Hatton's whipping by PBF

It's how he comes back.

 

It's a sad thing to see when Calzaghe fights a 43 year old version of Hopkins and a poll on this forum has over half saying he'd have beat a prime Hopkins aswell.

Why bother with risking anything against a fighter when he's prime and the best p4p, when you can just wait till they're old and people will believe it wouldv'e happened the same way 10 years earlier.

Amir Khan should just wait 10 years and fight Mayweather when he's 41, it'd please most of this forum on current opinion of Calzaghe.

atsch

 

Sadly yes and that shouldn't be so. IMO, Toney, RJJ and prime Hopkins all beat Calzaghe convincingly, that was easy to see Saturday night. For what ever reasons Joe has always managed to avoid fightng the top Americans in there prime and has been rewarded for it. Hatton took the plunge and his boxing reputation has been far more damaged then Joes has been by his unwilliness to chase the best.

If you were a boxer looking at that you would think it best to take the Calzaghe root and avoid the real top opositon.

 

Now THATS a good post.

 

I agreee that Hopkins wasnt at his best anymore but despite not having a belt most were calling him the Champ , No one was calling for him to retire after Tarver so why shouldnt Joe get credit for Beating him ?

I think if you mtatch 30 year old Calz against 37 year old Hop the result is the same, Yes Bernard has slipped a little but IMO so has Calz

 

Also there are only 7 years bewtween them

Nate Campbell was 12 years older than Diaz and in a divison where speed and reflexes are more important.

 

Oh please.

Perhaps Sleaze Nation would have a point if for instance Mayweather was at that stage still the reigning WW champion and was still beating top notch competition.

If that were the case then of course Khan would get some credit.

There are a whole host of other factors to consider as well but no matter how much the Calzaghe haters try to twist it:

Hes going down in history as the greatest SMW of all time.
One of the best fighters in British history.
Undefeated - A two weight World Champion.

His record will stand up to scrutiny and people will understand why big fights eluded him for so long. No he wasn't totally blameless, but there is no doubt he did try big time for Ottke and Hopkins...which could have led to an even bigger bout down the road.

Hatton will be remembered as a loveable fat man who for many managed his career very well from a financial perspective, but ultimately was only a very good rather than great fighter.

For his legacy's sake he is best to stay the **** away from Witter.

 

Joe is also not the same boxer as he was dont forget, he used to hit harder so basing it on saturdays performance is meaningless.

 

To actual boxing fans who know what they're watching Hatton will forever be remembered for fighting the best boxer in the world in his prime.
Calzaghe will be remembered for not.

 

Who will be remembered as the greater fighter?

I could start a whole topic on this. I suppose DM and Hopkins ought to be dismissed too I mean Hopkins only took on Jones when he wasn't even in the p4p rankings....

Or should we go further back...and completly disregard fighters who failed to erm try hard enough to fight the p4p number 1 when they weren't in their division.

 

A Hatton win over Witter would redeem some of the shine his battering at the hands of Floyd took off his career though.

I take it you pick Witter in such a contest.

Regarding Calzaghe's lack of certain names on his record I think it's slightly unfair to use these fights not happening to discredit Joe. They did try and get Hopkins as we all know and Roy has been moving up and down in weight doing his own thing for years. If Calzaghe was in the business of ducking people to maintain his status as no.1 he would never have fought Kessler.

 

I agree Ricky doesn't get much credit for forcing this fight. However to discredit Calzaghe because Nard was old is not looking at the bigger picture. Nard was the top LH and still operating at the highest level. Calzaghe did go to Vegas and get the win.