Calzaghe retired on top and has not lost a fight...so I ask you fans

I think that everyone would pretty much say the same thing....

Jones 40 years old

Hopkins 43 years old

Lacy not very good

Kessler is largely unknown as to how good he is being that Joe is the only elite fighter he has faced and he lost.

After those 4 fights there isnt much to pick from...A shot Eubanks, Reid??? and really that is the best of his resume...

 

Resume. It's the most important factor to take into consideration when evaluating a fighter's greatness, and it's the main area where Calzaghe is weak. He spent 9 years fighting mediocre opposition from 1997-2006, and there can be no excuses for that.

 

This Calzaghe Love Hate fight has gone on too long. Lets be real about it, he deserves some credit for going undefeated and beating the likes of Jones, Hopkins, Kessler, Lacy, Eubank, and Reid is impressive but you do have to take into account their age and the circumstances. Joe is the a great fighter and should be remembered as one of the best of our era but he is not the best ever, or number 1 P4P. He is simply a good fighter who won all of his fights and deserves credit for that, but at the same time he shuoldnt be worshiped as a Ray Robinson, or Muhammad Ali. A great fighter he is, the best he is not.

 

This thread isn't being answered properly. You're all coming up with hypothetical sitations. It's basically as bad as saying the problem with RJJ was he never faced the likes of Hagler, Quai, Spinks, etc.

Who EXISTED during Calzaghe's reign at 168 that he could have challenged?

I would have liked to have seen him face Hopkins, unify with Ottke and maybe face RJJ earlier. All depended on his management-- which he never could depend on.

That's it. He did great with what he had. That's greatness.

 

THE criticism of Calzaghe is that he didn't step up his comp. for so long into his career. In beating Lacy, Kessler, and Hopkins, he beat three of the most highest-rated fighters from 168-175, and in Roy he beat a faded but still rated ex-champ. But prior to stepping up against Lacy, he milked his title for a helluva long time, backed out of fights, talked about fights but didn't follow through, etc. - in short, a lot of bull****.

 

he retired with big fights ahead of him just like PBF...

 

ottke.

 

JC ducked taylor

 

:!uch. you do have a point there. and the assertion that the manager had all the right to say yes or no in joe career is a bit over the top. if he really wanted to fight in the US, would it really be that difficult for him say 10 years ago. sure, he couldnt have probably gotten a shot at rjj or bhop asap but he had to climb up the totem pole first before he landed a gig with the two.

in my view, he waited for rjj and bhop to come down from their lofty perches before he made his move.

 

he waited for the fruit to be ripe for the taking before crossing atlantic

 

atschatschatsch

 

there were negotiation after the spinks fight..taylor challenged Jcal but Jcal never entertained the idea..

 

His biggest wins where against two fighters past their prime, and dominanted strong fighter, but not elite.