Joe Calzaghe is overrated

I'm not trying to make excuses but as you're well aware Toney wasn't the most dedicated fighter and could put in flat performances. The Tiberi is a perfect example of that, and i don't consider that fight as a true representation of Toney's full capabilities in the ring.

Yes Calzaghe did beat some solid names but there was also alot of very poor names in there aswell.

And just to point out some context in regards to those names you mentioned.

Hopkins = Controversial decision but still a good win even if Hopkins was old because he did have a good run at Light Heavyweight.

RJJ = Completely shot by this point i don't consider this much of win.

Kessler = Very good win.

Eubank = Good win but Eubank was a late replacement and had to lose 11 pounds in 1 week as he was originally scheduled to fight at Light Heavyweight. Eubank was also past his best but i'll give Calzaghe benefit of the doubt as it was his first big fight, and Eubank did show he had something left vs Carl Thompson.

Woodhall = Solid win but again Woodhall was at the end of his career, and had recently been dropped 3 times by the light hitting Markus Beyer may he RIP.

Reid = Another highly controversial decision Reid was also coming off a stinker losing to a 40 year old Malinga in awful performance, Calzaghe should've rematched him in all honestly.

Lacy = Good win and great performance but i still think Lacy was very over hyped.

Sheika = Ok win Sheika was nothing special he lost twice to Scott Pemberton and did finish up with a modest record of 32-12.

 

He’s massively overrated by many.

They get blinded by the zero.

I think the last time I checked, he only fought about 10-12 world level fighters out of his 45 opponents.

 

Which is part of the reason he is not as good a fighter as Calzaghe. That and level of talent.

 

I think Joe is fairly rated, and wins vs Toney, Canelo and Ward.. He outclasses them in the long game, with his high output and his engine. Outpoints all 3 of them. I see Joe having tough great fights with Jones and Greb

 

People have very short memories. Jeff Lacy was the clear favorite going into the fight with Joe and almost everyone thought Joe would get crushed.
Joe crushed Jeff and utterly ruined him as a boxer.
He got the better of Eubank even dropping him - true Eubank was no longer in hos prime but he wasn't shot to bits either.
First person to beat Kessler who was very good.
Squeaked by Robin Reid.
I agree his resume is thin but every time he went to the plate he stepped up and won.
I don't know if he is the greatest super middle but he sure should be in the discussion and if he isn't he sure is top ten.

 

he is, but he is still a Top Fighter...

there are plenty of UK Middles - L-HW better than JC.

 

Level of talent?

Joe got by on speed and work rate.

Joe was never particularly skilled.

He wasn’t as skilled as Toney was.

James was a technician.

James also put in the odd flat performance, as he was fighting every 2-3 months at one point.

Later in his career, he then became undisciplined.

You could say that Joe was more professional.

But he was never a better fighter than James, and he never fought or beat the calibre of opponents that James took on.

Joe spent most of his career fighting bogus WBO title fights against non world level opposition.

 

Outclasses them?

What is this opinion based upon though?

He barely beat Robin Reid.

He barely beat a 43 year old Hopkins.

He had a tough nights work against Sakio Bika.

He never did anything for anybody to think that he’d have outclassed Ward and Toney etc.

He never saw guys of that calibre in his life.

 

Great fights with Jones & Greb ahahah. Yeah well you also see Spanian as a role model so you don’t see too well it seems.

 

Karate chops did make me laugh. I mean guilty as charged IMO.