Is Joe Calzaghe The Greatest British Fighter Of All Time?

Fair enough Rossco you make good points as you always do you're a good poster very knowledgeable, but i think you're a wee bit hard on modern day fighters.
I mean the way you went through Scott Harrison's opponents was mental :good

 

Probably the best of British in the modern era but not all time.

 

Taking Nigel Benn, he fought NON-title fights against fighters significantly better than 99% of Calzaghe's world title opponents; Sanderline Williams, Robbie Sims, Lenzie Morgan, Malinga. He went to the States after two years as a pro and fought Barkley 6+ years before he retired. He took on a 27 year old Gerald McClellan, then considered to be the sports undisputed premier puncher, in the first fight ever between two WBC champions. Climbed back in the ring after 30 seconds to do him. Nothing Joseph did against slow Mitchell, old Hopkins or shot Jones compares.

Benn was a greater fighter than Calzaghe. He tasted defeat and came back stronger. Calzaghe never risked defeat against the likes of Liles and Jones and took half a year off at a time for comfortable living. The part-time 'sick note' world champion shouldn't be mentioned with Benn.

 

But Calzaghe defended against hall of famers like David Starie, Will Mcintye, Branko Sobot, Rick Thornberry, Miguel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill, Kabery Salem, Evans Ashira, Mger Mkrtchyan and Peter Manfredo Jr

Why can't people grasp that he's an ATG?

 

Firstly no disrespect to Joe C but you have to be joking, Joe imo isent even the best super middle the UK has had. Benn & Eubanks both top Joe. You might be able to stretch it to the best of his generation but in all fairness Hatton fought a much better level of competition than Joe would ever dream of.

I think the sad thing is we will never know just how good he was. Joe spent far to much time fighting 2nd tear fighters. I think Reed had the better of Joe, and although he just edged Hopkins, I thought Hopkins all ways looked a step up in class.

To very good wins in Lacy and Kessler but wins of this quality on Joes record are two far and few in between.

I think having been put down by both Hopkins and Jones even in the later stages of the career show Joe was not quite the top tier Champion many give him credit for.

 

The Chosen aka Benny Banks name your favourite british fighters of recent years and I will harshly go through their resume and lesser wins in a trolling way just like you did there, anyone can do that with anyone. You just embarass yourself as a hating, jealous loser with agenda.

 

John "Jack" Broughton was a true pioneer of the sport. Broughton was the first person credited with standardizing a set of rules for boxing. "The Broughton Rules" were widely accepted and later contributed to the development of "The Marquis of Queensbury Rules" that are still used worldwide. Broughton is also credited with inventing the first form of padded boxing glove, he drew inspiration from a statue of a Greek boxer wearing the Cestus.

Broughton built a fearsome reputation for himself on the amateur scene before the Duke of Cumberland to enter the professional game.

In a remarkable fighting career that spanned 42 years (1725-1767) Broughton never lost a fight, and held the undisputed Bare'Knuckle Championship of England for over 20 years over two separate reigns.

Broughton invented his pioneer rules after a tragic fight in 1741, when he beat George Stevenson to death over 35 brutal minutes. The death of Stevenson took its toll and Broughton retired for two years before returning with his new rules. Four years later Broughton pioneered his mufflers, later known as boxing gloves that would revolutionize safety in the sport.

John "Jack" Broughton was among the original inductees in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

Ted "Kid" Lewis was renowned for his relentless, punishing and attacking style of fighting. The Kid turned professional at the age of 14, and within five years had won the British and European Featherweight World Titles.

Lewis moved to the United States and earned acclaim by winning the world title twice and taking part in a legendary 20-fight rivalry against Jack Britton. In his first World Title win over Britton, Lewis became the first Englishman to win a world title in the united States.

After the First World War, Lewis would return to England and win six more British and European World titles.

"The Kid" retired with a career record of 227-40-23 and won nine world titles ranging from Featherweight to Middleweight. He was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons was born in Cornwall, England and earned fame as the first ever man to win world championships in three different weight divisions.

Fitzsimmons turned professional in 1883 and won his first world title in 1891 when he knocked out Jack Dempsey for the Middleweight crown. Reports from the day suggested Dempsey was knocked down no less than 13 times.

Bob won the World Heavyweight Title in 1896 as he beat Irishman Peter Maher, then successfully defended the belt by knocking out "Gentleman" Jim Corbett.

In 1903 Fitzsimmons knocked out Con Coughlin and his rival tragically died the day after the fight. Soon after Bob would make history by winning the Light Heavyweight Title and become the first ever three division world champion.

Bob Fitzsimmons finished with a career record of 51-8-5 (44 KO's) and is enshrined in the "Old Timers" category of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

Ken Buchanan is widely considered Scotland's greatest ever fighter. Known as "The Fighting Carpenter," Buchanan won the ABA Featherweight Championship before turning professional.

Ken won his first 23 fights, and then announced his arrival on the elite scene by knocking out Maurice Cullen to win the British Lightweight Title.

Buchanan received his first world title shot in 1970, and traveled to Puerto Rico to take the world title away from Ismael Laguna by way of a 15-round decision.

Over the next two years, the Scot would defend his title successfully before fighting the great Roberto Duran. Buchanan lost to Duran by way of a controversial 13th-round stoppage that some believe to have been caused by a low blow. Ken bounced back quickly from the Duran loss to knockout former three time World Champion Carlos Ortiz, and then beat Chang Kil Lee.

Buchanan won the British Title with a hard-fought victory over fellow Scot Jim Watt, and also captured the European title when he outpointed Antonio Puddu in 1973.

 

I'm maybe a bit harsh tbh mate. I feel I try and rate fighters fairly. There was just better era's and better boxers. I don't like seeing past boxers get dismissed.

Harsh but true mate :good The last Scottish boxer to have a proper world title fight against an elite top ten p4p opponents was Garry Jacobs when he challenged Pernell Whitaker for his WBC title in 1995. I'm sure Pernell was the p4p king ahead of Roy Jones at the time. The 90's was a great era.

 

Joe "I don't want tough fights" Calzaghe knew his limitations all too well, but his ******ed, militant fans think he had none.

 

After winning the WBA title from Laguna, Buchanan fought WBC champion Ruben Navarro, winning by way of UD. Buchanan gave up the WBC belt a few months later due to contactual politics.
Buchanan defended his title for a third time in a rematch with Laguna in Madison Square Garden winning again by UD

:good

 

Theres 4 I would put before Joe with out any doubt

 

Iv'e got 8 or 9. Fitzs, TKLewis, Wilde, Lennox, Lynch, Driscoll, Berg, Buchanan, Welsh.