Slapping who silly?, Tocker Pudwill?. Maybe you rate those guys but what he has been doing over there left him an unknown for a reason. The only time he got serious recognition was when Lacy decided to make a move, even the British didn't know who the hell he was at that point. His fight with a shot to death Jones proved that if Jones was in his prime he would have taken him and possibly thrashed him. Whenever they were in the middle of the ring Calzaghe would look semi lost from Jones' speed. It's Jones' lack of stamina that made Joe shine, Jones couldn't stay active and was FAR too easy to hit as he lacked the movement he once had. Of course you wouldn't know any of that being a fan of human chicken fighting, doggy style chokes and missionary submissions. Mayweather made a career fighting guys bigger, he didn't have to wait for everyone he could have faced in his prime to be BELOW shot to make a move in weight and still hit the canvas.
Joe retired with mind intact ,face unmarked, and bank account fat. I would say that was the right time. It is too bad that some fights that could have been , weren't, but I don't think thats because Joe thoughtfully avoided anyone. But it could be said that he should have tried harder to get a fight with Jones when it was originally suggested, years ago. But Roy was probably as much to blame as Joe's promoter for it not happening.
JC haters.... so many for so few reasons. The guy dominated SMW and had no-one left to fight at the division when he left and went up to LHW and beat the reighning Ring mag champ their and still the guy gets all sorts of **** spouted about him
I agree, he got out at the right time. He was never beaten up, or took cheap shots in the ring, he had so much talent. He can only be "criticised" for not being a superstar. He had superstar stills no doubt. He can retire contented, knowing that he never lost in the professional ring, earns loads of money and got out with good health. Not many fighters have won WBO, IBF, WBC and WBA titles at the same weight and also the Ring belt. Also, he stepped up and beat Hopkins to win the Ring at 175lbs. I reckon he should have challenged Zsolt Erdei and won the WBO title at 175lbs and then retired. He has left supermiddleweight well behind, he won't come back now, but he could if he wished. Not fighting Froch, Abraham etc now, means very little considering that he beat "big names" and won everything in that division.
Thread starter makes some good points to be fair. Joe is the beneficiary of amazing timing to be undefeated and have all of his achievements. Although he was talented - he had not beaten a single challenger who was remotely competent and fit. Only reason he beat Kessler was due to Kessler's hand injury. Hopkins was past 40 - WOW great win. Lacy? Roll out the red ****ing carpet..... Jones was shot, and still managed to drop Calzaghe, people say it was an illegal punch - but if we're going to go down that route - Calzaghe gets disqualified 10 seconds into a fight for illegal punching. Froch would have his number, and probably stops him late. Pavlik (when fit) would be able to land right hand after right hand on the slightly suspect chin of Calzaghe, especially down the stretch - when an opponent who is not old enough to legally be entitled to claim free bus passes, won't fade down the stretch... Heck - Calzaghe was terrified of GLEN JOHNSON, to the point he even rushed forward the divorce of his wife, to try and avoid fighting him. Don't let his fanboys fool you, he's not even a footnote in an entire history of the sport.
An utterly ill informed, look at me post from someone who is most probably going to wait a long time to see a naked woman
I've read some shite in my time, but that is insane. "right, get on the blower to the lawyer, speed this divorce up. GLEN JOHNSONS AT THE DOOR!!!!"
So you're telling me it was just coincidential timing? The guy (Calzaghe) is a fraud in many ways - and has been for the longest time.
If a boxer was hypothetically that afraid of another boxer in a weight division above, wouldn't they just.....not arrange a fight with them? Maybe I'm missing some nuance...
Absolutely. I've no problem with criticism of fighters, but posting made up **** like that is pointless.