Post by Paul Magno on Nov 12, 2008 22:09:03 GMT -5
Another Set of Divisional Rankings? Why?
Almost every website or magazine has a list of the sports' top fighters, compiled by either a group of experts or through a mathematical formula. The problem is that neither method is really effective in figuring out who the actual top fighters in each division are.
The opinion method used by Ring Magazine, among others, is decent. However, this method has its flaws. It is solely dependent on the actual knowledge of the "experts" putting together the list. Lists using this method often end up becoming popularity lists where undeserving, but high-profile fighters get rankings while those who are not TV-friendly don't. An example would be Ring Magazine's Welterweight rankings which feature Zab Judah and Luis Collazo at #'s 7 and 8 respectively despite the fact that they are a combined 0-6 at Welterweight over the last 3 years.
The statistical method used by places like Boxrec and the IBO use a cold formula to calculate a fighter's placement. However, such lists often fall apart when trying to use them to measure current, actual ratings instead of career-wide achievements. With this method, what a fighter did 8 years ago would allow him placement on a rankings list despite his current level of success. An example would be Boxrec's ranking of David Haye as the 4th best Heavyweight in the world despite only having 1 Heavyweight bout against marginal opposition in the last several years. The statistical method is too rigid when dealing with fighters changing weight classes, becoming inactive and many other logistical issues that take place in the complex world of Pro Boxng.
The sanctioning bodies' ranking, well, they are just obscene at times.
So, basically, we are introducing our BTBC rankings because nobody's done the ratings thing correctly yet.
How are we Different?
The BTBC World Rankings is the first such list that takes into account a fighter's actual accomplishments within his weight class.
Our ratings are compiled with the objective of showing what a fighter has achieved in his division within a 3 year period of time. 3 years is a fair amount of time to establish oneself in a chosen division- A fair amount of time to properly gauge a fighter's impact on his division. A ranking system should be about what a fighter has actually accomplished in his division and not what he used to accomplish, what he could accomplish or what he should accomplish.
What sets us apart is that we are judging the fighters solely on their achievements in the here and now.
How are the Top 20 Lists Put Together?
First, to establish a base of ratable fighters we used all the major lists of rankings and put together a database of fighters who were ranked somewhere on one of the established lists (Espn, Fightnews, Boxrec, IBO, Ring, WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF) as well as our own editorial opinion of which fighters to add to the raw base.
Then, a formula is used to award each fighter a point total based on won-loss record in the defined period of time, level of competition and other intangibles.
Only official fights are taken into consideration when applying the point system. (An offical fight is either a 10 or 12 round bout that takes place within a 3-year period between two fighters who are within the same weight class. So, only fights between two Welterweights will be considered an official Welterweight contest- something that no other rankings system does.)
Finally, the fighters are ranked according to their point total unless other factors preclude such placements (i.e. If a fighter has a higher point total than the fighter who just beat him. In this case, the fighter with the win over his rival will be placed higher.)
Also, we have listed an additional 5 fighters in a group entitled "5 to Watch" which consists of unrated fighters who are close to breaking the Top 20.
Rankings will be updated every month. However, big fights will be figured into the rankings immediately or as soon as humanly possible.
How Does a Fighter Make the Top 20?
There are only 2 ways to make it into the Top 20: 1) Beat a Top 20 fighter or 2) Have a ranked fighter retire or become inactive and get bumped up into the rankings.
How Does a Fighter Get Dropped from the Top 20?
By Losing and falling below the 20th ranked fighter or through retirement/inactivity.
Special Rule for the Top 10
A fighter, inactive in his weight class for more than 18 months, cannot be ranked in the BTBC Top 10 regardless of his achievements. He may still be ranked somewhere in the Top 20, but the Top 10 is only for active, competitive fighters.
I hope these rankings serve as a tool to aid all fight fans in judging who's really who in the sport we love.
-Paul
Almost every website or magazine has a list of the sports' top fighters, compiled by either a group of experts or through a mathematical formula. The problem is that neither method is really effective in figuring out who the actual top fighters in each division are.
The opinion method used by Ring Magazine, among others, is decent. However, this method has its flaws. It is solely dependent on the actual knowledge of the "experts" putting together the list. Lists using this method often end up becoming popularity lists where undeserving, but high-profile fighters get rankings while those who are not TV-friendly don't. An example would be Ring Magazine's Welterweight rankings which feature Zab Judah and Luis Collazo at #'s 7 and 8 respectively despite the fact that they are a combined 0-6 at Welterweight over the last 3 years.
The statistical method used by places like Boxrec and the IBO use a cold formula to calculate a fighter's placement. However, such lists often fall apart when trying to use them to measure current, actual ratings instead of career-wide achievements. With this method, what a fighter did 8 years ago would allow him placement on a rankings list despite his current level of success. An example would be Boxrec's ranking of David Haye as the 4th best Heavyweight in the world despite only having 1 Heavyweight bout against marginal opposition in the last several years. The statistical method is too rigid when dealing with fighters changing weight classes, becoming inactive and many other logistical issues that take place in the complex world of Pro Boxng.
The sanctioning bodies' ranking, well, they are just obscene at times.
So, basically, we are introducing our BTBC rankings because nobody's done the ratings thing correctly yet.
How are we Different?
The BTBC World Rankings is the first such list that takes into account a fighter's actual accomplishments within his weight class.
Our ratings are compiled with the objective of showing what a fighter has achieved in his division within a 3 year period of time. 3 years is a fair amount of time to establish oneself in a chosen division- A fair amount of time to properly gauge a fighter's impact on his division. A ranking system should be about what a fighter has actually accomplished in his division and not what he used to accomplish, what he could accomplish or what he should accomplish.
What sets us apart is that we are judging the fighters solely on their achievements in the here and now.
How are the Top 20 Lists Put Together?
First, to establish a base of ratable fighters we used all the major lists of rankings and put together a database of fighters who were ranked somewhere on one of the established lists (Espn, Fightnews, Boxrec, IBO, Ring, WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF) as well as our own editorial opinion of which fighters to add to the raw base.
Then, a formula is used to award each fighter a point total based on won-loss record in the defined period of time, level of competition and other intangibles.
Only official fights are taken into consideration when applying the point system. (An offical fight is either a 10 or 12 round bout that takes place within a 3-year period between two fighters who are within the same weight class. So, only fights between two Welterweights will be considered an official Welterweight contest- something that no other rankings system does.)
Finally, the fighters are ranked according to their point total unless other factors preclude such placements (i.e. If a fighter has a higher point total than the fighter who just beat him. In this case, the fighter with the win over his rival will be placed higher.)
Also, we have listed an additional 5 fighters in a group entitled "5 to Watch" which consists of unrated fighters who are close to breaking the Top 20.
Rankings will be updated every month. However, big fights will be figured into the rankings immediately or as soon as humanly possible.
How Does a Fighter Make the Top 20?
There are only 2 ways to make it into the Top 20: 1) Beat a Top 20 fighter or 2) Have a ranked fighter retire or become inactive and get bumped up into the rankings.
How Does a Fighter Get Dropped from the Top 20?
By Losing and falling below the 20th ranked fighter or through retirement/inactivity.
Special Rule for the Top 10
A fighter, inactive in his weight class for more than 18 months, cannot be ranked in the BTBC Top 10 regardless of his achievements. He may still be ranked somewhere in the Top 20, but the Top 10 is only for active, competitive fighters.
I hope these rankings serve as a tool to aid all fight fans in judging who's really who in the sport we love.
-Paul