Joe Calzaghe and Britains top 168 lbers

Only one SMW fight mate, and sadly ended in tragedy

Great post and exactly what I think. I think Reid was better than Froch, but Reid was an odd fighter who could perform really well sometimes and then just do little other times. (Danny Williams was a bit like that, when you consider his come back against Tyson and then think of how he did little and lost to M Sprott). An on form Reid would beat Froch I think.
Yeah Reids legacy is a bit unfairly judged and would be far greater if not for the Ottke decision.
If Froch hadnt of got the Dirrell decision he probably wouldnt have got too much further in the S6 as his next fight was a loss. Froch gets rated higher because he is recognised in America whilst Reid wasnt

 

Very true. Makes Eubanks away victory look better. Rocchigiani had been IBF SMW champ (relinquished) when Eubank beat him. Eubank did have a good run when he was WBO champ with a win over the undefeated former IBF champ Rocchigiani and a draw with WBC champ Benn and a win previously. It looked good on paper

 

Catley was an odd one really. You would never have believed he was going to be a SMW champ but was 50/50 with Woodhall, beat future WBC champ Lucas by KO who was world class, beat undefeated WBC champ and future 3 time WBC champ Beyer. Catley was also very unlucky against undefeated world rated Haussler twice. I would have favoured D Francis before his injury to have beaten him also. Francis was a very good fighter before he hurt his shoulder. I always thought undefeated Reid against prime Francis would have been a fantastic fight.
I would have favoured Wharton to beat Catley and Magee also though I think Woodhall would have out foxed and out boxed him. I think Woodhall was a bit underated and possessed a good chin.
I cant really split Reid and Woodhall -
I struggle to seperate the 2 really. I think Woodhall gets a little underated at times, as does Reid. Its a toss up really
Woodhall beat Malinga WBC SMW champ, beat Catley who became WBC SMW champ, beat Nardiello former WBC champ and still world rated. Woodhall also beat Branco who was a world class SMW who beat Reid, but that was at MW and before Branco became WBA LHW champ. If Reid had of been given the decision over Ottke which I felt he deserved, his stock would have gone right up, but Reid still has a good resume in his own right, in beating WBC SMW champ Nardiello away, beating Cherifi who became WBC MW champ and his win over B Magee now WBA SMW int champ. Reids win over Pretaurious was a good win, but not great.
Reids losses to Malinga and Branco dont help considering Woodhall beat both. As said its a toss up.
I think Reid underachieved and could have done more. Reid just didnt do anything against Malinga, a fight he could have clearly won and after losing to Calzaghe, just didnt do anything against Branco who Woodhall had stopped. Reid was never the same after the Calzaghe fight and never seemed to work as hard or do as much again, though I think he won the Ottke fight, which does deserve credit.

 

I think the decision was fair. I think it gets thought of as worse than it is because Woodhall was very hard on himself with his performance and Catley talked himself up. I dont recall the commentary didnt have Woodhall losing, I think they had him edging it

 

Maybe.
Froch is a great fighter but can be so frustrating to watch. I felt Froch could have beaten Kessler and had Kessler hurt in round 5 but seemed not to step on it. Froch seems to admire his work instead of pushing on at times

 

Yeah true, wouldnt argue with that

 

I was worried about Froch on the whole run up. He thought the fight was off, didnt get into the country till a few days before the fight (due to the ash cloud) had to do a long car journey and fulfill press obligations and had ear trouble all before getting in the ring. It wasnt good prep.
I heard Froch had ear problems again before fighting G Johnson?