Retiring with that all important "0"

He would have to have faced Toney when he was at 175 - although i concede this fight was never really likely to happen for a number of reasons. Glen Johnson would have been a better example for me to use.
I know the whole story about Hopkins demanding more money at the last minute and maybe there was no way this fight could have conceivably happened a day before it did.
I just find it hard to believe that Joe couldn't have forced more meaningful fights earlier in his career.

 

Faruq saleem is heading to a undefeated retirement, and that dont mean squat !!!

 

I respect fighters who take larger risks and occasionally have to avenge a loss.. Lennox
is a great example..... He didn't try to avoid the odd awkward character or just take money fights.. He fought who he was demanded to fight........... The 0 is something that fails tp pay the bills, it just makes you seem you were untouchable, when other onlookers may be thinking diferently.......

 

mayweather also !!!

 

The fight was never likely to happen for one simple reason. James Toney last made the light heavyweight limit in December 1996, when Joe Calzaghe was still a year and four fights short of winning the WBO SMW title against Eubank and had never been beyond 8 rounds.

 

Most people would say (and the rematches tend to support the notion) that Lennox's defeats were more down to a lack of focus on his part in those fights, rather than Rahman or McCall being any riskier than any other fights he took or could have taken.

It seems bizarre that you imply that you would have less respect for him had he been unbeaten, as he should really have been.

 

Hopkins backed out of a verbal agreement that would have had the fight in NY with his second largest purse ever.

(He wanted to double his previously agreed purse)


And when was he supposed to fight Toney ?

(Give me a year and a weight category)

Reid went to Germany and fought Ottke. He was robbed rather severely.

Joe saw that and thought not.




He could have had better opposition at certain parts of his career, but his opposition was decent.

Not outstanding, but decent.

 

Cobbler -
Yeah ... that too!
Toney was a fight that was never going to happen but I think that one of RJJ, Hopkins, Ottke, Johnson or DM would have been willing to face Joe.
I think Calzaghe is an excellent fighter who had a very good career but I think he could have done more with all the talent he had.

 

I havent followed or watched Calzaghe that much, but i definitely agree with the rest.

 

It depends for me, fighting the best there is and having some losses is still more worthy than being an undefeated protected fighter.