April featured a lot of movement in the SNB Rankings. An old legend departs and a young cruiserweight debuts. With a string of solid victories, one lightweight rises, while another one exits because of a poor showing in a win. Also, a light heavyweight returns to his former perch atop the division.
Elevated: Chad Dawson Dawson was caught in the SNB Rankings purgatory. The former light heavyweight champion certainly had tons of talent but his loss to Jean Pascal showed that he was not yet an elite boxer; after that defeat, he had to work his way back to the top of the division. With wins over Adrian Diaconu and now Bernard Hopkins, Dawson has accomplished this feat. He enters the Rankings in the Fighters on the Cusp list. With a victory over another light heavyweight titleholder or an exceptional talent such as Andre Ward, Dawson will gain elite status.
Elevated: Ricky Burns After suffering two losses early in his career, Burns worked hard on his craft and eventually won a junior lightweight title in a great fight over Roman Martinez. After three defenses, he went up to lightweight and decisioned Michael Katsidis for a vacant title belt. In his last fight, he cruised to an easier-than-expected victory over Paulus Moses. He continues to improve. Burns moves up to the 10 Boxers on the Rise list.
Elevated: Yoan Pablo Hernandez Hernandez won a cruiserweight title by defeating Steve Cunningham via a technical decision in October. It was a questionable stoppage caused by cuts and a rematch was ordered. Hernandez then decisioned Cunningham in a close fight in February to cement his status as one of the top cruiserweights in boxing. A Cuban exile fighting out of Germany, Hernandez debuts on the Bubbling Under list.
Demoted: Bernard Hopkins Obviously, Hopkins has had a Hall of Fame career. However, at 47, his defeat to Chad Dawson illustrated that he no longer fights at an elite level. Although he wasn't embarrassed in the loss, he couldn't move his hands enough or sustain consistent offense against the younger fighter. Hopkins departs the SNB Elite Fighters list.
Demoted: Brandon Rios Failing to make weight has been a consistent theme for Rios, who lost his lightweight title on the scales prior to his fight against John Murray. Facing Richard Abril (a late replacement for Yuriorkis Gamboa), Rios wasn't close to making the lightweight limit and turned in a lifeless performance. That he was awarded a controversial victory should not discount that his career momentum has stalled. Rios exits the 10 Boxers on the Rise list.
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Good updates. In my humble opinion, consider removing Nishioka from the "boxers on the rise" column. His inactivity, evidenced by his "champion in recess" status, and his threatened retirement, unless he gets a Donaire fight, which appears unlikely at this point given that Donaire's next opponent is Mijares with Arce to follow (weak), precludes that ranking.
ReplyDeleteMay 04,20012
ReplyDeleteGood day every boxing fans,in my own opinion,Chris John should not be included in the elite snb fighters considering that he did'nt even fight and elite fighters
He even afraid to fight in the US.He should prove himself that he is deserving to be an elite fighter if he can beat such name as JuanMa Lopez,Salido and other big names in his division.