:
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/679196 vs Joshua Jenkins
Dave Nash:
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/54718 vs Mark Flynn
These fighters get up to around top100 with a win against a very mediocre fighter, who in reality is nowhere near top100, 200 or 300.
I think, that the idea of stopping stacking up points by using the system is a good idea. But I think, that it has created more problems, than it has solved. I think, that these bouts between fighters, where the points are “exploding” is at best inexplicable. Yes, the system calculates that way. But as a measure stick for the level of the fighters, it is so bad for the credibility of the rankings, because the points is spread on.
I think the intention was great, but there might be a better way to eliminate the Ali Raymis high rankings?
Best regards Jens
