Eubank: Calzaghe/Froch/Benn were LUCKY

hes being a bit full of himself. Certainly hes being completely unfair to Froch, who ever since he won the world title has faced world title level opposition non-stop, something Eubank and other SMWs often avoided. Froch is a throwback, noone can dispute that he aims ofr the top once hes got there. I am suprised Eubank didnt mention Ottke though! Ottke is the prime example of the dodging cheat defending against lots of bums.

As for Eubank, he was a brave soul and the toughest british MW I have seen, but if he thinks he wasnt manufacturing his record by hiding in Britain with just the 'mini' unknown world title (WBO) then hes deluded. That said he did face SOME remarkably tough fighters that are a level above what you'd expect from a then wbo champ, more like proper world contenders, a few of them were. And he did fight more often. If it hadnt been for the Michael Watson incident, Eubank would have easily set a record number of defences in the supersoft (at that time) WBO regime of the division, probably around 25 defences at the rate he was going and if he had carefully cherrypicked.

 

Eubank at 31 wasn't good enough to beat a green Calzaghe - that tells you something.

 

"whereas they fought the fighters that everybody else wanted to face" -He meant that Froch is fighting the big names, nothing wrong with that :huh

 

He's just starting to get a bit annoying now.

 

cheers, I misread that bit... i was interpreting it as 'froch was lucky..... not to face the fighters i faced'

 

tbf, post-watson eubank was increasingly just going through the motions. he really started hating on having to hit people after that fight.

All of the SMW champs of today who would beat that semi retired, very disinteredted, fighting for money only, bloated to CW eubank, but it would be touch and go to beat him when he was in this heyday.

 

Remember that Froch didn't even start fighting at world level until he was 31, and he had a super six tournament. The likes of Benn, Eubank and Calzaghe were all competing at world level in their early to mid twenties, hence why they had much more world title fights. In 20-25 world title fights, you're not going to face elite opposition 20-25 times. You will maybe face 8-10 truly world class opponents.

Froch has competed in 8 world title fights - Of these only Ward, Kessler and Bute have won world titles at SMW (division in which these fights were being contested), and were elite opposition when Froch faced them.

Eubank competed in 24 world title fights - Faced the likes of Nigel Benn (x2), Michael Watson (x2), undefeated Rocchigiani, Steve Collins (x2), Thulani Malinga, Joe Calzaghe, then Carl Thompson (x2 at CW!) plus several title defences against lesser opposition (not as easy as it sounds).

Indeed, Eubank had it harder than Froch. Facing stronger opposition over a longer period of time.

What difference does it make if he held the WBO title? The fighter makes the belt. In the MW division, do you consider Chavez to be a superior champion to Sergio Martinez because he holds the 'WBC' belt?

 

Why is he so verbal all of a sudden?

i like him but he needs to shut up now

 

I would imagine he's being deliberately outspoken in order to generate interest in his son.

 

sure, he had it harder, he was champ younger. Froch isnt finished yet, but he has been fighting at the top ever since he broke into the top flight. Eubank faced a lot too, I am not knocking him, I am knocking him knocking others. well, as I read it previously anyway.

i am not referring to today, I am referring to the 90s when the WBO belt was recently incepted IBU belt of its time. I think you always need to look at things in their historical context, well thats what I do anyway.

 

You did knock him and others.

Froch says he feels fresh at age 34, believe me, if he ran through Eubank's resume, he would not be feeling fresh age 34!

As has been stated, Froch has faced three top SMW's - Ward, Kessler and Bute. He deserves huge credit, but remember that he only started fighting at the world level at age 31, where was he before then? 5 years into his pro career, Chris was fighting Nigel Benn. What was Froch doing back in 2007 (5 years into his pro career)?

Indeed, let's look at things in their historical context. The WBO title was indeed good enough for world title fights with the likes of Nigel Benn (x2), Michael Watson (x2), undefeated Rocchigiani, Steve Collins (x2), Thulani Malinga, Joe Calzaghe. It was good enough for a super fight between Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.

The fighter makes the belt. I can't believe you'd disagree with that? If a strong champion like Eubank holds the title, and fights the top opposition I mentioned, that's a credible title reign no matter what belt you hold.

 

History revision.

Eubank was about to have a title fight at 175lb when the Calzaghe fight came up, he decided to take that fight solely because he felt he was better at lighter weights, after being beaten by Calzaghe who he noted hit him harder than he had ever been hit before, he went on to two very close losses against a champion fighter.

So yes, let's pretend that 31 is completely past prime and aged and forget the fact that Calzaghe had four weeks notice to fight Eubank, while Eubank had been training 6 weeks already for a LHW fight.

Prime Calzaghe just basically out hustles Prime Eubank all night long to a wider deicison.

Green Calzaghe beat a 31 yr old Eubank who can't be called "past prime" - his performance standards were still exceptional.

 

Utter bollocks.

Eubank fought his last fight at 177 just six months earlier and was only 24 months removed from his SD loss against Steve Collins. He was in training for a title fight at 175 when the call from Calzaghe's camp came in - there were no injury concerns, the injury concerns that were noted was that Calzaghe had a severely damaged right hand that he was recuperating from.

Betting lines all favoured Eubank 3 to 1. Eubank even had an interview stating that his break away from the sport meant he felt recharged, refreshed and that he "had never performed so well in a training camp" as a way to delay fears he wasn't ready - he also mentioned his two tune up fights.

So he goes into the ring against a young fighter in his first champion experience as a heavy favorite and gets dropped in the first round on route to being handily out boxed for the first eight rounds.

In the sense that you believe Eubank was weight drained, why were his best rounds at the end of the fight against Calzaghe, noted for his endless stamina and ability to press the action throughout fights all into his late 30s.

So we have a fighter in his youth, in his first championship experience, fading late against a guy who you're saying was weight drained? Laughable.

Unlike you, I actually recall watching that fight live and remember the shock that Eubank was being beaten so easily by a guy who people felt had been built up on a diet of bums and nothing else to that point.

Eubank then only went to CW because he had a title shot waiting from Carl Thompson, eager to cash in on the name brand. It wasn't because Eubank could no longer make 168 - it was that he no longer felt he could beat the fighters at 168 (Calzaghe, Collins, Reid and Ottke)