People of England: who had the better career closeout, Calzaghe or Lennox?

Joe is overrated so so much. He isn't in the same league as Lennox when it comes to achievements or fighting spirit. Joe didn't want the best where as Lennox went straight for them.and Roy Jones was getting his head bounced around every canvas in the US when Joe got him in there. Lennox is the man. Joe and Hatton are pretenders and shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as him. If it wasn't for Enzo Joe would have fought stiffs forever and happily done so.

 

lol Bruce Tea @Brixton Bomber aka @Potwash our very own Bernard Hopkins of the forum

 

Really no contest here that Lennox had the better career as Joe Calzaghe spent his first 40 fighters knocking over stiffs and refusing to travel. Whilst Lewis fought at the elite level as HW and was the man for many years.

However if you look at the last 2 or 3 years as you suggest. Then in my opinion Joe had the better ending in terms of level of opponent and performance.

Lewis lost to and then beat the decidedly average Rahman, beat a completely shot to bits Tyson which was not even competitive. Then he ends it with a life and death struggle with Vitali where he is saved by the cut, and ducks the rematch.

Whereas Joe's last 6 fights were all at a decent level.

 

When you say a string of highly touted guys from Lacy to Kessler, you just mean Lacy and Kessler. Calzaghe was a very good fighter but lets not sugar coat this, the vast majority of his 46-0 is mad up of utter dross.

Lennox Lewis was the better fighter who had the better career and it's not even close.

 

Joe Calzaghe was incredible but was quite fortunate he missed the elite fighters in his division. Came after Eubank Snr and missed the likes of Hopkins & Jones Jr in their prime. He was absolutely world class though.

 

Joe was world class

The only criticism that an be levelled at him is the lack of traveling and initially fighting far too many fighters below his level

Lewis by far the better career overall but Joe's final career years were pretty impressive esp with those hands of his

 

Like yourself I'm leaning towards Lewes but I'm such a huge fan of both it's hard for me to pick.
Calzaghe Vs Hopkins was the last fight I watched with my dad before he passed away. The build up to this fight was fantastic, I remember it like yesterday.

Both men are legends though no doubt.

 

Micheal Grant. The Wilder without the hype.

 

Calzaghe beat Eubank when Eubank was only 31. (If you wanna be petty you could argue it was a very green, young Calzaghe.) Eubank had been an undefeated long reigning world champion just 18 months prior.

And Hopkins carried on at the top for 8 years after that Calzaghe fight, and unified world titles and beat the likes of Kelly Pavlik and Jean Pascal.

The Eubank and Hopkins wins were definitely excellent wins.

 

Both British Boxing Legends and elite level fighters.

Lennox certainly had the more difficult opponents in the final few fights.

 

Calzaghe was badly managed. Good wins against a lot of fighters that already had losses on their records. Lacy and Kessler were the only ones that were unbeaten at the time. Really?

 

Both were great for world and British boxing and no way to accurately compare.

 

Unbeaten records are overrated.

 

Neither are English, both are great. But I think Calzaghe has to seen as having the better career, considering he didn't get knocked out twice brutally like Lennox did. Calzaghe beat everyone put in front of him, he always found a way to win.