Ottke 21 IBF title defenses vs Calzaghe 21 WBO title defenses

Nice rainbow :think

 

Joe was the WBOgus champion. All that paper belt did is keep him from fighting real champions. he was about as much a champion recognized by the boxing world as Michael Bent, Herbie Hide and Tommy Morrison were The Heavyweight Champion holding the WBO heavyweight title. embarrassing that anyone thinks he was a real champion

 

It's easy to hate on Ottke, the horrific Reid fight fight pretty much summed up his career in 1 fight. He had everything on his side to ensure a win, home town advantage, ref and judges in his pocket.

But in reality at the time Ottke was seen as the number 1 super middle, it was he not Calzaghe that unified first and Ottke's level of opposition was more consistent than Calzaghe's.

They never fought mainly due to neither fighter being a big enough draw to make it worth while especially without US TV money. Calzaghe was not even a big draw in the UK back then, Froch now is bigger than Calzaghe ever was prior to the Lacy fight. Ottke was making more money than Calzaghe and any purse Calzaghe offered was less than he was already making. Calzaghe was simply to big a risk to take for the money offered.

If they had fought I have no doubt that Calzaghe would have won. Ottke was a very good boxer, fast feet and hands, picked his spots very well. But Calzaghe had great footwork as well and could out box Ottke. Calzaghe had power back then as well, combined with his work rate he would have overwhelmed Ottke and stopped him.

 

Who are the best names on Ottke's resume?

Mitchell - WBA Champion, Ottke won a disputed points decision in a fight many believe Mitchell won.

Brewer twice - IBF Champion, Ottke won a disputed points decision in the first fight which many believe he lost, and the second fight he won a disputed points decision though it was more credible.

Tate twice - challenged for several world titles but never won. Ottke won a technical decision against him in the first fight when the doctor stopped it after Ottke was cut which was a controversial decision because it look like the cut was cause by a legal punch and that meant Tate should have won. The second fight was a clear win for Ottke

Reid - former WBC Champion. One of the most blatent and disgraceful robberies in the history boxing allowed Ottke to pick up the win.

Markussen - had accomplished nothing significant prior to thier fight and would never break above gatekeeper level after. In a very even contest which many had as a draw Ottke was given 4 point lead on all cards for a UD win.

Larsen - never really progressed past gatekeeper level. Larsen won the early rounds easy before the fight settled into a typical boring stalemate of an Ottke fight, Ottke did nothing to try to take control of the fight yet somehow he was given the later rounds on the cards and won by MD.

Mundine - former WBA Super Middleweight Champion. Ottke won with a fluke of a KO.

Johnson - yet to progress past his gatekeeper status at the time and leading into his worst ever run. Ottke fought defensively and landed nothing meaningful while Johnson was the more agressive and active fighter throughout, yet Ottke won via UD.

And Compare to Calzaghe's best opposition at Super Middleweight:

Eubank - former WBO Champion. Clear win for the more active Calzaghe

Robin Reid - former WBC Champion. Close fight some had as a draw and some scored for either man but Calzaghe officially got the win via SD.

Woodhall - former WBC Middleweight and Super Middleweight Champion. Calzaghe got a TKO win in the 10th round in a fight he controlled throughout, Woodhall had no complaints about the stoppage.

Brewer - former IBF Champion. Clear Calzaghe win on points.

Mitchell - former WBA Champion. Calzaghe got off the mat to gain a stoppage victory that seemed premature.

Lacy - IBF Champion. The most one-sided beat down between world champions in the history of the division saw Calzaghe fail to get a shut-out UD only because he had points deducted.

Bika - gatekeeper level at the time, has subsequently become WBC Champion. Calzaghe struggled with him but Calzaghe's lead on the cards was indisputable.

Kessler - WBA and WBC Champion. The fight was close for the first six or so rounds before Calzaghe's superior conditioning and punch-out saw him pull away on the way to a UD win.

To summarize:

Ottke fought two reigning Super Middleweight Champions, two former Super Middleweight Champions and one future Light Heavyweight Champion.

Calzaghe fougth two reigning Super Middleweight Champions (one of whom held two of the titles), five former Super Middleweight Champion (two of whom were former Middleweight Champions) and one future Super Middleweight Champion.

 

LOL dude I'more of Calzaghe hater than anything but he would have beaten Ottke, did he hold better belts yes but he wasnt better fighter, and his fight vs Reid was the most corrupted event in all of sports:tired

 

I think even the most Calzaghe haters see him dominate this fight.

 

WBO super bum killer

 

Both were great fighters who don't get the credit they deserve. Unfortunate really; we all know if they were black Americans they'd quite rightly be considered two of the ATGs.

Anyway, Calzaghe takes it. He was a better boxer and his power gives him an edge over Ottke who... although great, was obviously very feather-fisted.

 

the thread title isnt correct.

Ottke made some defences but the streak ended with his first defeat, so he has perhaps 5-6 defences in total.

Calzaghe didnt defend just the wbo, he also made one legit world defence, of the IBF title.

 

You can't touch the phantom.
The phantom was never floored and rumour has it that he didn't even get hit once throughout his entire career.

UD Ottke.