I name a fighter, you give him a letter grade. RIGHT TODAY.

Textbook B+ class fighter

He doesn't have the gifts or skill to beat a great
fighter on their good day

But FEW work harder, are more disciplined than Bradley,
and so he's had an A grade career because of it

When he fought Pacquiao...it really was a pretty major
discrepancy in talent...Pacquiao is a full grade better


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"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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He was looking A class after Matthysse

But this guy has NOT worn success very well

Doesn't seem to do anything particularly well at this
point

Leaky defense, no pop, takes rounds off

I don't get it

Moving up is going to be a disaster for this guy


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

A...he hasn't lost (though Peterson might feel different)

He made us think a completely washed Zab might have something left in the tank, and Khan was COMPLETELY outclassing him before he got caught.

He hasn't looked good since the Mathysse fight.

All your points are true...and Matthyse looks like he hits hard. Bound to leave a lasting affect.

-->

May need better training.

Just from a fan perspective I can't stand watching him fight

Plus he has a british accent

He may have the quickest hands in the business, great footwork, legitimate pop and a glass chin. That's a recipe for excitement.

That was a guy he was SUPPOSED to beat, but he did it in a way that was frustrating to watch

put a brawler with limited skills in front of him who can take punishment and all of a sudden he's scared to box?

He's technically very good, I agree, but to actually be invested in a fight like I was in Provodnikov / Matthysse, there's gotta be some grit.

I've said it before:

Outside of Pacquiao, Mayweather, and Wlad, the only fighter
(any weight class) that I'm CONVINCED has supreme slam
dunk hall of fame boxing TALENT is Amir Khan (everyone else
has shit to prove).

I know, the production hasn't matched the skills.

But anything a guy is *this* gifted he's liable to have
a good two year run and fuck around, clean out a division.

Closest example was that Zab Judah run when he beat Corey
Spinks, damn near put Mayweather on the mat....Zab didn't
finish the job because...he's Zab, but he had a good little
run because he's talented and loves to fight

I think Khan is more gifted and at his best is better than
Judah is at his best (which is saying something)

So Khan is still relevant

I haven't given up

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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Gets sloppy has a baby chin.

I don't agree with waiting for the 6th to destroy Dulorme. It shows poise and patience, but even better fighters are hesitant to cruise through rounds.

Remember when Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander were at
Crawford's stage and we thought both were Hall of Famers?

He looks like the goods, but I'm not biting, pause

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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and rising...but I am suspect of this one.

No one is more wary of these big boppers than OE

But he *does* seem to be able to fight

Only being able to box will elevate him into that
next tier

And I want to see him vs. better competition


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"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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needs better opponents though...

I don't see him doing well against a great boxer. See Ward

The man has skills. Not great physical gifts, but
that level of pure boxing skill doesn't grow on trees.

He's not a spring chicken, but can still remain
relevant for a long time.

That beating of Donaire was something else: he outclassed,
completely, a fighter we all thought was grade A.

He is missing some killer instinct...doesn't seem to finish
the job (note: I don't necessarily mean KO power....Floyd
has a way of going in for the kill without necessarily
knocking out opponents, for example)

But the man has skills, no denying


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"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

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All the Cuban kids seem to have the same set of
attributes:

Supreme boxing IQ, they love the sport, but most are
missing *one thing* that prevents them from being truly
dominant.

Lara has never been beaten badly, and will go a long
time before he is. He's a tough draw.

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

He beat Paul Williams, and you could aargue that he beat Canelo.

Maybe the best southpaw ever, and among the 25 best fighters
pound for pound ever.

That's A+ class.


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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that knockout the only thing that keeps me from giving him an A +

He got knocked out, period. Can't be the best ever with that.

That said, I think he has actually grown as a fighter after the KO, and that shows he is adaptable and has learned to fight smarter.

One of the most exciting fighters in the sport, power in both hands, outstanding footwork, incredible stamina and chin, complex combinations, fearless, and a likeable guy on top of that.

He brings an element of fighting that is somehow not boxing to boxing. He has coasted when up in the scorecards but has never took a round off or looked anything less that professional out there.

ability.

Remember: losing to Kovalez does not a bum make

He is still a very relevant light heavyweight, and
can be most non-Kovalev guys

Hell, I think he'd give Adonis Stephenson a good fight



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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

.

And is still a good light heavyweight.


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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He's a clear B-grade light heavyweight at this
point

Nothing to be ashamed of.

He obviously should hang them up because of his age,
but there's no shame in a beating by Kovalev

Kovalev could beat guys literally half Hopkins' age
the same way or worse

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

that beating he took is not B-Hop. One of the greatest defensive fighters ever getting beat like that!?!? IMHO its because of age and its 'time'...my fear is the next one is going to come from a B list/C list fighter.

sadly he ain't get spot light till he was 36. Only knock you can give B hop is he wasn't physically great at anything which made him master his boxing ability.

-->

I just don't believe

Something is missing but you cannot recognize that knockout power. Dude is a beast...

I was actually impressed in his Molina fight

I saw some stylistic growth

He (and we) have waaaay oversold his natural gifts, though

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

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No suspense...look like all of his fights are 'forced' but when the action is forced on him!!! Well we know what happened...

Has got excellent natural hand speed, pop, and defense

Seems to have good corner, and be in the hands of the right
people

Is young

Big issue for him is weight class

Will his power stay with him as he goes up?

Two things happen to guys when they go up to 160

1) They find that it's their natural lane, and they look
fantastic (Roy Jones Jr, Winky Wright, many others)

2) They lose their intimidation and power, end up just
another guy (De La Hoya, Trinidad, and probably Paul
Williams)

The key is: Canelo is a big boy and he CAN box.

And box well.

I think he'll be fine.

He'll have a great career. Not A+, though.



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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




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(C)Keith Murray, "

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Retired Shane and only lost is Floyd, no shame in that.

I'm simply not sure what he does well

I guess he can punch pretty well

I do like him a lot, though

He'll give us some exciting fights


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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Mine are mostly in the body of my grades

Great post, btw

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O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "