Calzaghe amongst the best ever? - disregarding legacy for a moment...

Like Kessler said, "he takes your boxing away".Perhaps against the elite of the past, Joe could shut them down as well.Kessler had that same look of astonishment between rounds that Lacy had.Calzaghe also shook off a few huge shots.With the ability to frustrate top fighters, and having a good chin as well, that just might make Joe an ATG.

 

As of now, Joe is an alltime great. Top 20 remains to be seen in retrospect. If he retires undefeated I think 10-20 years down the road he will be top 20 for sure.

 

Well What if Joe fights Hopkins next and the winner of that fights the winner of Jones/ Trinidad? He wins them to fights and then beats a young up and comer ( Pavlik, Dawson, etc) or even JT I will consider him top 25 maybe even top 15. I know BHop, Tito, and RJJ are past it, but Joe's 35 so it mght still give you an idea of prime vs prime.

 

Joe is a living legend.

 

He's definitely one of the ATG southpaws.

I'd put him in the top 50. He's the best SMW of all time.

 

Top50....yeah.

Top20...nope.

 

You may be right, but I dont think he's as invincible as your making out. Kessler is an excellent fighter, but not ATG material, and he gave Joe a good fight. He even wobbled Joe a few times. I can't imagine proper ATG's having that problem. I cant imagine Roy Jones Jnr even letting Kessler get beyond 6 rounds to be honest. When comparing him to that level of competition Joe comes up short.

If he'd have fought Eric Lucas, Antwun Echols, James Toney, Sven Ottke, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones (both 5 years ago) then yes you could definitely call him top 20 all-time, but there's too much padding in his record and too many question marks for him ever to make that difference up.

 

Talent wise he could possibly be top 20. ATG resmue? Top 70, maybe top 60 all time.

 

I read the title of the thread wrong and voted no he is not one of the top 20 in boxing history.

I am a big calzaghe fan and without a doubt he is one if the not best around today, and sure it could be considered he will be ATG , but I wouldent put him in the top 20 in boxing history just yet but he will always be remembered as a great boxer, think he still needs to go the states and fight a couple there
then i would be able to vote with confidence and say yes.

 

JC has convinced me by beating Kessler. JC is really class but still I cannot place him among the 20 greatest of all time.
BUT, with the skills and speed he showed against MK, it wouldnt be impossible for JC to have 2-3 good more years. That would make maybe 4-6 BIG fights for him. If JC chooses the biggest possible to fight - hopkins, roy, dawson etc. - and goes all the way still winning - then he´s top 20 in my greatest. JC can do it, I believe now - I really hopes he will.
Go JC - eat the american.

 

I understand your point, but RJJ was up at LHW when Calzaghe became champion. Its impossible for Calzaghe to have fought Toney, the Fat man was up at cruiserweight in 97. Hopkins and Ottke the deal's could never be struck, and lets be honest; Lucas and Echols are not very good, Calzaghe has beaten plenty fighters on a similiarly level to them.

 

Plenty if you know boxing:deal

Calzaghe is top 20 talent in boxings history???:rofl :rofl :rofl

**** alot of good boxers will look like GOD against that weak...weak! competition

 

Yo theres more tha that

 

Yeah, what was stopping Calzaghe from fighting Roy Jones at light-heavyweight? Hopkins was at middleweight from 94 onwards, what stopped him fighting Hopkins? I have no doubt he'd have beaten Ottke, Lucas and Echols, but he still never fought them.

I dont know the reasons why he never fought them, all I know is that he didn't, and that harms his legacy to such an extent that despite his talent he'll never really be able to scale the giddy heights of boxing excellence.