Lennox Lewis/Joe Calzaghe/Naseem Hamed

You can argue till your hearts content, most people thought he won and it says "W" on his record. It's part of his resume.

He beat better competition than Hamed, unified his division, lineal champ at two different weights and didn't get beat and then retire which is very hurtful to Hamed.

That pretty much sums up legacy, but even if it comes down to p4p talent Calzaghe was better. He was a more complete fighter that was adept in more areas compared to Hamed who would always struggle with a technician. Calzaghe could fight in and out, Hamed couldn't, not really. He had one trick up his sleeve that served him well upto a certain point.

 

I understand this is how you see it. Although I subscribe to a much wider view of what a boxers legacy is. I can't include Hopkins on Calzaghe's resume, because I don't believe he won. It's nothing personal against him, just the same as I can't include Sturm on Oscar's resume either.

 

Win or not, he was far better than Hamed against an elite, great fighter.

Hamed's routine looked to work upto a certain point. Nobody believes that would have worked against Morales or Marquez, fighters of this ilk. I doubt he would have beaten a fighter like Kessler. Straight punchers, technically sound fighters would always expose that. Thats my opinion on the quirks of his style.

Calzaghe upped his game against better opponents because of the increased motivation, but also because he had variety. No huge flaws in his armoury to be exploited.

 

I don't know. Calzaghe has one or two very good wins over undefeated young world title holders on his record. But Hamed defeated more world title holders in their prime, and Naz's win over Bungu was comprable with Calzaghe's win over Kessler.

Hamed had amazing natural talent and reflexes that helped him dominate most of his opponents, and in doing so he showed himself to be much better than the best the division had to offer most of the time, and up to a certain point. Calzaghe didn't have the amazing natural talent, just the dedicated proffesionalism that Hamed clearly lacked.

It's tit-for-tat really. In terms of how they managed their careers, Hamed's was much more admirable, he took bigger risks a lot sooner than Calzaghe. Hamed showed he was willing and able to beat the best at a much earlier stage. Calzaghe was always cautious, and only really achived his potential in the death throws of his career.

 

Yes, it's true. Clazaghe is the best of the three because Lewis and Hamed never learned to slap. How can they be even be lumped in with Joe without ever mastering this essential skill?

 

Lewis.............Hamed....Calzaghe

 

Lewis easily.

Naz could of achieved great things if he actually cared.

 

Lewis,Naz,Calzaghe

 

Lewis, Calzaghe, Hamed

 

Joe shouldn't even be on that list. ATG? i don't think so...

 

For those claiming Lewis as a top 3 ATG, go watch his fight against Bruno.

Go watch a B- ranked fighter like Bruno out boxing Lewis and handing him his ass on plate round after round until Lewis gets in a lucky punch at the end..

Lewis was good, but maybe a top 30 ATG Heavyweight at best.

And if anyone says he could have survived with a prime 1988 Tyson then you should go kill yourself or perhaps just learn a bit more about boxing.

 

Lewis is tops and Hamed is a distant third

 

List one great fighter who didn't struggle against a lesser opponent at some point in their career. Lewis is a top 30 heavyweight at best? Do you have any clue what you're talking about?

Go watch a C ranked fighter like Buster Douglas beat the living hell out of Tyson for 10 rounds and then knock him out

 

Erm for starters, Tyson knocked down Douglas for 13 seconds. Secondly Tyson wasnt even training for the fight. Thirdly he was already mentally messed up by going through his divorce. Fourthly Douglas fought a once in a lifetime fight like a man possessed given that he was grieving the loss of his mother.

Lewis didnt just struggle against Bruno, he was being outclassed and out boxed. He couldn't beat an ageing Holyfield the 1st time round, he got sparked by McCall and Rahman.

Dont get me wrong, I'm a brit and not a Lewis hater but he is just soooo overrated on this board.

 

1. lewis
2. calzaghe
3. hamed