Calzaghe aside- who is the GOAT at 168?

Watson of course. He was 'by far' the best Eubank ever fought. Looked literally unbeatable that night, the best performance I've seen at super middleweight (making the fact Eubank won the fight clean the greatest victory) and that's saying A LOT (Toney v Iran, Jones over Toney, Calzaghe Lacy)

Rocchigiani was a class above Mikkel Kessler for me - look how he was robbed against Maske twice and Michalczewski.

Thornton and Holmes were a class above Mitchell and Brewer (and Lacy, bless him) - look how good Thornton looks against Tinley, Collins (should've won), Sosa and Toney; sheer class. And how Lindell was WBC #1 middle for YEARS, never getting his shot, robbed RJ OG style in Korea and bashed a weight strong Frank Tate to bits when predicted to lose (Tate in a far worse state than he was against Nunn), also dominated Van Horn until the rib injury and lost late on a body shot (though stood at 8 if I recall).

Look at these guys' technical ability in there!! Super tight defenses and hit with knuckles turned fully over, from the foot (sly dig at someone, absolutely). Malinga too, I don't think he was quite the same after the heavy knockdown from Chris (the body attacks from Nigel didn't help either).

 

Ottke looked like he lost every fight I ever saw him in. Very average. That horrendous running cowardice style. God.

 

Thornton certainly was above their class. He mixed in far better company and proved his ability against the best in the best era by a distance.

Eubank won the first four rounds against Rocchi extremely clearly and most of the rest, as very, very good that Rocchi was.

 

I don't think Rocky had fought at 168 for years when he fought Eubank, he moved back down because he couldn't secure a LHW title shot despite years of trying.. it was pretty much a one of at that stage I think & he never fought at 168 after it either.. he was also into his 30s by then..

Good fighter. Southpaw. But had a questionable history with PEDS too.

I personally don't rate that win over Calzaghes win over Kessler. Kessler will go down as a greater SMW than Rocky in terms of overall SMW careers.

GR also got a typical German gift job against euro level Crawford Ashley.. in fact (according to Ashley) when the split decision was announced in Rocchigiani’s favour the ref told Ashley .. ‘That’s the worst decision I’ve ever been involved with'..

No chance is he a class above.

 

That doesn't mean Kessler was as good as Rocchi. He wasn't.

 

If you believe that you must believe in the tooth fairy.

 

Do u want the fight so u can make your own mind up?

 

How many fights of his have u watched?

 

The clear wins against Malinga, Hamsho, Reid, Maske, Dariusz and Nunn, and loss to Eubank.

 

We'll agree to disagree on EVERY point.

Schommer won that fight but in extraordinary circumstances 6,000ft above sea level with Eubank's skin having turned GREY at the weigh-in. None of the others won. The fair point deduction against Benn made it a fair draw. The others were made to hit mostly air all night (or gloves in Ray's case, in what were the lightest of taps with the most annoying of noises from his mouth), but look busy.

For the record, Schommer and Close were exceptional world class amateurs with wins over Virgil Hill (Schommer) and Dariusz Michalczewski (Close) among others. Both possessing very good boxing ability.

Amaral gave the superb Frank Liles a real good workout.

 

And Eubank was fighting every 7 weeks mostly, and not eating or drinking for 3-4 days before each fight to make 12stone. Until the Board ordered his weight to be monitored for the Wharton fight, from seeing him appear to pass out after the weigh-in in Sun City. What a guy ;-)

 

Mind you when getting £1M a fight, way back then, it was worth the suffering for Christopher. He really opened the doors for a lot fighters. Naz bashed it open, Floyd took it off its hinges.

 

Nunn wasn't really a LHW, he was 35 & had fought ONE round in a year going into that fight. The fight was close with Nunn relying on volume & GR the heavier shots. The peds were strong that night & the more comfortable LHW edged it.

 

It was Nunn for ****sake. Michael Nunn. On his day, the best I've seen.