Calzaghe vs Ward, who wins?

froch wasnt a player when joe was around

he was hatton's junior witter at the time

 

Hopkins priced himself out of a fight with Calzaghe in 2002/2003 so he could fight Hakkar, Joppy, Allen (for the third bloody time) and two blown up welterweight in Del La Hoya and Trinidad. The deal was almost signed until Hopkins demanded twice the amount - and he did pretty much the same thing to Jones and Toney during this period of time as well. So rather than blame Calzaghe solely at least recognize that Hopkins played a part in the fight not happening during his prime physical years.

And, again, I have to point out that Hopkins was considered the best Light Heavyweight in the World at the time of their fight and is now considered one of the best in the weight division history. Whether he was older than 40 does not render thsi invalid.

As for Jones, he was more interested in going after Ruiz and a Heavyweight Title. There was no big payday in fighting Calzaghe during his prime years. America didn't care about Calzaghe then, the American networks didn't care about Calzaghe so why the hell should Jones fight Calzaghe when he was not likely to get a big payday out of it and nobody in his country would consider it anything worthy of his time or legacy anyway? Just like Steve Collins, Jones could ignore Calzaghe because Calzaghe wasn't a big name or draw in the state.

However, Calzaghe didn't chase Jones. If he could have guarenteed a ridiculously high payday he would have taken the fight, but he couldn't becuase Jones had a higher profile and Jones commanded more respect from the big networks so would always be paid the lions-share of the purse. Calzaghe could make more money by fighting whoever the hell the WBO put in front of him, he wouldn't get paid well enough to risk a fight with Jones during Jones prime.

I'm not sugar coating it in anyway. I dont consider the Jones/Calzaghe fight anything more than a last big payday for Joe's before retirement, but I do think the win over Hopkins was a very good win over a legitmate world class opponent and I object to people writing that off just because Hopkins was over 40 and ignoring how the boxing world rated Hopkins before and after the Calzaghe fight.

 

Froch was mandatory to Joe's WBC belt. When he vacated , Froch fought Pascal for it.

 

Ward has certainly faced better calibre of opposition, but Calzaghe's workrate was exceptional and as neither have that 'big shot' in their locker I think Joe slaps his way to a close UD.

 

doesnt matter who the mandatory was, froch wasn't a player on the world stage when calzaghe was SMW king

 

Neither is Kell Brook. You you know what mandatory means?

 

I know that money fighters wont get as much respect as legacy fighters, but I have to draw the line when there is baseless and unjustified hatred of a money fighter when he accomplishes something significant.

And going up a weight division to fight the guy recognized as the best there at the time and now considered one of the best ever in that weight division is a significant achievement that should not be **** upon just because Hopkins happened to be over 40.

 

like i said, it carries some weight
but a hopkins or jones fight was there for 10 years prior to that when it mattered...

 

yeah it means individual federations are trying to legitimize their belts

 

Popularity of a figher is what you made it out to mean.

 

I am not a fan of Calzaghe,but i do reckon he would eek out a decision against Ward.As for him fighting Froch i thought that would have been a good fight to finish his career with.I was a bit pissed off he didnt take that fight.

 

kell brook and carl froch didn't get the fights that would have made them because they weren't 'popular' - making your name in the US is a completely different thing

 

froch was a step down for calzaghe at that time

 

Calzaghe UD

 

you're a british partisan of some notoriety, no offence champ but your opinion is about as legitimate as bailey's :good