An Americans perspective of Joe ....

Unequaled ability to adapt mid-fight (ask Hopkins or Kessler), lightning speed, fantastic footwork, plus an unorthodox style that made the 'experts' predict against him every time, yet he always proved the experts wrong. Plus, smart enough at 36 to get out on top. First ballot HOF. (and, yes, I'm American).

 

pah, Calzaghe only beat up on bums like RJJ and Hopkins. Who did those two ever face? RJJ and Hopkins have padded resume's filled full of American bums and were too affraid to travel and lose home advantage. To be taken seriously they needed to fight the top guys in europe

(by the way I'm an Atlantian, massive RJJ, Hopkins and Calzaghe fan, but I do find it funny the way my American bretheren make such a big deal out of fighting in the US. Living in the UK I see fights from all over Europe and all the US based fighters too... my synopsis is that the US does not produce better boxers, this is a myth. It may be the home of boxing, but Europe caught up quite some time back, only I guess most of our lot missed it)

 

It doesn't, it comes from him staying at home defending his "title" against las poor opposition for years and years and years.

 

Amen.What don't these idiots get?atsch

 

I'm not a huge fan of Joe but you have to respect the fact that he is undefeated. Kessler was a big win, Hopkins (I know people debate this win) was a big win, etc. He has absolutely insane stamina, reasonably fast hands, excellent ring generalship. I think my fellow countrymen slam him too much. I am mildly amused by some of the banter...the "slappy" comments and so forth...but really, the man deserves some respect. I don't consider him anywhere near an ATG but still he has accomplished a lot

 

I'm not a big fan of Calzaghe, but I give him far more credit than Hatton.

Sure Joe is slap happy, but he knows it gets him the points. He has banked on that for years, and it's what gave him a lot of wins. He was able to outwork the opponent in many cases, and just win rounds.

I think he should have faced better opposition before retirement. I give him the win over Kessler, and I think that is his best defense lately.

RJJ and Hopkins just aren't the opponents that Calzaghe should have faced. He got wins, sure, but it doesn't mean much to a lot of people.

Like PBF, I hope he comes back to do a real fight before final retirement. There are a lot of good fighters in his division still...