A Genuine Question For The Fans Of Joe Calzaghe

It is not so much the opponent as the ambition. Sitting on the WBO for that mnay years does not loook good. A Unified champ also has more drawing power, say Calzaghe had 3/4 belts at SMW around 2002, the Hopkins match would have probably happened sooner, the demand would have been there and neither could duck it.

On the other hand holding the least impressive belt of a fractured division with few US stars gives you no cards to play. When you have a name the belts are not important, but until you are established world wide they are a necccessity.

Specifically on Ottke despite the questions marks over some of his wins, he was a good fighter, crafty, decent speed and ring intelligence and he would represent one of the top 5 wins on JC's record, even if he was not one of the 5 best fighter he had beat, it would have been a very significant win, certainly better than Ashira and co.

 

JC is not a great fighter, he is a clever/sneeky one, he waited for father time to beat the best fighters and then he takes them on, not very brave but pretty cunning, R.M did the same thing in his day, history repeats itself today.

 

Apart from Jones (who I do think he should have tried harder to get a fight with) who else was there that he could have fought? The only other person that I can think of is Sven Ottke and say what you like about Calzaghe only fighting in his home country, Ottke was being gifts left right and centre and no-one would win against him there.

Again it would have meant fighting Sven Ottke (probably in Germany as he wouldn't go abroad) I think he beat a much more accomplished fighter in mikel Kessler in unifying the titles.

Agreed for the most part his competition wasn't that great (Eubank, Reid and Brewer being the only real decent fighters on his record up till lacy)

Maybe, but who else was there to fight?

 

Calzaghe deserves all the hate he gets on this forum and worldwide. The thread starter was right on point with everything. He has good, objective fans, but they are few and far between.

All you need to know is that Calzaghe, against these old legends, was FAVORED by Vegas in BOTH FIGHTS! Like the poster said, he stated in his autobiography FOUR YEARS AGO that Jones was way past it. So like a real man, he takes on the fight anyway????

These are all gonna be moot points anyway because a decade from now Calzaghe is gonna be remembered as the Khaosai Galaxy of his time except add two OLD OLD names on his resume. Enjoy him while he's still relevant.

 

Oh, and before I get bashed as some "Yank," Lennox Lewis and Ricky Hatton deserve all the CREDIT they get from the fans.

Lewis fought all the best heavies of his time (Holyfield, Tua, Ruddock, McCall, Vitali, an old Tyson but King ducked Lennox forever, Bowe wanted no piece)...and fought all around the world against them in their respective primes (except for Tyson, but again, not his fault). No cherrypicking.

Hatton was protected for awhile, but when he came out, he did it big, and didn't cherrypick great fighters past their prime. He was the underdog against Tszyu, he went to America and fought a dangerous Collazo for a belt in his FIRST fight at 147, went back down and fought Castillo who was coming off a win, and moved up to fight the #1 P4P fighter in the world. Clearly not the road Calzaghe took to his self-perceived "greatness."

 

That's unfortunate

 

You have valid points but it takes two to tango. But the perception of Ottke, here in the States, is one of a ridicule and that he was a protected paper titlist with no power, who was given gift decisions over and over again. Although I would've like to have seen it, its a lose/lose situation in terms of legacy. Either he gets robbed in a controversial decision or he wins and people scoff at the win. And you would see people going: Who did he beat? Ottke?:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

Dawson can't be compared. He's still young, and fighting the guys he's suppose too, in his career. Look at Cals first five while champ. Eubank, Sobot, Ferreyra, Ried, Thornberry. Dawson got Adamek (Just won a big fight, one more good win for Adamek I would consider that win better then Joe beating Kessler unless Kessler steeps it up), Ruiz, Mendoza, Johnson, Tarver. Think Dawson steep up in class a lot faster then Calzaghe did. Also Dawson is not in possition to make greatness, Calzaghe is.

 

A similar example is Hopkins. Hopkins guarded his IBF belt at 160 for the longest time, but wasn't recognized as champ (and rightfully so) until he beat Holmes and Tito to unify all the belts.

Much like Joe deserves minimal credit for guarding his WBO belt at 168 against a parade of lesser fighters. When he beat Lacy and Kessler to unify, THAT'S when he deserved the credit as true champ at super middle.

 

It is the unfortunate nature of Boxing. Fighting Hopkins and Jones was JC's attempt at appeasing the US critics( as well as cashing in on his status). It has not worked, in fact the opposite, he would have been better of if he had reitired after Kessler, instead of daring to come and fight the 2 old men which has caused so much contempt to go his way.

Chasing after US validation is given too much weight. I would rather he had looked to Dariuz M than Hopkins in 2002. Make them come to you.

 

I've seen many people on here comment that you are a good poster whilst still acknowledging the fact you are a wanker, so while Calzaghe sometimes acts like a wanker he's still good at what he does, so therefore he has fans who will defend him.

 

Calzaghe is better than Pacquiao, period. Pacquiao beat an old Oscar, how is that different to Calzaghe beating an old Jones Jr or still decent but old Hopkins?

 

an interesting point, totally wrong but still.

are you a football fan?

 

Ok, i think you should do soemthing about your jealousy. its not healthy. Calzaghe vs jones was a legit match obviousdly especially by the amount of people before the fight picking Jones. AMERICANS AND BRITISH picked jones, so what are you talking about. jones was coming off an impressive trinidad win and was gaining momentum..................

Im a big fan of both and they deserved to share a ring together. you sound like such a jealous loser! .....