An Organized Scheme to Beat a Rating System?

Let’s face it, no rating system or ranking list is perfect, not even the one used here at Fight Matrix.  There are varying perspectives, varying protocols and complex calculations (well, at least here) at play.

Where the media lists and personal lists suffer, which is in the realm of lacking knowledge and bias — we excel.  Where they excel, which is in the realm of “common sense”, we are subject to suffer.  I say “subject to”, because a good software-based rating system depends on norms and works to eliminate outliers through scenario-based handling.  Though, sometimes even this ounce of prevention fails.

Today, we veer off from MMA, into the world of boxing.  Folks, I introduce you to Ali Raymi.

Linked above, is his “BoxRec” profile.  If you don’t know by now, BoxRec is the foremost authority in the professional boxing records database world — think Sherdog’s FightFinder after a 6-month stack of steroids.  BoxRec also features a very good software-based rating system.  Though its “pound-for-pound” AND all-time ratings are in sore need of a “common sense” update, its current divisional ratings are some of the best out there.  Another site I am going to reference is the IBO.  They are typically considered the best world sanctioning boxing organization outside of the Top 4 (WBC,IBF,WBO,WBA) — mainly because they have a software-based rating system.

OK, so back to Mr. Raymi.  You may notice that he is a 105 pound, 39 year old boxer from Yemen — a huge boxing hot-spot (not).  Furthermore, he holds a 19-0 record….

• With all wins by knockout.
• Not only that, all knockouts were in the first round.
• Not only that, all of his opponents were undefeated.
• And not only that, none of his 2013 opponents fought again… at least not yet.

So, in the most scarce division where 99%+ of the meaningful fights take place in either Central America, Southeast Asia or South Africa, you’ve got a 39 year old racking up 15 first-round knockouts in less than six months in Yemen.  Given the recent Yemeni professional boxing history, what’s even more peculiar is the insane amount of opposition with undefeated records.

One must wonder, if Ali is in contact with a Yemeni oil tycoon who gathered up all the animal herders from Yemen and Somalia under 120 pounds, gave them all boxing gear and started a camp for the “Make Ali Raymi a Global Star” camp.  Posted on the walls, like ancient Arabic, are long family tree-like Visio diagrams foreseeing Ali Raymi’s entire career leading to a mural where he is shown retired at 100-0, in a mansion, with a harem of hot Arabic chicks, just behind a sand dune off the Gulf of Aden.  It’s possible, right?

If you want to see Mr. Raymi’s handy work, he’s got some fights posted on YouTube.  Here’s an example.  Look at that mean bodywork and Pernell Whitaker-like defense.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I’m not buying that Yemen has suddenly become a talent-ridden pool of boxing Strawweights.  And, I’ve seen something like this before, on a much smaller scale in the republic of Georgia, but those boxers eventually left for greener pastures and were mostly unsuccessful.

Does going 19-0, 19KO (all in the first round against undefeated opposition) make a Yemeni Strawweight pushing 40 a hit with the ladies?  Maybe… but what it also does is “trick” a standardized rating system.

On BoxRec, Ali Raymi is now the 11th ranked Strawweight in the world!

Not only that, apparently the WBO is on notice as well — an official “top 4” sanctioning body, had him ranked 12th in October.  I anxiously await the November update.  The previously mentioned IBO, had him ranked #46 in October…. but have curiously dropped him in the November update.

Stay on high alert if MMA becomes big in the Middle East…. you can trick the computer, at least until someone notices.

PS – If any of our readers can make it to his next fight on Sunday (against a 5-0 fighter) please send us a scouting report!