To me it's not even close. What do you think? Benn fought guys like Sanderline Williams, Robbie Sims and Sugar Boy Malinga in NON-title fights. Those alone are better operators than ALL of Calzaghe's World title challengers! That's not even taking into account DeWitt and Barkley in their 20s in the US in their literal home towns (Doug lived in NJ and Iran lived in LV), coming off great performances against Matt Hilton and Mike Nunn and both having done so well against Tommy Hearns (DeWitt cut him up). Benn nearly took Barkley with the very first shot and scored a 10-8 round against DeWitt in just the first round WITHOUT a knockdown! Eubank was as far from faded as can be when Benn fought him. Watching the Eubank-Watson II fight in its entirety, how can you tell me the square-like Calzaghe was involved in anything like that kind of fight between hugely muscled, fast, fit, skilled specimens in their mid 20s just exchanging huge combinations and short right hands (with knuckles being turned over). Benn fought very often, his entire career was shorter than Calz WBO reign. Successful defenses against Barkley in Vegas, Eubank in front of 47,000 at Old Trafford (should've won), and McClellan in London in the most violent atmosphere ever trump any three of Joe's defenses by a distance, surely? Benn also stood toe-to-toe with huge men in Watson and Collins without going to the body, men who completely dwarfed him. Joe always looked like the bigger man in all his fights. He also fought unbeaten mandatory Wharton who was favoured to beat him, Wharton for me had a far better left hook than Jeff Lacy - watch Wharton climbing the ranks, punching guys out of the ring with treble hooks to body and head. And Morgan (robbed against Tiozzo in previous fight), Piper and Gent were light-heavyweights and cruisrweights coming down. Joe never risked against bigger guys, even Hopkins and Jones Jr were former middles and looked smaller than him. I can't not rate Benn as the greater fighter with the better opponents.
'The Nigel Benn that beat Doug DeWitt would have beaten any middleweight in the world. And I mean any middleweight, then, now or any time.' -Manny Steward
