Eubank or Calzaghe - Resume

I would say Eubank! i believe he has the greater depth as well, but inspite of the criticism he recieves for not having fought some of the best of his day (I would say that works in reverse as well!!!). His victories over benn/Watson in their primes is a greater acheivement than anything calzaghe did!

I am not a calzaghe basher and he has grown on me over the past few years. he was a solid fighter who would present a nice obsticle to many other greats in his weight class, but I still find his resume lacking and would give Eubank the edge in resume as well as a prime h2H encounter

 

I would go with Eubank as well.

Although I am a Calzaghe basher - bums and 2 OAPs is my considered verdict on his resume.

 

Eubank has the better resume.
Benn and Watson were better than anyone on Calzaghe's resume.
I mean, they were better than Kessler and Lacy.

Eubank had more dodgy decisions and stale performances against second-raters though, after the second Watson fight really.

 

Eubank for me. He fought Malinga and Rocchigiani when they were still fresh (both went on to win WBC titles far past their best, beating names Benn and Nunn!), Tony Thornton (RIP), Watson twice and Benn twice. Watson was improving with each and every fight.

No he didn't fight lb4lb-listed Nunn or Toney but stated he wanted to, similar to Calzaghe not fighting Jones or Hopkins but stating he wanted to, though there was Ottke in Joe's own weight who he refused to go to Germany to fight - Eubank went there and won.

Reid and Woodhall were decent operators but not on the level of Benn, Watson or Rocchigiani. A younger Malinga would've outboxed Woodhall. Mario Veit? Pfft. Charles Brewer was OK, but Lindell Holmes was leagues better - ask Herol Graham. Byron Mitchell was OK, but Tony Thornton (gave peak Toney fits) was a much better operator.

I don't put Kessler over Rocchi, or Watson!

A late 80s/early 90s Malinga against Kessler would be a close fight - Malinga had a nicer, longer jab.

 

Neither has a great resume, not that compares with their skills anyway but Eubank's is definitely better, he had better domestic competition than Calzaghe in Benn, Watson and even the tough Henry Wharton and on the world level although he didnt fight the best of his era (whether his fault or not) he still fought more top fighters than Calzaghe in Thulani Malinga, Tony Thornton, Lindell Holmes and Graciano Rocchigiani. His loss to Calzaghe past prime (not as far past as some would have you believe) has actually added to his resume more than taken anything away, as has his two losing efforts at cruiserweight to Carl Thompson.

It's not entirely Calzaghe's fault though, for instance I dont think the era he fought in was as stacked talent wise as Eubank's. I give him more credit for ruining Lacy than most and although he didnt fight alot of the best fighters around during his time he didnt miss out on as many as Eubank (again his fault or not).

I would have loved to have seen Eubank in with fighters like McCallum, Kalambay, Graham, Nunn, Toney and Jones Jr. but alas, sadly it was not to be and now we can only speculate.

 

He beat Benn once.

Eubank was a great fighter who lacked the hunger, notably after Watson.

benn for me has the best resume of them, and I like most believe Benn won the rematch, anotehr of a long line of strange decisions for Eubank.

Calzaghe has 11 world champions on his resume, and beat an ATG prime Hopkins, the same one that smashed Pavlik after Joe dominated him, not only that, bbut he fought a very good Eubank when he was a green fighter, and dominated him.

Toney ate his way to HW to avoid Joe, Hopkins ducked Joe nearly 10yrs ago, RJJ fought part timers and avoided Joe,Collins retired rather than face Joe, dawson and Pavlik both ducked Joe, and the list carries on, if these people actually fought and didn't duck Joe, his resume would be immense, as it is, Calzaghe still has the better resume.

 

Toney ate his way to HW to avoid Joe?

And 11 world champions on his resume? 2 reigning and 7 former. Bare in mind it's a time when anyone could pick up a belt.

 

The middleweight Eubank was a superior fighter to the supermiddleweight Calzaghe as well, in my opinion. The young Eubank was an exceptional fighter, and he proved it in the eye of the storm vs Watson and Benn. Post-Watson at smw, he just wasn't the same fighter at all.

 

Calzaghe, Eubanks opponents are known largely based on appearing respectable in their fights with Eubanks.

 

Back in the network TV days in the US, the likes of Lindell Holmes, Ronnie Essett and Tony Thornton were well-known to casual boxing followers. And Graciano Rocchigiani was a very big name in Europe before he fought Eubank and known in US.

 

Just the one win over Benn is more impressive than anything Slappy ever did. Throw the Watson fights in there and the Rocchigiani fight and it's not even close.

Slappys record against Collins record would be a more realistic argument, they both will be largely remembered for beating over the hill fighters.

 

Collins had a peak McCallum where Calzaghe had a completely unprepared, weight-drained and out-of-retirement Chris himself. But at that point Collins had already beat Tony Thornton and Kevin Watts in US title fights - Calzaghe wouldn't fight guys of that level for many many years in 'World' title defenses. Reggie Johnson was as slick as a greaseball back then and Sumbu Kalambay was simply excellent, Calzaghe never fought guys that good when he fought them in his entire career and Collins was arguably hard-done-by in those fights on the road.

Chris Pyatt was as good an operator as Robin Reid or Richie Woodhall.

And then there's Eubank, at the height of his career and in physical shape, and Benn a couple of times - a far more dangerous puncher than anything Calzaghe could imagine. Collins took Benn's best left hooks without blinking an eyelid.

 

So yeah, Collins > Calzaghe!

 

Ironically, Steve Collins actually retired because he couldn't get motivated to face a "NOBODY" like Calazghe at that stage of his career. He wanted Roy Jones.

In hindsight, he should have fought Calzghe. Maybe he beats him. Maybe Calzaghe still goes on to have a 9 or 10-year "reign" and wins over oldies and a manufactured reputation as a great fighter.