would calzaghe be as underrated if he was american...

No hed be a hero if he fought big name fighters from smaller divisions or was known for using PEDs

 

As bailey says tho who could he have fought to increase that resume before he reached the end? He gsts flamed for ducking hopkins?? when it was hopkins ducking him... what type of logic is that.
The only real time he could have fought much better people is at the evry end instead of fighting RJJ.

 

:deal This

 

I actually think Calzaghe is respected amongst many or most US boxing fans. I'm somewhat sure I've heard him called The Great Joe Calzaghe on Showtime (they were talking about Kesslers career) and maybe elsewhere. People just enjoy arguing on the internet.

I only saw his last two fights and I don't feel qualified to say where he ranks. I don't think much of Jones at that point in his career but Hopkins has never been an easy deal.

 

Let keep it real, if he was American he would of died of a cocaine overdose years ago, just keeping it real. Celebs love nose candy in the states.

 

If he was American huis career ending stats woulda been something like 35-5 cause he woulda had to take challenges but he woulda been a more liked and higher rated fighter because of it. losing to the best is better than ducking them your whole career

 

Calzaghe would be a legend and rightfully so if he was American.

 

Calzaghe = ATG and dead cert HOFer. Suck on it Haterz,

 

Agreed. I do think Calzaghe was a great fighter, awkward style, heart, intelligent and the ability to adapt...

I dog on him too much sometimes because it is usually a Jones vs. Calzaghe conversation and I try to combat the harsh critics of Jones, but none the less, I honestly believe he is all time great.:yep

 

then he ran all night against someone who hit like his sister.maybe his sister is a monster who is about 400lb's.that would explain it

 

we seem to be on a lot of calzaghe threads you and i

 

Calzaghe was a dominant champ in a fairly weak division. We'll never know how good he was, as really, by the time he was established (late 90's), there wasn't any great fighters in the SMW division, and fights with great fighters from MW & LHW were not easy to make. 160-175 wasn't exactly brimming with depth in talent during the early to mid 00's.

He holds wins over most of the best SMW of his era (admittedly it was a weak era, but a fair few of those wins, whilst not amazing, are under rated by some). I'd think he'd beat all that are operating in the SMW division today (Bute and the Super VI).

All in I think Joe was a great fighter, who part through his own fault and part through the lack of options, never proved it.