WHAT MAKES A FIGHTER "ELITE"?

By David Kassel | March 13, 2012

In a recent interview, former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz described himself as one of the elite fighters in the welterweight division. While the term "elite" is often used to describe athletes in all sports, it is commonly thrown around undeservedly. The word "elite" is defined in the dictionary as "the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons." Too often, fighters put themselves into an elite category without warranting the claim. Not to pick on Ortiz, but he is the most recent example of a fighter singing his own praises without having earned that distinction.

Ortiz is certainly not the best of the welterweight division, nor does his resume indicate he should even be considered. Ortiz's biggest win came against an above-average fighter, Andre Berto. Because not many people gave Ortiz a chance to win does not make him elite. An upset is exactly that, an upset. Had he gone on to defeat Floyd Mayweather following the win against Berto, then maybe Ortiz could have anointed himself elite, but one upset win does not warrant "elite" status.

Men such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jack Johnson, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson are examples of fighters who were considered "elite" in their time. More recently, "elite" fighters included Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Pernell Whitaker.

There are only a handful of fighters in the sport of boxing today worthy of being deemed "elite." Today, the number of fighters on the "elite" level is just as slim as it has been throughout the course of history. To be "elite", a fighter must continuously face the absolute best competition and must continuously be victorious to earn his way up to or stay at the top level. Based on the definition of "elite", only 5 fighters today can lay claim to such a lofty title:

Floyd Mayweather (42-0 26 KO's)
Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2 38 KO's)
Wladimir Klitschko (57-3 50 KO's)
Vitali Klitschko (44-2 40 KO's)
Andre Ward (25-0 13 KO's)

There are a certain number of fighters who have been omitted from this list for reasons such as recent losses, inconclusive resumes, or lack of experience. For example, Juan Manuel Marquez is a fighter who could make a case to be on this list, however, in his last 5 fights, his record is 3-2, and he is 0-2 against the "elite".

There are certainly a number of fighters in boxing today on the brink of "elite" status. By the end of 2012, boxing fans could see the "elite" list grow exponentially. Fighters on the cusp of "elite" status that could find themselves on the list by year's end if all goes well include:

Sergio Martinez (48-2-2 27 KO's)
Lucian Bute (30-0 24 KO's)
Timothy Bradley (28-0 12 KO's)
Lamont Peterson (30-1-1 15 KO's)
Amir Khan (26-2 18 KO's)
Nonito Donaire (28-1 18 KO's)
Abner Mares (23-0-1 18 KO's)
Brandon Rios (29-0-1 22 KO's)
Yuriorkis Gamboa (21-0 16 KO's)

All of these fighters are just as likely to jump on the "elite" list as are the fighters already on the list just as likely to fall off. Remember, to be on the "elite" level, one must face the best competition, and most importantly, WIN the fight.

Agree or disagree? Email thoughts, comments, or questions to dkassel@fighthype.com, "Like" The Boxing Observer on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter @BoxingObserver.

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