a co-worker always tells me that Sven Ottke should be in the IBHOF. I say he does not. What is the general consensus on this?
He fought bums all his carrer but still racked up all those title defences, Is he worthy? no. Will he go in? Most certainly.
Yeah i see his point and thats why he will probly go in, but he has nobody of real note on his resume' at least Calzaghe had Eubank, Lacy(undefeated version), Kessler(undefeated version), Hopkins and Jones on there. Me, i just think if you look at any of his fight he looks so beatable its amazing how he stayed undefeated all that time i would say pretty much most of the top 10 SMW now would beat Ottke
He shouldn't for three reasons: 1. It isn't about how many defenses you make, same way it isn't about how long you go undefeated. It is about who you fight. Ottke never really had a challenge and avoided big/tough fights. 2. Never fought out of Germany. Was content to stay in his back yard and have every advantage. Didn't want to test him self in a tougher environment. This is not the way a great champion behaves. 3. Because he always fought in Germany, he was given a lot of decisions that he didn't deserve. Alot of his wins are in question due to poor judging and poor refereeing. At the end of the day no one can convince me this guy was a great or even solid champion. He picked up a belt, made safe defenses always in a hometown environment, never challenged himself and then retired. Not saying he was the first and he wont be the last to do it but there is no way he deserves HOF induction.
Prob doesn't deserve it but likely he will get a place. He did KO Mundine so there will always be many Australians with soft spot for the guy.
No way ottke was **** and fought bums and when decent fighters went over they got robbed, the robin reid robbery was a discrace.