WEBSITE AND MAGAZINE CONTINUE TO LOSE CREDIBILITY
Los Angeles, CA– What I read this morning had to be one of the most ridiculous stories of the year. Ring magazine and or Ringtv.com, whatever title you want to give them, once a respected publication and considered “The Bible of Boxing” continues to lose
Has the “Ring” lost it’s credibility?
credibility in my mind and in the mind of most of the boxing community. The publication has made many errors in judgement within the last year and ever since their purchase by former world champion Oscar De La Hoya. My intention is never to throw dirt on anyone or the publication, and I understand pound for pound is a mythical ranking. However fans look up to the rankings of a publication of their magnitude. They also tend to blind the masses with what in this case is “BS” favoritism that isn’t based on logic. For some unknown reason, their panel of experts, or so called panel in my opinion, have Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs) who just got schooled for 12 rounds by Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs), ranked at #10 pound for pound. Where is the Cuban standout ranked? He didn’t qualify in their rankings. I understand keeping Donaire in the rankings, as he has been on quite a run, and even though I don’t sign up to the “because A beats B, then B beats C” theory, you have to come to the conclusion that based on the skillset and that he just dominated the best fighter in his division he deserves a ranking. While Tim Bradley deserves a ranking, Robert Guerrero? He never unified titles in any division and has yet to beat an elite fighter, unless you consider Andre Berto to be at that level. Too much emphasis is put on fighters jumping up in weight, and multiple titles.
BRONER IN BUT RIGO OUT?
Regardless of Rigo only having 12 fights, he beat a top 5 pound for pound fighter in Donaire and has the amateur pedigree to go along with it. Adrien Broner however is ranked #6 when his best victory was over Antonio De Marco, a fighter not ranked anywhere near anyones pound for pound list. If you beat one of the best fighters out there doesn’t that count for something? I have a feeling that drama like this is the reason many panel members left and created the “Transnational Boxing Rankings Board”. Now I rarely agree with anything from the mouth of ESPN’s boxing writer Dan Rafael, but in this case I have to agree that at this this point Ringmagazine/Ringtv.com’s rankings have become a complete joke.
-Kevin Perry