Prime Joe Calzaghe went life and death with aussiebum Sakio Bika!

Well then its a good thing I didn't say that.....I wouldn't want you to think I was out of my mind.

As for beating LHW's, I don't see how that would effect Ward's SMW status. But either way, Calzaghe beat 1 top LHW, and and a totally shot RJJ,, even you know this by now. If Ward were to move and beat Hopkins, and say a guy like Beibut Shumenov....that would be good enough for you for him to surpass Calzaghe in your eyes?

As for beating Bute and Dirrell, Bute is a must. Dirrell has things to prove before beating him would be some kind of requirement for greatness.

But even were Ward to lose at some point, I don't see why he wouldn't get serious consideration down the road if he were to get back to beating top guys. You Calzaghe fans put far too much stock into the "0", without qualifying it. Seriously, take Kessler and say he had fought Calzaghe's run up until 2007, who wouldn''t he beat? The same for Ward and Bute. Maybe even Froch.

Point is, Ward will have, and already has, taken chances. And, although you don't get ranked due to chances taken, it enters into the equation. He fought the best guys in his weight class and has so far, beaten them soundly.

You ask me, I'm not so sure he gets there. He might lose to Bute.

 

How did everyone score Ward-Boone?

 

You are underrating Calzaghe's resume, he has fought many top 10 SMWs in his time: Eubank, Reid, Kessler and some other good guys, I think Calzaghe's resume at SMW is better than Ward's but if Ward were to beat Bute and Direll that would make his resume a lot better. Beating Hopkins + Dawson would make his legacy overall much greater than Calzaghe's. Not sure why you said Shumenov, the guy isn't very good + hasn't accomplished much so the win over him wouldn't do much really.

 

Let me first say....excellent responses. And while I may not agree with everything you wrote, I appreciate that you gave honest answers and I can respect a differing pov.

I can relate to that. Although I don't think Ward will oblige. I do think he would beat Kessler at any point in his career.

I agree with you, but I don't think they do. I don't think they were trolling.

Fair enough. Out of curiosity....aside from Reid, Woodhall and Bika....who do you rate during his wbo reign?

I'd say without a doubt.

Agreed. Although, their 1st 4 or 5 years as titlists aren't so dissimilar.

I don't think he could take a decision aside from a very obvious hometown decision. I think Ward is simply too fast, too adaptable. I must come off as a Ward fan, but I'm not. I do admire his ability to impose his will on fights though. Not a big fan of his style in or out of the ring.

Agreed on the last.

Not sure about prime for prime. That's one of those unanswered questions.

lol.....fair enough

True. I happen to think he is the real deal, but is getting older and may age out of that before he shows it. It will be a shame really if that happens.

At an equal stage of their careers? I'd say Ward's opposition is head and shoulders better.

Overall, Ward's career can still go up or down.

Indeed.

While they aren't nearly as numerous, those threads have come about. I do see what your saying though.

I try not to get so juvenile. I don't believe any pro is a fraud or a coward, etc. I don't even get into the mix with that stuff.

For my part, I've never really resented Calzaghe. People like to say he beat Hopkins and Jones and that pisses us Americans off. And there are plenty that I am sure it does. I was never really a fan of either, I guess if I had to pick one, I'd say Jones. In fact, I really do not like Hopkins at all(even rooted for Calzaghe against him.)

Personally, I go negative on his career(really just until Lacy) because I feel he could have done much more. I disagree with his fans because the "0" is trreated as a an ATG accomplishment, without qualifying it(Same as Mayweather's to a degree)....same with the defenses.....although for some reason....not as much.
He just doesn't have the quality of depth in his resume that I feel is needed to meet the standing his fans are saying he has.

 

Shu is a highly rated LHW.......but he'd be a better win for Ward than RJJ was for Calzaghe.

As for the top 10's. Not really, you named a large portion already. And it's unfortunate. Lacy, Woodhall, Mitchell....and Brewer I believe. There may be 1 or 2 others.....but considering the amount of defenses and some of the guys that got title shots.......that is not alot.

And strangely, I don't know if simply Bute and Dirrell would be enough. IMO, Bute and 4 or 5 good defenses could do it.

But, if doing what you said he should is enough to put him over Calzaghe.....that could all be done in 2 or 3 years from now. Meaning 5 years total. What does that tell you about Calzaghe's 11+ years? Or the fact that it took him 9+ years to unify or beat another guy that was considered a top SMW?

 

Calzaghe fought a prime, Healthy Kessler.

Ward fought a double visioned, past prime Kessler and used headbutts.

atsch

 

Ward only beated guys that were already beaten.

 

Which page has Failey's boxrec response showing that Saiko Bika was, at the time, a legitimate top challenger?

 

Calzaghe should come back and challenge Ward.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl

We all know how much Slappy loved a challenge.

 

Yeah what ever ! atsch

 

i hate calz, and will dog him at any opportunity. But bika aint a bad fighter and one of joes better win on his res. I'd even rate it above his fight with the shot eubanks.

 

Yeah that hypejob.

 

What do you mean whatever, that's true lol and you try to hype it up as some crazy good win. The win is no better than Calzaghe's over Eubank.