How would Calzaghe do against these fighters?

Not saying he was superior to older more experienced Joe, but I would probably pick the green, raw, harder hitting version of Joe that beat Eubank to stop the versions of Hopkins and Jones he fought later in his career. It may have been interesting with Hopkins, but I just don't think he could of kept up with a harder hitting Joe... I know 08 Roy wouldn't have a good chance at seeing the bell.

 

He would have beat the **** outa all of them.

 

why is this not in the classics section?

 

Serge,

Hi mate, sorry for the late reply, I've been away for a week.

I think it's because they used to travel a lot, and a lot of them only socialise with others in their community.

Bartley never settled anywhere until he was in his mid 20's. A lot of Gypsie's are now based on permanent site's. But years ago, they never stayed in one place for a long time. They were always travelling. So they wouldn't have been able to go to the same gym day in day out, and have a permanent manager etc.

A lot of them also tend to have family's from an early age, so they're out working wherever they can.

But I think we'll see more travellers turning pro over the next few years, because they've got different lifestyles nowadays.

I like Saunders a lot too, he's got great skills. He's always looked to me as though he's struggled to make the weight though, although I don't if that's true. I've been reading about his next opponent, John Ryder, for a while now, although I've never seen him fight. I've never heard that Saunders knocked Degale down. That's interesting. I'll look into that.

Yeah, I remember Henry Wharton, he was a good fighter.

Yes, I think being crowned The King of the Gypsies would be like your average kid thinking of winning the World Cup for their country.

Ha! My Dad went to Appleby last year, and he said it was great, although he could sense the tension. A traveller will spot a non traveller from a mile away.

I haven't read it for ages, because my best mate didn't realise I'd got the book, so he bought me the paperback version a few years ago, so I read that. I always take it on holiday. But I'm certain that the text is large in the hardback version.

I've got Jimmy Stockin's book too. He's a traveller from London, and he grew up in the 70's and 80's. It's a great read. I've also got Lenny McClean's biography, aswell as Richie Horsley's, a tough street fighter from Hartlepool. They're all great books, but I think Bartley's is by far the best.

Yeah, I definitely would have spoken to him. He films parts of This is England in Sheffield, so he'll be back soon. Apparently, all the cast are great, and you can have a laugh with all of them.

A top class performance.

Definitely! Ha! I watched some clips on Youtube the other day, and I need to see it again.

His poem must be on there somewhere. I can here him saying it now.

Ha! You haven't reached your prime yet.

I'm 33, but not mentally. Ha!

You've got great knowledge.

Your posts always read to me, like you've boxed yourself.

I've never boxed, and it's a big regret of mine. My parents wouldn't let me go to a gym when I was younger, and then when I got to 18/19, I thought that I was too old to go. What an idiot!

The funny thing is, I could have walked into Brendan Ingle's gym whenever I wanted, and I would have been welcomed with open arms. I'm not saying I would have been a boxer, but I could have trained there. Brendan was a friend of my Aunty and Uncle's. They put him up for a while when he first arrived from Ireland in the 60's.