A moment to appreciate Bernard Hopkins record

I'd have said Joe too by a hairs breadth, but there would be no issue calling it a draw or a loss to the 43 year old american for joe cal, one of britains best ever SMWs so far.

 

hes a WIll scarloff

 

I had winning by 2 or 3 rounds. Joe isnr isnt one of the best Brirish SMW, he is the best British SMW ever and one the top 5 ever easily.

 

i think him being best ever smw based on 2 unification bouts isnt a solid argument for best brit smw. Froch has the same number, and better recognised defences and a unification and a longer period as number 1 SMW, with joe having an extra unification.

Benn has the same number of recognised SMW defences, as well as undoubtably better wins and 2 weight title winning.

But for sure Joe is on amongst them as one of the best Brit SMWs. Its just a shame we've had so few recognised titlists like Benn, Froch and Joe (eubank was one but he had the unrecognised 90s wbo belt only, so we cant recognise his 90s reign) so far since the SMW division is so young.

On the world scale its a different ballpark with amazing smws like jones and toney who would literally rip calzaghe's head off. but joe makes top ten world ever smws for sure.

I guess when SMW has the same depth of MW in 100 years time, then we will have another 10 jones, toney, frochs, svens and Joe will be forced out of the top 20 SMWs ever, which will be a shame but a more accurate picture of his talent.

 

hopkins, ugly fighter, but to match joe cal h2h at 43, whom some feel is best smw ever, is pretty good going.

That a 43 year old came within a hair breadth of doing that is not a good statement of the SMW division. Its far more likely that Joe wasnt actually best smw ever at all than trying to claim that the best the SMW division could offer could barely draw with a 43 yr old.

 

I still reckon Joe's record trumps the rest of Brit resumes:

Eubank- People say Eubank was past it when Joe beat him but Eubank had at the time only lost to one boxer in Collins.

Kessler - Joe beat him in his prime and took his "0" . Aundderrated fighter whom Ward calls he toughest oppoenent.

Lacey - a undefeated fighter who went into the fight hyped as the bookies favourite and described as the new Tyson of the SMWs. Calzaghe gave one of the most one sided boxing lesson ever in this fight.

Reid - Calzaghe edged a very close fight in SD against a former WC who at the time had only lost to Malinga.

Hopkins - I had Calzghe by 2 or 3 rounds against a past his prime but still world class fighter in Hopkins who went onto be a WC after this fight.

Jones - past his prime but did just come off a win against Felix. Calzaghe embrassed him.

 

exactly, embarrassed a 40 yr old shot jones. awful swansong for a guy u call best SMW. Joe himself who says it would be disgusting to fight shot jones. Doubly destoryed argument, destoryed by the guy u are trying to defend, no less, you should put that one to bed now.

nor are they all SMW resume.

Froch alone brings bute , kess, taylor, pascal and groves to the table, greater than joes wins, with other lesser scalps to spare like joe has.
Whilst Benns is just as solid.


but i acknowledge Joe had a few good SMW wins too. He is certinaly ahead of fellow unrecognised titlist eubank, becos joe actually made 1 non-wbo defence too AND unified, eubank never managed ONE recognised defence at all.