Good post, but i don't think thinking Joe will beat RJJ and Hopkins is overrating a fighter. Cos they are both **** and past it
I agree with that, right now he's not a ATG, if he beats Pavlik and Hopkins easily, then he's a great IMO.
welll considering i think kessler beats hopkins, pavlik, miranda, taylor, winky wright, tarver, the road warrior, ect.... i rank a kessler win as very very good.... hence i rank JC very, very high. i dont think any of the fighters i mentioned put up close to the fight that kessler did.
He's a great fighter, and there wouldn't have been any argument about him being an ATG if he had left Warren 10 years ago. His legacy will be tainted by the fact that he didn't fight the two ATGs of his era (RJJ and B-hop) until they were 39/43 years old. I think he'll easily beat RJJ now, and get the decision over B-Hop, though it'll be closer than many think. I can just see B-hop frustrating Calzaghe and knocking him out of his rythmn, but Calzaghe being busy enough to scrape a poor fight on points. I personally think he would have beaten a prime B-Hop, and that prime RJJ would have battered him from pillar to post, but's there's no disgrace in losing to probably the most naturally talented fighter ever between 160-175. If he owns Hopkins, batters Jones and then finishes the year by beating either Bute or Dawson, then he's definitely an ATG.
Classy, well-reasoned post. I hope you learn to present your arguments in a little more cogent and civil manner before you find yourself in court, counsellor!