Lacy was a beast at that time and overwhelming favorite to defeat Calzaghe. Everybody knows Lacy wasn't the same fighter after that fight. Before that fight he was very dangerous. I'm a huge fan of Froch but I don't delude myself to his shortcomings. He was about to lose to Taylor, he did lose to Direll, he lost to Kessler & to Ward, and his close fight with Johnson. He was losing to Groves before the KO, and won the final rd vs retired Kessler in their rematch to win that bout. I enjoy watching Froch fight but he's not a good boxer, he's just got an iron jaw and never say die attitude. Joe would have boxed rings around him.
Who did Lacy beat? He was beaten by Taylor. Froch knocked Taylor out. He beat Dirrel and Kessler as well and would beat the absolute gibs out of Lacy if they ever fought.
Before Joe, Lacy was regarded as the number 1 guy at SMW(Just like how Spence is regarded at the best at 147lb currently without beating anybody). I'm sorry but Froch's never achieved this in his career. After Joe, Lacy wasn't the same fighter. Its like Bradley after Prov. 1 fight can turn a great fighter shy overnight.
That's just an example of hype jobs, not of guys getting ruined. I guess you could say that Froch's destruction of Lucian Bute was the same as Joe Calzaghe's destruction of Lacy. Also, people saying that Spence is the best 147 right now need to cool their jets until he actually beats a top guy like Thurman, Brook, or Pacquiao. Until then, those three are the best welters.
The 1 common denominator between Froch and Lacy(Pre Joe) is Reid. His fight with Froch was 50/50 for most of the fight barring the knock-downs and Reid's left hook was hurting Froch time and time again. Lacy destroyed Reid a year before Froch had his bout with him, ironically with left hooks the same punch which was doing a lot of visible damage to Froch. If you're not happy with that explanation, I'll move up Reid on my ranking system, to say Prime Reid is better than Prime Froch. I don't base that on resume, I base that on the fight they had when Froch was in his prime and Reid was declining. The Reid who took Joe(with 1 hand) to a close decision beats any version of Froch.
Thanks. Pretty sure the general consensus at the time was that he definitely did deserve to win that fight.
I had high hopes for Francis too. I thought he was a cant miss future world champion. The injury really messed things up for him. Yes he looked fantastic against Carr. He had a great left hand. Him vs Reid would've been superb match up. I would have loved to have seen that one. Francis should've achieved so much more than he did. Tragic what's happened to him. I was shocked when I heard the news. Hopefully he pulls through but it doesn't sound good. Baker was a very durabe guy.
Clinton Woods said Ashley hit very hard. He was a good fighter. Piper never won the big one either but, like Ashley, he was no pushover. With a little bit of luck both of them could have picked up a world title against the right opponent. Piper came awfully close against Leeonzer Barber. Unfortunately my abiding memory of Ashley will always be this fight. One of the worst KOs I've seen in a British ring. I was worried that Ashley might be seriously hurt when he went down. Thankfully not though. But Klemetsen had savage power in that left hand of his. This content is protected
Good work again, make sure you archive your work. I agree Ottke is high. Maybe 6th would be my call. I like your ranking better than the spreadsheet rankings. -M
Sorry but I don't believe you and I have good reason not to given your track record for dishonesty on here. Actually, come to think of it, you're probably a Dieter or a Konrad. I get that kind of scummy vibe from you. I've provided the quote and the interview the quote was taken from. They're Dariusz's own words. All you've provided by way of rebuttal is your German impertinence and argumentativeness. Catley was a 2 x WBC you moron. He sparked your glass-jawed countryman Beyer out over in Deutschland but he'd already previously been robbed of winning it when he fought my countryman Richie Woodhall, OBE, in England. He was also robbed x 2 by you swines when he fought Danilo Haussler over in Deutschland.