Calzaghe aside- who is the GOAT at 168?

Wouldn't put Calzaghe above Ward or RJJ. Both of the latter proved themselves in multiple weight classes. They didn't stick around picking off their lesser domestic counterparts waiting for the big names on their resume to age out. That's the problem with sorting by weightclasses. Besides HW, the best fighters often move across them, and might not spend a lot of time in their strongest one.

 

You didn`t know Eubank`s win and draw in two bouts v Close were considered controversial?

 

He came through both times.

 

Calzaghe was far better than Eubank, he was a better combo puncher and got hit less, Eubank could be boring and very negative, Calzaghe was better at landing shots, the Kessler win was a really good win.

 

Dude you ever give up with the crap you yourself don't even believe?

He couldn't punch properly for a start, he hit with the inside of the glove, from the elbow or shoulder. Eubank twitched his ankles, pivoted and turned those knuckles; that takes infinite more skill.

 

You know how many of those guys Ottke robbed on the cards?

 

It's true though, Calzaghe has a weird, unique and awkward style, thing is there's no denying it works better than anything Eubank did.

 

The GOAT at 168 numbnuts. Read the ****ing title.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons

 

He floored Eubank.

 

Sure if it had existed then maybe.

 

Caught him cold with a shot he didn't see. Not denying he couldn't bang with those arm shots back then.

 

Offensively and brawling wise maybe. Defensively and ring general wise Eubank was vastly superior of course. The amount of right hands Calzaghe took clean all through his career was bonkers, he had an incredible chin. But credit to him he out worked them all! Great fighter.

 

Yeah I'll give you that, Calzaghe only really sharpened up his defence towards the end when his head movement was top notch.

 

That's my point bud. This is an especially arbitrary question. This division in particular is not well suited to this discussion. Plenty of ATGs have breezed through it or skipped over it. BHop skipped it. McCallum skipped it. Calzaghe's biggest wins weren't even at 168.

To satisfy your premise:
Does Calzaghe have the best record of 168 wins? Jones wasn't at 168. BHop wasn't at 168. Ward also has Kessler. Ward also has Bika. Beyond that, it's a pretty thin field. Jeff Lacy was a good narrative. Doesn't stand up as a great win. Eubank is probably his best win besides. Froch, Abraham, and Dawson are probably on par with that. Ward also beat the best 175er of the decade in their prime. He didn't edge past an old BHop or washed Jones.

Roy Jones Jr arguably has the greatest victory of the bunch at 168 in James Toney. Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns fought at 168. Both of those are classes above anything Ward or Calzaghe did there.