Calzaghe was due to make the 16th defence of his WBO 168 belt against Brian Magee on 18th March 2005. However, the WBO refused to allow Joe to fight less than 60 days before his mandatory against Mario Veit, so the fight was cancelled TWO DAYS before it was due to take place. Would Calzaghe's legacy have been improved by him vacating the WBO belt, beating Magee and then moving up to 175 earlier? Remember, Calzaghe as the champ was fighting in Magee's backyard. Is it possible that Magee would have sprung an upset?
Sir Joe legacy is there already 46-0 + wiped out two of the biggest American names in USA, away from home. There is no blueprint!
Magee is not, and never was a can dumbass. In saying that Clazaghe should still probably have been looking to fight a higher quality of opponent than magee at this late stage of his career.
It wouldn't have done anything for his legacy, it'd just be another win people would laugh about being one of his best.
Bute, the best guy at 168, needed 10 RDs to get rid of that 'can' 6 years later than Joe's proposed fight AND in Bute's backyard. He gave Froch a real close fight. Brian Magee is a much better than some ignorant fools think he is.
The point is: The WBO stopped this fight from happening. They wanted Joe to fight Viet who he had previously beaten before in 1RD. Instead of fighting Veit for a second time, would Joe have been better vacating and fighting Magee? He then would have moved up to 175 earlier. There would have been no 21 defences, no Lacy or no Kessler. But he would have fought big fights at 175 and possibly won many belts. I'm just a Cazlaghe fan throwning this out there for sensible debate.
I think he would have beat Magee easily on his Legacy even If he did that his detractors would still find a way to slate him (as with all Boxers I should add).
Legacy: The best super-middleweight of all time. 46-0. American Boxing Writers' 3rd best fighter of the decade.