10 best at 168

[The Monk]

I know Ottke's resume is a good one, but his career leaves a sour taste for me. I have seen the Reid fight several times and Robin won that fight comfortably. I would just take some of Ottkes wins with a pinch of salt.

[Hagler★]

im hoping the ottke inclusion was a joke, steve collins fits in there somewhere

[Liaison]

1. Joe Calzaghe
2. Nigel Benn
3. Chris Eubank
4. Roy Jones Jr
5. Sven Ottke
6. Steve Collins
7. James Toney
8. Steve Liles
9. Chong Pal Park
10. Mikkel Kessler

Eubank & Benn accomplished more than Jones at 168 hence them both being placed above Jones, same for Ottke & Collins above Toney.

As for Ottke, I seen the majority of his fights on DVD and the only fights he should have lost were Reid, Larsen & the first Brewer fight, Mitchell simply didn’t force the fight in their matchup.

[JAB5239]

im hoping the ottke inclusion was a joke, steve collins fits in there somewhere

As fans shouldn't we except the judges decisions in these matters? I mean Ali, Louis and Marciano had controversial fights as well as many, many others and are considered all time greats in their respective divisions. Why not Ottke?

Im not famaliar enough with his career to really comment, just trying to stir the bee's nest a bit here.

[Kid McCoy]

im hoping the ottke inclusion was a joke, steve collins fits in there somewhere

I think Ottke does deserve a top ten place. He wasn't a bad boxer by any means and while some of his fights were controversial, they weren't all gifts. Remember some people think Calzaghe also got a gift against Reid. Toney had his fair share of questionable decisions too. Ottke deserves some credit for his 20 defences, unifying two belts and going undefeated, and in a fairly new division, that makes him top ten in my book.

[wmute]

As fans shouldn't we except the judges decisions in these matters? I mean Ali, Louis and Marciano had controversial fights as well as many, many others and are considered all time greats in their respective divisions. Why not Ottke?

Im not famaliar enough with his career to really comment, just trying to stir the bee's nest a bit here.

I think Ottke does deserve a top ten place. He wasn't a bad boxer by any means and while some of his fights were controversial, they weren't all gifts. Remember some people think Calzaghe also got a gift against Reid. Toney had his fair share of questionable decisions too. Ottke deserves some credit for his 20 defences, unifying two belts and going undefeated, and in a fairly new division, that makes him top ten in my book.

I agree guys, but Ottke-Reid was unbelievable. Ottke should be there, but he deserves to be a few places below what his record would suggest.

[BattlingNelson]

I like the list by the threadstarter. I dont buy that much into all the populat Ottke hate. I've probably seen all his championship fights live hoping he would get KTFO. Of course that never happened. Ottke won a lot of close decisions but the question to ask is this: Could you see Ottke winning? As I recall I could. That doesnt mean I thought he won but I felt a case could be made for him winning.

The only fight that could be called a robbery IMO is the Reid fight. Not the Johnson fight as that was a pretty safe win for Sven as I recall it.

[Steak]

I think Ottke does deserve a top ten place. He wasn't a bad boxer by any means and while some of his fights were controversial, they weren't all gifts. Remember some people think Calzaghe also got a gift against Reid. Toney had his fair share of questionable decisions too. Ottke deserves some credit for his 20 defences, unifying two belts and going undefeated, and in a fairly new division, that makes him top ten in my book.

the difference with Ottke is that he has no good wins other than his controversial fights. take away the Brewer 'wins' and he never won a title. take away his 'wins' against Tate, Johnson, Mitchell and Reid, and who did he beat? no one other than a Mundine in his 9th or something bout.

I really dont discredit fighters that much when they lose. but Ottke never truly beat anyone worthwhile.

1. Joe Calzaghe
2. Nigel Benn
3. Chris Eubank
4. Roy Jones Jr
5. Sven Ottke
6. Steve Collins
7. James Toney
8. Steve Liles
9. Chong Pal Park
10. Mikkel Kessler

Eubank & Benn accomplished more than Jones at 168 hence them both being placed above Jones, same for Ottke & Collins above Toney.

As for Ottke, I seen the majority of his fights on DVD and the only fights he should have lost were Reid, Larsen & the first Brewer fight, Mitchell simply didn’t force the fight in their matchup.

Toney and Jones may not have stuck around for very long at 168, but they had some pretty kickass wins there.
Toney beat Iran Barkley for the title, who was coming off a win over Hearns and Van Horn I believe. very impressively.
He also beat Charles Williams, who had a long championship run at Light Heavyweight before moving down. Toney KOed him.
He also beat Tony Thorton, who gave Eubank a decently hard time.
and then Tim Littles, who was undefeated at the time and had wins over Liles and Scully

Roy definately had a good run at 168. apart from beating Toney(important win in itself) he beat Thorton, Sosa and future champ Lucas.

no offense to Eubank, but he had quite a few controversial fights at 168, which has to take away from his run there a little bit.

[Kid McCoy]

the difference with Ottke is that he has no good wins other than his controversial fights. take away the Brewer 'wins' and he never won a title. take away his 'wins' against Tate, Johnson, Mitchell and Reid, and who did he beat? no one other than a Mundine in his 9th or something bout.

Far be it from me to defend Sven Ottke, but I'll have a go anyway. The way some talk, you'd be forgiven for thinking every single fight he won was a hometown decision. Ottke was very slick defensively, and a lot of his fights were close and difficult to score. Just because it's a close fight, it doesn't automatically mean the winner got a gift, and many of those fights were close, not decisive wins for his opponents. Sure the opponents all complained, but heck virtually every boxer complains when he drops a close decision. Look at Johnson against Dawson or Hopkins against Calzaghe. The biggest gripe with the Reid fight wasn't so much that Ottke won as the performance of the referee.

[Mugwump]

Far be it from me to defend Sven Ottke, but I'll have a go anyway. The way some talk, you'd be forgiven for thinking every single fight he won was a hometown decision. Ottke was very slick defensively, and a lot of his fights were close and difficult to score. Just because it's a close fight, it doesn't automatically mean the winner got a gift, and many of those fights were close, not decisive wins for his opponents. Sure the opponents all complained, but heck virtually every boxer complains when he drops a close decision. Look at Johnson against Dawson or Hopkins against Calzaghe. The biggest gripe with the Reid fight wasn't so much that Ottke won as the performance of the referee.

It's nothing to do with the boxer's complaints. The fight is dodgy when the neutrals watching the fight smell a king size rat.