Many people consider Sugar Ray Robinson the GOAT...

Despite the fact he fought in the 40s, an undoubtably weaker era (it would be practically impossible to match his numbers today against the better athletes).



Well here is something to think about and agree with:

We can name Sugar Ray Robinson the best, the greatest ever. We can overlook the fact he fought in the 40s. It wasn't his fault everyone else was so bad, it just was, but we overlook it...

Why can't we overlook the fact that Joe Calzaghe has few worthy elite challengers? It is almost exactly the same, both have built up terrific number against less than stella opponents. It is double standards if we overlook it in the case of Robinson, but are ultra critical about Calzaghe for it.

It wasn't Robinson's fault the opponents back then were unworthy. Just as it isn't Joe Calzaghe's fault he has no truly worthy challengers. We should overlook these unfortunalities in Joe's career, just as we do for Sugar Ray.

We should be able to place Calzaghe amongst the top ten ever, immune to critism of his resume, just as Robinson fans are can do. There is no difference when you compare their respective opponents head to head, arguably Joe with his 'zero' against solid modern opposition comes out on top.

 

This was actually meant for the General forum, so as to avoid mobbing tactics and deterioration into the old vs new 'debate'.

This is about the double standards applied against Joe Calzaghe and putting them into perspective. So this infact is not a classic boxing related thread at all.

 

Globalisation and advances in knowledge and also technology and communications.

Mayweather would similarly have been able to reach a ridiculous 150-1 recond back then - you cannot get away with fighting so frequently these days, not near the top level.

Why is Robinson let off for fighting in a weak era, but Calzaghe penalised for happening weight 168, an unheralded weight, with no elite names willing to square off with Joe?

 

I have no doubt I could land jabs on Sugar Ray Robinson with relative ease, whether I'd be punished after landing is another matter.

Anyhow, LaMotta was a one dimensionsal fighter, Lacy would likely beat him. There may be people under the impression LaMotta was more versatile, but that is only because Robinson's leaking defence allowed Jake to land his Baldomir like jab.

A prime focused Robin Reid is fully capable of beating any <170 name on Robinson's record.


It isn't Sugar Rays fault everyone else was so abysmal though, so lets not get on his back.