Let's say he beats Kessler definitively, beats Bute/Pavlik definitively at SMW for 22 total defences and then defeats Dawson at 175 in 2008 after Dawson has further solified his standing there. Where does he rank all time for you? Is he an ATG in your opinion? A top 100, top 75 or more? I await your opinions on this potential scenerio.
If he beats Kessler, Pavlik and Hopkins then its comprehenable to argue that he's the greatest Supermiddle in that divisions short history. If he beats Kessler he's unified against the best possible fighter he could fight for all the belts along with his numerous defenses. Pavlik is also a great name on Calzaghes resume because he's universally recognised Middleweight champion and one of the most formidable fighters currently fighting regardless of weight. Hopkins would just be a name on the resume which looks good, one of the great Middleweights in his own right too. I don't know much about Dawson so i'll comment on him when I finally get to see him. Its important to remember that if Calzaghe beats Pavlik and Hopkins, then he has beaten two fighters with ring belts and he also holds that same belt at Supermiddle.
Calzaghe has blown his chance for greatness. He was unlucky to a point because he was born five years too late. If he was around in the early 90s, he could of had Benn, Eubank, Collins, Toney, McCallum and Jones on his resume, instead he has bunch of names that only hardcore fans have heard of. Sure it sounds impressive at the moment, but in due course the Kessler's and Lacy's will mean little. And 22 defences of alphabet crap wil be forgotten when you remember in reality it is 2 defences of the World Champioinships, still 10 or so short of the divisions record set by Park. Calzaghe is the finest Super Middleweight since 1983, but no one outside Wales and the hardcore fan cares.
If he wins those fights, I believe the Kessler and Dawson victories will be worth far more than the Pavlik one as I see them both being better champions than Pavlik. The Kessler victory alone should make Calzaghe the best ever at 168.
i agree there. beating kessler will make him the best ever supermiddleweight, but still not an ATG boxer. this is an awkward time for calzaghe, because there aren't many other fighters out there who are in their prime as well as being established respected champions. A win against dawson or pavlik or bute will be played down (dawson will get him the most respect out of the three), whilst hopkins, tarver or woods will be seen as past-it.
If he manages to beat everyone that Amsterdam mentions then he's easily top 75. Trouble is I think he'll do well to get by Kessler.
If he beats Kessler than Pavlik and then has a good 175 stay that includes the likes of Woods and Hopkins then he'll probably be as high as top 10, maybe top 5. Depends on a lot. If he gets 25 defences, all the 168 belts, linear at 175, all those top wins then **** yeah he'll be high.
No it is not entirely his fault, but that is boxing, thus his chance was blown. It is the fault of the fans, promoters and indeed fighters today, who have not driven the sport to be the force it once was.
If he beats all those then he'd surely be in the top 100 atg. A certain HOFer. Add in two more fights against Woods and Hopkins and he makes top 75.............maybe even higher. Again though, it depends on what they achive afterwards.
