Calzaghe - Hopkins Legacy: Why Calzaghe's is superior IMO.

I agree, I could've went into more detail as I have done in the past. I did two threads before their fight comparing their records in depth.

I doubt anyone would read it all if I copied and pasted all of it though! But if anyone is interested, then I will.

 

Aye. Keep your gay fantasies to yourself ***** :yep

 

I'll copy and paste both parts then.

 

Okay, people wanted to see me go through their opponents in more detail.

Here are Calzaghes. I posted this months ago.

Chris Eubank - Past his best no doubt. Also took this fight at short notice. However, to say that Eubank was shot to pieces or wasn't still a top level operator would be a downright lie. At 31, he was still in decent nick and went on to give Carl Thompson, no mug himself a good go at Crusierweight. Also, Calzaghe himself at this point was still somewhat green having been guided rather dubiously by his first promoter Micky Duff. Calzaghe, however, belied his inexperience at this level by taking it to the British legend and flooring him in the opening round. Despite some hairy moments and having to dig deep in terms of endurance and stamina, Calzaghe passed this test with flying colours, notching up an impressive win against a still very good fighter. This fight took place in 1997.

Robin Reid - Dangerous fighter. A former WBC champion and certainly in his pomp a world class operator. Some bad blood stemming from their amateur days too...Reid fought an excellent fight in this one with JC a little off form to say the least...but still he came through on a bad night with a close but clear decision in the mind of most boxing analysts. Reid would go on to have more success in the future...and in my mind should have got the decision over a certain Sven Ottke when they met in a farcial fight in I think it was 2003. A good win. This fight took place in 1999.

Omar Sheika - Hot up and coming prospect. Calzaghe had looked a bit **** in recent fights on account of chronic hand injuries that led to a lack of sparring...he realised he may be punished if not at his best in this one. Sheika had looked impressive in disposing of most of his competition, though the biggest win on his resume was the result of a contentious decision against Glen Johnson. Nonetheless, even in the context of this comprehensive defeat, he went on to prove to be a decent contender at world level in the SMW division. This was a very good win for Calzaghe and one that gave him some exposure in the US. A good solid win. This fight took place in the year 2000.

Richie Woodhall - A good text book boxer and once again a former WBC champion. Had only lost to world class opposition in Keith Holmes and also Markus Beyer. Had some moments against Calzaghe, but once again JC comprehensively did a number on him with the fight stopped in the 10th. This was the last time Woodhall ever fought. Another good win and another good name on JCs record. This fight took place in the year 2000.

Mario Veit - Undefeated up and comer. A big guy with solid boxing fundamentals, there was high hopes for this German contender. That JC blitzed this guy in one round is one his more underrated wins in my book. The guy has went on to prove what solid fighter he is, particularly a win against the dangerous Jurgen Brahmer a few years back. A good win for JC against another up and coming contender. This fight took place in the year 2000.

Charles Brewer - Former world champion and a dangerous fighter. Tough as nails, but had seen better days. Nonetheless this was a good scrap and again gave Calzaghe some exposure to the US audience. A former world champion almost always looks good on the old record too. A decent win for Calzaghe. This fight took place in the year 2001.

Byron Mitchell - Had just been beaten by Sven Ottke in a slightly contentious decision. A former world champion and very good fighter well capable of mixing it with the best. Calzaghe proved alot in terms of his heart, determination and will to win. Some say the stoppage was premature...POPPYCOCK! Mitchell was getting whacked all over the ring with a series of unanswered shots and went flying back into the ropes seemingly unable to fire back. A very impressive performance and yet another good win. Far more impressive than Das Phantom anyway in disposing of this guy. This fight agaist a top contender and only recently deposed world champ took place in 2003.

Jeff Lacy - A great win. Thats right A GREAT WIN. Calzaghe completly outboxes and humiliates one of Americas great boxing hopes. Prior to this fight people were touting Lacy for the following fights after this one: Taylor at 168 and Tarver at 175. OHHHH the Lacy Amnesia: This guy was supposed to freaking mow through Taylor(whose stock WAS high having just beaten in the minds of most objective followers of the sport long term middlweight champion Bernard Hopkins) and after that contest with the recently appointed LHW king Tarver for 175 supremacy. Those plans were laid to waste when Lacy who had destroyed a series of perenial contenders such as Pemberton, Reid and Vanderpool in a vein never seen before was humiliated in one of the best performances of this era. A great win over a hot hot prospect and the sort of beating a fighter psychologically and physically never recovers from. This fight took place in 2006.

Sakio Bika - People scoffed when this fight was made. But look a little deeper and you will see that this guy could easily have walked into this WBC champion. Proved to be a wild customer, a master of the dirty tactics to say the least. JC fought his fight and still disposed of this world level contender. A good win. This fight took place in 2006.

Mikkell Kessler - A terrifying monster of a 168lber. This guy had hardly lost a ****ing round in his career and as a JC fan I feared this guy. Unwavering self belief and again disposed of top competition most efficiently and in some instances brutally. Wins over Eric Lucas, Markus Beyer and Anthony Mundine are not to be scoffed at: particularly the comprhensive nature in which he delivered them. Furthermore he showed that he was not afraid of hostile environments in the win against Mundine. That Calzaghe, now a veteran, beat this guy, the 168 heir apparent as soundly and convincingly as he did was quite some achievement in my book. I expect this to appreciate with time also but even in the unlikely event that it doesn't, a great win for JC. This fight took place in 2007.

Now, some may quibble with the achievements of the guys on this list. I won't, I believe this assortment of champions and top contenders would enhance the resume of any serious player in and around the 168 division. Taken together they represent a solid, sound record and the manner in which they were beaten makes it still more impressive. Also
look at the dates: the myth of JC only stepping it up in terms of fighting top contenders is just that a myth: he clearly fought at such a level from the word go.

Now however, the naysayers will still say where were the fights against the true elite on a par with Joe. Now let me address this. Who exactly could Joe have fought that would really have enhanced his legacy?

Sven Ottke - The obvious one. Undefeated IBF and eventually WBA champ during Calzaghes reign. Why did this fight never take place? A number of reasons. The first being that Ottke refused to even acknowledge that he knew who Joe was. Secondly, his refusal to fight outside of the safe haven of Germany where soooo many dodgy decisions were granted in his favour. FFS Reid was warned for hitting him! That this fight didn't take place was in the minds of most boxing analysts Sven Ottke's fault. For christ sake his resume, when all has been said and done is inferior to Joes. He never called out Calzaghe(unlike Joe him) and quite simply sought to avoid even talking about him. Joe cannot be blamed reasonably either for not wanting to travel to Germany. This fight would have added to Calzaghes legacy though that cannot be denied.

Roy Jones Junior - Was at 175 when Calzaghe made his way on to the world scene. Superman Roy however, back in the day before we all got a little nostalgic for him was constantly criticised for fightings **** opposition not on his level(as if anyone was) during his LHW reign. He didn't want to know about Joe...a guy with only a little American exposure...he represented all risk and no reward to this business man.

Dariuz 'Tiger' Can't spell his ****ing name - Very good fighter and lineal at 175. WBO champ also. Why didn't Calzaghe fight this guy? Ill concede here: I really have no idea. As far as I know this fight was never mooted and I can't get why. Both guys suffered in the shadow of the other champion in the division....if Calzaghe stepped up and fought this guy and im sure he would have been willing and won he would have added a huge name to his record and had a basis on which he could fight Jones. This was a missed opportunity in my eyes. Calzaghe could have pushed for this.


Bernard Hopkins - My favourite. Ohhh I really love this one. Yep Bernie fans Hopkins blatantly ducked JC in order to fight Carl Daniels, Morrade Hakkar, Joppy, Allen and then a blown up Welter. Some legend. Why did he do this having agreed to the fight in 2002? On the basis that all great businessmen make decisions: risk versus reward. Who the **** was Calzaghe to the average sports fan in the states? Sure boxing fans knew the guy and his stock was high after a series of good performances in 2000 and 2001 but would the Americans really care that much about a win over him? Did he really want to squander all that hard worked recognition after the Tito win and a few big easy paydays? Did he heck ! He thus doubled his demands just as the contracts were about to be signed and pulled out and fought Daniels that year. This would have been a huge win for JC. The undisputed MW king with recognition and plaudits galore being bestowed on him. Hopkins bottled it what can you do? Now takes the fight as an old man with plenty of ready made excuses.

 

HOPKINS PART

Roy Jones Junior: This was for the vacant IBF middleweight championship of the world. Jones would of course go on to become a multi-division champ, a superman phenom and the number 1 p4p boxer in the world for many years. Hopkins gave a good account of himself, but Jones won this fight convincingly even with a broken right hand. Nonetheless, it can be argued that Bernard was green at this point and a loss to a fighter the calibre of Jones by decision is no shame in itself! This fight happened in 1993.

Sergundo Mercado: These fights happened in 1994 and 1995. The first, which some idiot Hopkins haters haved cited as an example that his chin is not quite as solid as most believe was fought at altitude. This obviously hampered Hopkins severely and getting out with a draw in which he was clearly the better boxer is no shame. He put all doubts to rest in the rematch anyway and captured the IBF title. Good win for Hopkins and the start of his reign.

Joe Lipsey: Undefeated touted prospect....Hadn't yet mixed it with the best but still looked good. Hopkins literally executed this guy: he never fought again and the KO is both neat and sweet btw. A good win for Hopkins over a hot prospect. This fight took place in 1996.

Glen Johnson: A big win for Hopkins in my book. Johnson at this point was an undefeated hot middleweight prospect, which made a win against him at this stage very good in itself. However, the fact is this is a win that has appreciated with time and nobody has dominated and defeated Johnson quite as effectively as Hopkins thus far. Very good win. This fight took place in 1997.

Antwun Echols: Kid Dynamite was a feared puncher in the middleweight division and highly regarded. Hopkins first beat him in 1999 but its the rematch that really impresses me. Hopkins was slammed to the canvas dislocating his shoulder but showed incredible heart and desire to comeback and win by stoppage in the 10th! Impressive stuff over a good fighter. These fights took place in 1999 and 2000.


Syd Vanderpool: Good fighter. Hopkins has fought a number of these good contender types disposing of them all as any good champ should do. This fight took place in the year 2000.

Keith Holmes: Unfication fight. Dirty brawl. Holmes was a good fighter however and of course a fellow world champion. This was fought as part of the middleweight unfication tournament with both men widely been seen as fodder for the KO machine Felix Trinidad. Another good win for Hopkins. This fight took place in the year 2001.

Felix Trinidad: Finally recogntion. Does Trinidad really need introduction? 147 legend, king of 154, p4p one of the best fighters in the world at this point. Had also destroyed WBA Champ Joppy. Hopkins systematically destroys Trinidad in a shock. This is a big win. However, the blown up welter status cannot be denied and some would also argue that ODLH acutally beat him already and laid the blue print. Nonetheless it would be folly to suggest that this wasn't hugely signficant: the way Hopkins executed a game plan against Trinidad was masterful and showed the great fighter that he is. Big win for Hopkins that made him undisputed.

Alright, this section has kind of merged two parts of Hopkins careersrospect and his intial years as champion. We see here that he has fought a similar quality to Joe Calzaghe with a mix of hot prospect, former world champions and highly regarded contenders. I will now go on to look in depth at Hopkins career since the 2001 Trinidad fight. But ill have to post a 2nd post due to character limits.

To be continued..