Joe Calzaghe the greatest super middleweight ever...

Roy Jones

 

No matter how you dice it, when this is talked about years, decades, centuries from now, you will only get two answers from people. Seasoned, hard core boxing enthusiasts will laugh and say "Nah, Slappy was never even close to Roy, Roy was the man." And casual boxing fans, along with the general public, when Slappy is mentioned, will say "Who?"

 

'Slappy' 'slapped' Hopkins, (shot) Jones, Kessler and 43 others into submission. Not bad for a guy who threw 'slaps'.

 

I didn't make any comparison with Ward or Kessler, so I'll focus on Eubank at the time he fought Calzaghe. There's little point comparing Ward with Calzaghe until his career is over, or at least until his prime days at 168 are behind him.

Eubank aged better than most fighters due to maintaining his chin, but his workrate declined significantly following the Rocchigiani fight. He struggled against the unheralded Close, Amaral and Schommer, and benefitted from rather benign WBO judging in all 4 fights. The fight against Schommer is one of the less publicised robberies of the decade (probably because it was also one of the worst fights of the decade). His performances had undeniably declined at this point, regardless of what his official record may say. This dip can't be glossed over by saying he was unmotivated, as by this point Eubank had ceased to look good against anyone not made for him (ie Wharton).

The "controversy" regarding Collins I related to the hypnosis bollocks and the 10th round "entente" following the knockdown. There was little debate about the scoring of the fight, where Collins had clearly outworked Eubank.

The second fight was illustrative of Eubank's decline. Collins fought flat-footed with little regard for defense, which should have been meat and drink for a prime Eubank. However, he was outhustled and outfought to a clear decision loss. The split decision verdict was ridiculous, and was criticised at the time in the boxing media. After the fight, McGuigan described Eubank as a "shot fighter", which although a bit harsh is an indication of how he was viewed at the time.

Eubank toyed with the 175 division, and despite not having fought at the weight for two years was lined up by his buddies at the WBO to fight for the title vacated by Collins. The betting before the fight is more a reflection of how untested Calzaghe was, rather than how highly regarded Eubank was.

For what it's worth, a near prime Calzaghe beats any version of Eubank; if you could optimise a world class fighter to beat Eubank, he'd look a lot like Calzaghe - speed, chin, workrate, stamina and mental strength (no point giving him one punch power against Eubank). However, to suggest that Eubank of 1997 was in his prime is disingenous and plays on his flattering record. Boxrec numbers tell only half a story; there had been years of gruelling wars, contentious decisions and out-of-ring distractions before he fought Calzaghe.

 

Supah JOE!!!!

 

On achievement I would agree but I don't think he beats Toney or Jones Jnr and I think prime Benn and Eubank - No matter what Nigel says today - Would have given him life and death struggles.

 

Joe is the top dog right now, thats it.

 

It's only a matter of time... :smoke

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SMWGOAT in the making: Andre Ward.

 

Fragile demented clueless freak popkins/DINAMITA/Kittikasem = laughing stock of esb :deal.

He's given up on trying to debate on Calzaghe because he loses every single time, so now he's having to quote his own **** posts, and has resorted to cheerleading Andre ****ing Ward. Thickest troll on esb.

:smoke

 

My point is he is not the greatest supper middle weight ever.

 

1. Rjj
2. Toney
3. Ward
4. Prime eubank
5. Joe c.

Some including me thought he lost to hopkins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Can I point out one thing here that some people never really take into account. Calzaghe trained in a shed with his dad when he became a world champion. He had broom sticks and rope for a ring trained off a man that had never boxed before in his life. Phone up your old man and get him to take you down the bottom of the garden, hold some pads or roll up a carpet to hit and see if you can become a world champion.

 

That fight should have been a clear UD win for Joe, only cause it was in America did Joe only get a split decision win. Anyone who thinks Hopkins won that fight, needs to re-watch it, then think about how they score fights. The Hopkins fanboys are more delusional than the Pacquaio fanboys, who think he beat Marquez.

Ward ranked above Joe C? Based on what? Headbutting Kessler into submission? Who Joe beat fairly before Kessler's vision problems. Beating Froch? I'm a big fan of Froch, but he wouldn't beat Calzaghe. Americans....

 

Right on man. People always overlook Enzo as a great trainer and don't even contemplate how incredible Joe's rise to becoming a champion and a legend was. Joe and Enzo have to be up there as one of the very best father-son combinations in boxing history.

 

Calzaghe the legend.

• Cheeen:good
• SPeed:good
• Power before injuries:good
• Inside / outside work:good
• Jab:good
• Footword:good
• Defence:good
• Stanimina:good

What did he not have?
46-0 There is no blueprint, none.

Damn