Most people on here have probably only seen Calzaghe fight about 3 or 4 fights which is not their own fault really. He did have decent KO power back in the day.
Hopkins is an ATG, Kessler is world class with potential to be HoF, Calzaghe is boderline ATG depnding on your hate/hug level. Euro level fighters are not competitive in world championship bouts let alone become champions and defend their titles. Domestic level fighters are capable of winning national belts but not quite good enough to win a european belt. I think we have very different definitions of world class if you don't think Reid was. How can a guy that won and defended a proper world championship belt not be world class. Was Ottke not world class? Coz Reid was clearly the better man in that fight. How can a guy who at his best was certainly top 5 in the world in his weight class not be considered world class? As for Reid / JC their first fight was only close because Joe broke his hand. Assuming Joe doesnt do that again he would always beat Robin, no shame in that as JC is a HoF /(maybe) ATG great fighter (depending on your definition) which is a step above world class fighter like Reid.
By the time Reid fought Lacy, he was already well past his prime. In my opinion it would've been a no contest and Joe would've won easily. Probably by unaminous decsion since Calzaghe very rarely went for the kill towards the end of his career. I remember watching the first fight though and I remember it being a fairly scrappy but exciting close fight. They both at the time had rock solid chins and both were landing some good shots. I did originally score it as a Reid win but had no qualms with Calzaghes being given the decision since it was such a close fight.
Calzaghe had an injured left in the fight, just watch the difference in the use of the left between round one and round 12. Reid was really great, as talented as a Hagler in all honesty, but Calzaghe, uninjured outclasses him everyday.
Reid took a big slide after the Ottke fight. Whether that was disillusionment, or whatever, is hard to say. He won a points decision against Magee who was vastly overrated at the time, Magee was on the floor everytime Reid threw a meaningful punch but Reid only threw four in the fight... Then he quit against Lacy and then against Froch. Didn't look at any point in that period as if his heart was still in it. Calzaghe on the other hand had improved a lot in the same period, he would have pasted Reid at that stage. To give Reid any chance we'd need to assume that beating Lacy could have reignited his fire. Even then JC still wins though.
Well Calzaghe proved he was better than reid in the end Robin Reid legacy - IBO and WBC Supermiddleweight Champion of the world beaten by magic man, calzaghe, lacy and ottke retired on a loss to carl froch.....that says it all Joe Calzaghe Legacy - WBO/WBA/WBC/IBF and Ring magazine Supermiddleweight and Lightheavyweight Champion of the world retired undefeated at 46 fights against world class opposition. Even reid said he lost to calzaghe at first. then he changed his mind. the only judge to score it for him was english.........is it just me or does that sound dodgy