Why wasn't Calzaghe given more credit for his wins against RJJ and Hopkins?

I thought BHop edged it but close enough it could go either way though.

 

Not parroting anything if you know my post history. Mitchell's split decision loss to Ottke was controversial with many feeling Mitchell should have won. An SD for Ottke in Germany is not a great indication of a 'exemplary boxing lesson' . That said, I'd need to watch the contest again, I've seen it for donkeys.

I don't think anyone disputes that Otkke should have lost to both Brewer and Reid though that I have seen

 

Hopkins was a great win a shot to **** RJJ not so much.

 

What's your scorecard? I think B-Hop won 4 rounds tops in this fight.

 

Very easy fight to score. Hopkins was getting very frustrated late and looking to the ref for help. One of his favorite things to do. a tell tale sign he knew he was in real jeopardy of losing the fight.

 

Good (but very close) win against Hops, garbage win against RJJ

 

Jones Jnr was shot to bits and very clearly so.
Hopkins was a good win, though he was also past prime.
I understand the argument that Calzaghe was not at his best either, at that juncture. But I think there's a black mark against his name in those fights because he did nothing to force them earlier. I don't believe it's a coincidence that those fights both happened AFTER Jones and Hopkins had been knocked off their perches - Jones massively so.

 

Very good point and I should have noted the Ottke factor (but Ottke so forgettable). It was an absurd situation with him not once fighting out of Germany and ducking Joe on that account. I see Joe had actually fought in Germany once a bit earlier on and also in Denmark. They should have fought in Monaco. In any case together they tallied a hell of a lot of Welsh and German cab drivers. After a huge amateur career Ottke turned pro at 30 so then played it super safe never venturing from home as a pro and as you state knew to stay there and be sure to get the corrupt decisions from the Fatherland judges. Hardly the profile of 'world champ' and no doubt Joe Calz would have dominated.

 

Man, Hopkins was 43 yrs old when he fought Calzaghe.

and he was 51 yrs old when he fought Joseph Smith Jr.

 

Its well documented that Joe and Bhop had a fight ready to go in 2003, the Bhop scuppered at the last minute by doubling his money demands. The fact the didnt fight earlier was not on Joe

 

I am aware of that, but the fact remains that, at the time, it was known and accepted (rightly or wrongly) that if you wanted the big fights you had to go the States to get them. Lewis did it, Naz did it, Hatton did it. Calzaghe spent a long time not doing it. He spent years fighting low level opposition in Wales and doing little to really force the big fights. I say this as a Brit who watched his career unfold, real time, with great frustration.