BoxRec

Diego Corrales (IBF Super Featherweight, WBO/WBC Lightweight, beat Castillo in one of the greatest fights of all time)
Vernon Forrest (IBF/WBC Welterweight, WBC Light Middleweight, handed Mosley his first and second losses)
Antonio Tarver (WBC/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight, famously knocked out Roy Jones Jr)
Zab Judah (IBF Light Welterweight, WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight, two weight champion, unified at Welter)
Ricky Hatton (IBF/WBA Light Welterweight, WBA Welterweight, retired HOFer Kostya Tszyu, lost to prime Mayweather/Pacman)
Winky Wright (WBO/IBF/WBA/WBC Light Middleweight, consensus P4P Top 5 when he ruled the division)
Jermain Taylor (WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF Middleweight, ended Hopkins Middleweight reign and won the rematch)
Mikkel Kessler (WBA/WBC Super Middleweight, won 9 title fights, lost only to Calzaghe/Ward/Froch)
David Haye (WBA/WBC/WBO Cruiserweight, WBA* Heavyweight, unified at Cruiser, beat the giant Valeuv before losing to Wlad)
Carl Froch (WBC/IBF/WBA Super Middleweight, beat Pascal/Taylor/Dirrell/Abraham/Johnson/Bute/Kessler all who held titles either before/after)

*WBA Super title was held by Wlad.

Must add that for me only Hatton/Wright/Froch deserve to get in out of this lot, but I expect Corrales might get in eventually on the back of the bout with Castillo and being a two weight champ.

If Gatti is in HOF, then Corrales and Forrest should definitely be there too. Both of them were much better than Arturo.

Boxing Writer wrote:If Gatti is in HOF, then Corrales and Forrest should definitely be there too. Both of them were much better than Arturo.

Yes, but Gatti was in there for his popularity and the fact that he was in so many memorable fights. At least those along with his untimely demise are what are perceived to have swayed the voters in his favor along with a lower level of newly qualified candidates that year.

Neither Corrales nor Forrest had the draw that Gatti did, and Forrest's most memorable fight was probably the one where Mayorga beat him first time round. HOF entry has never been solely about P4P standing, there are always other influencing factors. A boring or unpopular fighter really needs to be at the very top of his game to get in which is why maybe even Winky won't necessarily be a first ballot entrant.

Points for HOF entry seem to come from:

- He was elite (consensus P4P player).
- He was a multiple weight champion.
- He unified his division.
- He was popular.
- He operated at the top level for a long time.
- He set records.
- He beat another HOFer.
- He handed another HOFer his first loss.
- He was exciting.
- He was an interesting character.
- He achieved or did things outside of the sport that lifted the profile of the sport.

Any guy ticking most of those boxes will be inducted first time.

johnswan1 wrote:

Boxing Writer wrote:If Gatti is in HOF, then Corrales and Forrest should definitely be there too. Both of them were much better than Arturo.

Yes, but Gatti was in there for his popularity and the fact that he was in so many memorable fights. At least those along with his untimely demise are what are perceived to have swayed the voters in his favor along with a lower level of newly qualified candidates that year.

Neither Corrales nor Forrest had the draw that Gatti did, and Forrest's most memorable fight was probably the one where Mayorga beat him first time round. HOF entry has never been solely about P4P standing, there are always other influencing factors. A boring or unpopular fighter really needs to be at the very top of his game to get in which is why maybe even Winky won't necessarily be a first ballot entrant.

Points for HOF entry seem to come from:

- He was elite (consensus P4P player).
- He was a multiple weight champion.
- He unified his division.
- He was popular.
- He operated at the top level for a long time.
- He set records.
- He beat another HOFer.
- He handed another HOFer his first loss.
- He was exciting.
- He was an interesting character.
- He achieved or did things outside of the sport that lifted the profile of the sport.

Any guy ticking most of those boxes will be inducted first time.

I think Corrales vs Castillo I was way better than any of Gatti fights including his first fight against Ward. And Gatti never came close to beating guys of Mosley/Quartey/Castillo/Casamayor calibre.

Corrales.....Tarver .....Froch ....Wjnky would be my picks.

Hatton maybe on popularity.

Ok, and I agree about Corrales-Castillo I being better than any Gatti fight, in fact it's my favorite all time fight - but, Corrales along with Vargas came onto the ballot for entry in 2013 - just as Gatti did - but Gatti was voted in ahead of them. Corrales hasn't had a sniff since because of the classes of 2014/15 have been particularly strong.

The name that surprises me most when I hear it is Tarvers. He was fortunate in that he caught RJJ at the right time. For me RJJ's career ended when he won a version of the heavyweight title. Coming down in weight his body would never be the same again, nor would anything he achieved thereafter add anything of significance to his record other than a heavyweight unification.

Tarver's name gained immortality when he became the one to KO RJJ, but look at what he did before and since for some real perspective on his level.

Before beating RJJ Tarver was dropped and lost to Eric Harding 116-111 on all three cards, and then relied on a split decision to beat a 42-6-1 Reggie Johnson.

Ok, some make the case that Tarver was a late starter.

What happened after Tarver beat Jones? Glen Johnson with a 40-9-2 comes out and does the same thing.

Again, some will say "oh but Jones was softened up by Tarver so what Johnson did wasn't so impressive".

Maybe, but then Tarver himself fought Johnson - and lost! What does that say about Tarver's level?

The same Glen Johnson who lost (some controversial) to names such as Sosa, Kiwanuka, Ottke, Vanderpool, Branco, Sheika, Harmon & Gonzales.

If this isn't enough proof that Tarver was never all that great, then look at the manner of how he was subsequently and embarrassingly taken to school by both Hopkins and Dawson (twice).

If the delusional drug busted Tarver makes the HOF it will be the greatest travesty in the history of the HOF. He beat a shadow of RJJ, and that is all.

I agree---Tarver is a clear 'no' for me.

Well Gatti got in recently so if he's the standard most those guys get in.

I think Winky perhaps has strongest case.

Froch was never #1 in his division nor competed through weightclasses. A good body of work but a no from me.

Hatton is a yes for me. Clear #1 at 140 and i believe won a title at 147 vs Collazo?

If Hatton gets in Haye also has a case. Best cruiserweight of his era and held HW belt too.

Forrest.... hell of a fighter, good enough resume tho? Rip.

First off I don't get why gatti keeps getting used as a yard stick he's in because he was exciting and fought in some all time classic fights . I'd put winky and froch in and maybe Kessler

Deserves? Based on the norm?

Hatton & Wright, to me, are the only ones "deserving". Corrales and Forrest have a decent shot.

Not quite sold on Froch.

Exactly re Gatti. It's really fornicating annoying when people start off "well if Gatti got in..."

Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with Gatti being in there he shouldn't be used as a yard stick for ability of a HOFer. Gatti is not in there because of his ability - everybody knows he was limited, yet he did more to draw fans to the sport than many if not most other HOFers, and that's why he's in there. What he lacked in ability he made up for it with blood and guts.

I can see why people would make a case for Corrales being more deserving than Gatti - he seemed to have more ability, but unlike Corrales Gatti did not spit his gum shield out to buy extra time, and unlike Corrales Gatti did not do time for beating up his pregnant wife (some may even suggest his wife beat him up).

Haye had no longevity as a CW champ and his best wins there were very arguably over Enzo, Fragomeni, Mormeck, and Gurov--hardly a standout group. Sure, he won a HW belt, but he did so in a dreadful fight against against an unspectacular title holder and he lost nearly every round when he faced his only opponent who is HOF material in Wlad. He added some interest to the division for a bit, but after toegate and the pullouts he doesn't seem to have nearly the positive reputation he once had and overall I'd class him as a letdown at the weight.

To me he doesn't have the quality of wins (regardless of the superficial labels) or longevity to make it, and I don't believe that he was such a popular star or consistently enjoyable enough to watch that it overcomes that.

I like Froch and Winky. Possibly Taylor...

Ezzard wrote:I like Froch and Winky. Possibly Taylor...

+1

johnswan1 wrote:Exactly re Gatti. It's really effing annoying when people start off "well if Gatti got in..."

Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with Gatti being in there he shouldn't be used as a yard stick for ability of a HOFer. Gatti is not in there because of his ability - everybody knows he was limited, yet he did more to draw fans to the sport than many if not most other HOFers, and that's why he's in there. What he lacked in ability he made up for it with blood and guts.

I can see why people would make a case for Corrales being more deserving than Gatti - he seemed to have more ability, but unlike Corrales Gatti did not spit his gum shield out to buy extra time, and unlike Corrales Gatti did not do time for beating up his pregnant wife (some may even suggest his wife beat him up).

So Gatti only got in for gis ability to sell tickets?

Do we as fans need to give that criteria considerstion?

If so Hatton is a no brainer.

Ricky_ wrote: If so Hatton is a no brainer.

Yes indeed, which is why he will be a first ballot inductee.

The stance that "if Gatti is in then X boxer should also be in" is getting old. Gatti's induction doesn't mean everybody who would easily defeat him in a mythical match-up should also be inducted into the HOF.

Anybody with an IQ greater than complete moron should understand that HOF induction isn't based on being an elite boxer and nothing else.

If some boxer comes along and has a career that mirrors the career of Arturo Gatti he will be in the IBHOF too.

All they have to do is:
Have Gatti's good looks AND media friendly personality
Achieve the same measure of fame and drawing power
Be near universally recognized as "the blood and guts warrior of boxing" due to numerous dramatic fights.
Be in "the fight of the year" four times
Take part in one of the most famous trilogies in boxing history
NEVER be part of a high profile fight that ultimately was an embarrassment to the sport(bad decision, boring fight)
oh........throw in two division world title holder

The guy who can say he is everything on that list will always be a hall of famer regardless of never being an elite boxer.
There is not and never will be a large number of that guy walking around.

Well said.

Winky Wright and Carl Froch

Taylor deserves to be in hug his recent behaviour might go against him unless they fancy him turning up with his guns.
Great fighter before he got punch drunk.
His quick demise always reminded me of Meldrick Taylor.

johnswan1 wrote:

Ricky_ wrote: If so Hatton is a no brainer.

Yes indeed, which is why he will be a first ballot inductee.

I'd say just for the fans he had, more than his career, he will rightly go in, as it was pretty special taking that many people over to the states and showing the yanks how it's done, Shame he couldn't produce the goods at the elite level but still deserves his place I think.

He was also unlucky to come up against prime versions of two all time greats.

Froch & Wright are dead certs for me.

Hatton also, but less so, but I'd never argue against his inclusion due to his popularity & style.

A strong case could be made for Corrales & Kessler should be up for lesser consideration too

I'm not overly keen on most of the others & David Haye is a definite no, even though I was a big fan of his once upon a time.