Joe Calzaghe and the reasons why he has such a divided fanbase

des - I get the point you're making and it is very rare, like you say, that a world class boxer is actually scared to box someone. It is always a case of what is the best decision to make Risk vs. Reward. Calzaghe fought a lot of "world" titlists in their primes but unfortunetly the business side didn't make sense while both were champions for the most part and to say he was to blame for a lot of these fights not happening is unfair. He beat 10 world champions plus several highly ranked contenders, he couldn't get the Hopkins fight until later on because Hopkins had much bigger pay days else where, he couldn't get the Ottke fight because Ottke didn't fancy it and was happy making a tidy sum in Germany.

 

I made no claims as to whether he was to blame or not. Whether it was his fault, Warrn's, the opposition's..... When it is all said and done, it really doesn't matter whose fault it ultimately was. I'm deliberately trying not to engage in it. It has nothing to do with the points we're discussing. World titlists.

You say alot of them, in their prime. But we've been thru the fact that alot of them weren't titlists when he fought em. Who are you referring to?

Hopkins would have been a big fight for Calzaghe's legacy. But Ottke? How far would that have gone really?

 

It's clear that I have followed boxing longer than you- because Roy Jones was never the lineal light heavyweight champ

He was handed the wbc title and the real champ was stripped of the wba and IBF titles

The real WBC champ won millions in court and the WBC would nto even be here today if he hadnt let them off the hook.

Look up who it is and also who the real lineal champ was.

regards

 

Umm, Michael Spinks for starters.. I think Bob Foster decapitates Calzaghe.. James Toney, RJJ, Virgil Hill all beat the Slap Master General.. However, since Joe never wanted tough fights.......

 

Ducked/Still ducking Undefeated SMW champion of his era Ottke

Hopkins revenged his loss for legacy...no excuse for Joe

 

double post

 

Not true for all of them.

Eubank was fresh out of retirement and looking to progress in the Light Heavyweight scene when he got the call to step in for Collins. Thinking Calzaghe a light-weight he took the fight on short notice and lost. He went on to try to claim a Cruiserweight belt. Clearly he wasn't lacking any ambition at the time or looking to retire or unconcerned about winning.

Reid had only recently lost the WBC Title and would fight Ottke a few years after fighting Calzaghe for the IBF and WBA Title. Hell! He would still be fighting almost a decade after he lost to Calzaghe.

Bika was at a relatively early stage of his career and hadn't captured a world title yet. He's currently WBC Champion.

Lacy was a young and hungry fighter looking to make wave when he was badly exposed by Calzaghe.

Kessler was at his peak and would go on to claim World Titles after losing to Calzaghe and has fought the best of the current generation. Only recently has retirement been on his mind.

Hopkins is still around today and fighting for World Titles.

The only world titlist/champions that Calzaghe fought who you could claim were "on the point or retirement" or "weren't bothered with winning" were Woodhall, Mitchell, Brewer and Jones.

 

it is true of the ex champs who were on the point of retirement. If you'd read what I wrote, it would have saved you a long post.

No loss though, you do write very eloquently and its interesting to read your posts.

 

Pudwell

Ticket pudwell

 

Predictive text?:roflatsch

 

lol

yep

 

If you don't have haters, you aren't that good.

 

That's about as well as anyone's said it. And Calzaghe was the guy that got me into boxing

 

calslappy who?

 

I always enjoyed watching Calzaghe box. He sure took Hopkins and Jones to school. Oh, I forgot about Lacy, Calzaghe was supposed to not have any chance to beat Lacy, but he kicked his arse.