Joe Calzaghe unlucky career ? Being the first person since the 1920s to win 3 ABA titles at different weights Calzaghe should have gone to the Barcelona Olympics, but because he was not liked by the establishment, they did not want his father in the corner ?,they felt he was arrogant and cocky ?, they controversially picked an Englishman instead ?, Robin Reid was selected and won a Bronze medal, Reid went on to become WBC champion as a pro, Joe beat him for the WBO title. If Joe had gone to the Olympics and won gold, the big fights would have come earlier in his career ,which he would have won as he is a marvellous boxer and a champion in the true sense of the word, then perhaps some people would not question him as an all time great ? Also did Joe's pro career start a year or two too late ?, Steve Collins retired rather than defend his title against him, Chris Eubank stepped in at the last minute so Joe only got limited credit for beating him, If his pro career had started a year or two earlier he could have had Benn and Collins on his resume ? Also if he had not been plagued by hand injuries he would have passed Marciano's mark by now and not have to fight until his 40th year ? {if he wants to beat Rockies mark}
And if he had no dick, he would have been the best woman boxer in the history of the world. How's that for unlucky? btw. Robin Reid was a good fighter. Calzahge's win over Reid in his professional career is certainly one of his more controversial.
Controversial to anyone who only knows what Boxrec tells them about it being an SD. The only controversy in that fight was that Reid got an SD. The truth is, he was beaten easily by Calzaghe in what was a pretty sloppy fight.
I think the not going to the olympics was due to the fact that he couldn't make weight anymore and had to move up, but they already had a guy in that weight category. Therefore they would have had to kick him out to make room for a Joe who hadn't fought at that weight before.
i dont know how long its been this way but in the olympics you cant bring your own trainer one trainer does the countrys whole boxing team
I've seen the fight. I don't think it was a robbery, but it could have gone either way. We can discuss the scoring, if you so fancy. And it is, of course, possible that none of the people who mention the controversy have seen the fight. It is also possible that the excuses about Joe breaking his hand during the fight appeared for no good reason. And the rematch fell through for no good reason as well, I'm sure. But perhaps the simpler explanation is that it was one of the closer fights in Joe's career and that there was some controversy involved...
Considering Calzaghe has had 46 pro fights, its a testament to him that there has never been a debatable decision, he has always won fair and square by the vast majority of observers eyes, Reid was beaten away from home in England 116-111 on 2 judges cards and Hopkins was beaten away from home in the USA 116-111 and 115-112 on 2 of the judges cards.
Indeed. Even if you give Reid all the close rounds and even if you fail to take away a point off from Reid, as the referee required, Calzaghe still wins by one point. It was a very good, close fight, though. Calzaghe did very well to win. Reid was a very good, tough, hard puncher at that time. Many people underrate that win tremendously.
I think it was a good win - I had Joe ahead by two points. As to the controversy aspect, this is a line from an interview with Reid. The question he was asked, was this... Spud: Joe Calzaghe. Many people feel you won the first fight against Calzaghe. Do you want to fight him again, and has there been any serious offers to fight Joe since the first fight? RR: I have to say to the first part yep I feel I won the first fight as well. I have studied a tape of it and I seriously believe I won that fight by at least 2 rounds and that includes the point deduction for the low blow. Each time I watch the tape, I think I won even more!!! The Referee always seemed to be on my case, don't get me wrong I think myself and Joe in that fight were as bad as each other, but it just seemed the Referee was always blaming me. http://www.doghouseboxing.com/UK/Spud012105.htm So one referee and Reid saw a Reid win. That makes it at least as controversial as the Hopkins win :yep
