Does Hopkins win enhance Calzaghe's legacy even more?

[Flea Man]

Originally Posted by dftaylor

And, like it or not, Hopkins is the only true HOF-level fighter on Calzaghe's ledger. I love Joe but he's not greater than Hopkins.

Not by a long stretch.

[ollyc]

Originally Posted by Flea Man

Eubank was past his best and taking the fight short notice and had to cut down having prepared to fight at cruiserweight. Tarver is an equal win. He was also drained having had to lose a lot of weight post-Rocky Balboa 'acting' role.

Felix Trinidad was heavily favoured. He was NOT a blown up welter. He had destroyed two top talents in Reid and Vargas. He had decimated Joppy to force himself into the top few middleweights in the World. And B-Hop schooled him, and is still the only man to stop him. Better win than Kessler. He was highly ranked in the P4P lists.

I say this having been at the Kessler fight. Calzaghe remains the best fighter I've seen live, I saw him adjust, I recognised straight away (was it in the 8th?) when Joe hurt Kessler with that body shot. And I met Kessler in Thailand he was a gent'. There is no bias here.

Hopkins is the far greater fighter.

Bailey's response:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wD2McM9Vfv...n-ears-002.jpg

[Flea Man]

That bad, huh?

[Jamal Perkins]

Originally Posted by Beeston Brawler

I thought that Hopkins beat Calzaghe, but it's the Hagler/Leonard thing all over again, there's a never ending debate over it.

Though the outcome of this one is more controversial I'd say, albeit in a much less historically significant fight for the sport.

Hell hopkins floored calzaghe and utterly exposed him for six rounds.than he mugged and calzaghe was hardly doing great but he won 5 of the last 6 so hopkins still won

[HOF]

Originally Posted by dftaylor

And, like it or not, Hopkins is the only true HOF-level fighter on Calzaghe's ledger. I love Joe but he's not greater than Hopkins.

Definitely resume-wise. Head-to-head though, the only time Hopkins has looked like he hasn't wanted to be in a boxing ring was against Calzaghe. And that was with the help of Cortez who reffed it in completely the opposite manner to which he reffed Hatton-Mayweather.

[glue glove]

It enhances Hopkins' legacy.

Therefore Jermain Taylor's wins enhance his legacy twofold.

[HOF]

Originally Posted by brown bomber

That were even debating this is testimony to how poorly Calzaghe was managed. He was a superb fighter with only a handful of top class victories.

Calzaghe’s natural lack of self confidence allied to what we now know to be Wa**en’s approach to making fights means Calzaghe spent so long drifting. Back at the start of Calzaghe’s career Wa**en had given him a title shot after nearly 20 fights of non-exposure with Mickey Duff. And Wa**en was still very much the number one promoter here for most of Calzaghe's time after he ended Duff's reign - much like what Hearn appears to be doing to Wa**en at present.

There weren't exactly that many HOF-level opponents flying around and Calzaghe going to the States under Wa**en to fight any half decent fighter was never gonna happen. Wa**en's attitude to taking fighters away has been made clear with his criticism of Matchroom doing that. I know Calzaghe and Eddie Hearn are pals and somebody like him would've been great for Calzaghe based on what he's done thus far. Calzaghe needed the prodding - if it wasn't for his old man he was gonna pull out of the Lacy fight.

Where Joe let himself down was that last fight against Jones. Ok it was for more money but a win against the then undefeated young heir apparent at 175 in Dawson, or giving a career-ending beating to Pavlik like BHop went on to do would've given things a greater gloss.

[HOF]

Originally Posted by JOSEY WALES

I gotta feeling Nath will be home and hosed in 2-3 years as a retired unified champ @ 175 mate , far too smart a kid to punch for pay into his 30's IMO , I just hope he who can't be named here allows him to develop into the fighter I think he could be by permitting him to fight the best available at all times because IMO he's gone backwards since the Bellew win ( that in itself is looking a better win given Tonys recent improvement as well ) , I would like to see Nath fuck off old guy promoter and get with someone who can deliver the bigger fights stateside for him .

Exactly. Noticed Bellew has gone ahead of Clev on boxrec's ratings since they fought and you can't argue with it. If he looks at previous fighters he'll see Wa**en is good at getting them up to world level but then doesn't want to risk or share the pot with anyone. Like you say Clev's a smart kid but I think he may be a tad gullible when it comes to his promoter (need put Wa**en's name in):

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[DaveyboyEssexUK]

Originally Posted by HOF

Exactly. Noticed Bellew has gone ahead of Clev on boxrec's ratings since they fought and you can't argue with it. If he looks at previous fighters he'll see Wa**en is good at getting them up to world level but then doesn't want to risk or share the pot with anyone. Like you say Clev's a smart kid but I think he may be a tad gullible when it comes to his promoter (need put Wa**en's name in):

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Well you never know most didnt think The Rickster would jump ship but he did

[HOF]

Originally Posted by DaveyboyEssexUK

Well you never know most didnt think The Rickster would jump ship but he did

Yes but if you look at Burns's last year or so you'll see he's been having it good compared to Clev. Karpency and Hawk over the last 18 months is appalling by anybody's standards. If the next 12 months go the same way surely Clev will get the message then. Or maybe Frank will put any eggs he has left into Clev's basket

[benebox]

It obviously does. This is Calzaghes best win. The higher Hopkins moves up in the ATG rankings the better the win.

[Boxed Ears]

Mercardo's draw right now is looking similar to the Marquez/Pac draw and the Walker/Sharkey draw and the Gans/Walcott draw. I mean, since Saturday it's really been looking that way.

[Flea Man]

Originally Posted by benebox

It obviously does. This is Calzaghes best win. The higher Hopkins moves up in the ATG rankings the better the win.

No.

[Laikaka]

No, why would it? Does Hopkins win mean we must re-evaluate all of his opponents that beat him? And anyway we're talking about Tavoris Cloud here.