Is Calzaghe slated enough for sitting home with the WBO belt?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Slyk, Oct 31, 2015.


  1. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,309
    5,218
    Dec 5, 2010
    This is the modern day equivalent of some no name sitting in Germany racking up defenses of a belt we've never heard of.

    It seems no one wants to discuss this. Calzaghe was a stay at home fighter who held on to the LEAST prestigious world title at the time.

    At the end of the day, aside from the stream of nobodies he needed british stoppages to put away, Calzaghe defeated:

    A prospect from America (big deal?) in what the bookies had as a 50-50 fight. Good win.

    A good world level fighter in Kessler. Not close to hall of famer though. Good win

    An old legend in Hopkins who still had a few good years left, but was very clearly old. Knocked down Joe in what most had a draw of a fight. Pretty good "win".

    A completely shot Roy Jones. Still knocked Calzaghe down somehow (why the iron chin insistance?). Club fighter Danny Green KO'd this Roy in 1 round. Worthless win.


    Again, if this were a nobody from Germany who had this same career trajectory; defending a belt no one cared about at home for 90% of his career and then racking up 2-3 good wins and calling it a day, NO ONE WOULD CARE. I guess certain fighters benefit from more "passionate" fan bases.
     
  2. des3995

    des3995 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,903
    126
    Oct 23, 2009
    Calzaghe gets plenty of schtick for it. But in fairness, he did eventually step up and beat some good fighters.
     
  3. Willie Maeket

    Willie Maeket "40 Acres and Mule" -General William T. Sherman Full Member

    13,898
    8,374
    Jun 22, 2015
    Don't forget that asteroid diamond chinned, jack hammered fist Mario Veit.
    He was so tough Joe had to pad his record 2x with his name during his unstoppable TKO windmill run through Europe.
     
  4. Stallion

    Stallion Son of Rome Full Member

    5,561
    348
    May 6, 2013
    Germany is bigger money than England.

    :cool:
     
  5. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,309
    5,218
    Dec 5, 2010
    Yeah to me he has 2-3 "good" wins. It just seems like for how much he is praised he would have 10-15 "good" wins, and 2-3 great wins. There's nothing even close to a great win. Probably the most shallow resume of any fighter who is often brought up in boxing (I credit his name being thrown around to his tenacious fans).
     
  6. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

    34,250
    5,943
    Apr 30, 2006
    Hopkins was a great win.

    -First fight at LHW
    -happened square in the middle of a great stretch of wins of Hopkins: it was sandwiched in between Winky, Tarver, and Pavlik.
    -First fight in the U.S.

    Say what you will about the rest of the resume, but that's a great win. The aftermath had many calling for Hopkins' retirement and had people genuinely concerned for his health vs Pavlik. It was also the only LHW loss Hopkins had for 6 years.
     
  7. lefthandlead

    lefthandlead Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,984
    878
    Jan 1, 2010
    Veit is underrated. 6'4", with one of the best jab in boxing.

    Who beats Veit now? Ward? Dirrell, Jack:lol::lol: Veit outboxes all of they with that beautiful jab.
     
  8. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

    46,771
    15,917
    Apr 14, 2009
    IF Calzaghe had legitimately beaten Hopkins I'd agree with you but he didn't The Slapper got a split dec win he did not deserve.
    It was a political defeat for Hopkins same happened against Taylor I & II. Nard refused to be a yes man & was made to pay for it
     
  9. lefthandlead

    lefthandlead Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,984
    878
    Jan 1, 2010
    Hopkins quit mentally. He couldn't beat Joe in a thousand years...and he knew it.
     
  10. des3995

    des3995 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,903
    126
    Oct 23, 2009
    Ridiculous. Veit was a regional fighter.
     
  11. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

    34,250
    5,943
    Apr 30, 2006
    Ugly fight for sure.

    If you really want to boil it down, neither man really deserved to win, but Calzaghe deserved to lose a little less. Styles-wise, it would never be a fun fight to watch. Hopkins' antics with the faking low blows and ultra-spoiling offense were significantly worse than usual.
     
  12. Peril

    Peril The Scholar Full Member

    9,183
    664
    Jan 6, 2011
    Don't be ridiculous. He tried to avoid fighting Veit the second time, was forced into the fight and knocked him out as quickly as possible. Of all the things Calzaghe did, Veit is not an issue.
     
  13. theword

    theword Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,669
    7
    Aug 3, 2009
    There might not be a clear winner but there was a clear loser: the fans who watched.

    And that's okay too, it happens in boxing. Bernard is a tough out and no one looks good in his fights, not really.
     
  14. lefthandlead

    lefthandlead Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,984
    878
    Jan 1, 2010
    So was Mayweather..he never left his country. Veit has.
     
  15. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

    41,973
    4,032
    Sep 22, 2010
    I think if someone sat at home with the IBO belt today it would be dreadful, wbo was the same thing back in the 90s.