Who ranks higher All time? Hopkins or Calzaghe?

Though I voted Hopkins on the poll, due to his long MW regin, and LHW resume at an advanced age. I do note Hopkins lost to the best fighters he faced arguably. Calzaghe beat everyone he fought including a still elite Hopkins.

 

Though I still believe Hopkins has the edge, he gets overrated by many in my opinion. He did fight better fighters than Calzaghe did though, that can not be denied.

 

What separates Hopkins from other fighters is BHop took on tough assignments like a young RJJ, an upcoming hungry Taylor, a young stylistic problem in Chad Dawson, the beast Kovalev.

I think most fighters would have lost to a young RJJ anyway and despite taking L's along the way still managed to reach 50 and still fight.

Thing is Callum Smith, Golovkin, Rocky Fielding....... have also beat everyone they faced. But they havent ran into fighters like a young RJJ or have been 40+ facing fighters like Dawson, Tarver, Cloud, Shumenov, Pavlik, Wright or Kovalev.

Hopkins remains a cut above the rest.

 

Has the edge makes it sound as if they are roughly equal, with 1 guy having a small advantage over the other. There can be no question here. It is akin to comparing apples in oranges.

Not head to head mind you. That can always be debated and reasons could be found for either guy to have "the edge" in that regard. But in terms of historical ranking, accomplishments and such, no contest.

 

Good post.

 

Who do you think he beat better than Eubank, undefeated unified champ Kessler or Hopkins himself?

 

There are several things I agree with in this post, but the part about Jones I have always found a bit sketchy, as at that time, Jones was not the star he became and it was a title opportunity for Hopkins which is an opportunity many wouldnt turn down. It wasnt like Jones at that time was the multi weight world champ when they fought, he was in a similar time in his career to Hopkins in so much that both were fighters in a vacant world title shot for the first time. When both became established champs the fight proved difficult to make

 

Yeah I said semi retired, not retired I think you failey to understand the difference between the two.

Calzaghe had more time to prepare for a World title fight, Eubank only had 2 weeks.

Calzaghe had more time to prepare for a SMW fight, Eubank only had 2 weeks.

Calzaghe was preparing for a world class operator in Collins only to be replaced by another world class operator in Eubank.

Eubank was preparing for a LHW orthodox puncher in Prince only for him to be replaced by a SMW slick high volume southpaw with slap technique in Calzaghe.

As you can see from the above facts, the change of opponent is more likely to affect Eubank than it did Calzaghe. Joe Calzaghe was always going to be ready for a World championship bout, Chris Eubank didn't even have half the time Calzaghe had to get ready for the same thing.

After coming out of retirement he fought at SMW once, the rest of the times he fought at CW.

 

By pretty much any measure it's Hopkins, and I despise the guy and hate his style. I'm a far bigger Calzaghe fan and will defend him to no end against the haters. Hopkins beats Calzaghe in terms of resume, and longevity. Calzaghe would have been a real puzzle for BHOP at any point of his career though, but the fact remains that in terms of in ring achievements, and resume BHOP clearly has him bested.

 

I have to admitt I don't get it either. The expression semi retired seems to hold a meaning if you fight no hopers. If you fight world level opponents like Calzaghe and Thompson, anyway, what is there to be retired about :huh

I actually think the "semi retired" argument is quite funny. I mean, either you step into the ring or you don't. You can't "semi step" into it.

You know, it doesn't matter all that much if Eubank tries to jab a LHW orthodox puncher in the face, or if he tries to do it with a SMW slap-fu master. It will still be done in the same way. There's no special "Jab a guy in the face in a world level fight at SMW"-technique that differs from the "Jab a guy in the face in a so-so fight at LHW"-technique that needs a particular training.

The best attempt to discredit Slappys victory so far came from Loudon, when he quoted Eubank saying that the knee injury was a serious issue for him. I know boxers fight with injuries all the time but Eubank wasn't a whiner, so it kind of makes you wonder.

 

Money.

Semis do exist. Sometimes you get a semi hard on that may still work, but would lack performance.

Eubank was in and out of retirement and fought a few no hopers in Middle East. He wasn't fully retired but retirement was obviously on his mind because he mentioned it.

I think if man needs to be prepared for a fight against the local drunkard, he may just need a good nights sleep and a glass of milk. But against a Roid Jones Jr, he will require a trainer, cutmen, PED specialist, strength and conditioning coach, military tacticians, nutritionist, aerobic specialist, men of God, blacksmiths, pre-paid judges, yoga master, punch bag holder, Howard Foster type referee, fans, sparring partners, chefs, tailors, historians, cleaners, strategists, teachers, shaolin monks, investors, scholars, inside men, Stunt doubles, assassins........ etc. also more than 2 weeks training.

My point being:- different assignments require different preparations and different strategies.

 

Damn. This can't really be argued with :think

 

Zaggers :happy

 

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