Should Calzaghe ever be forgiven or excused for 2001-2006?

it was one of the weakest periods of any champion in any weight class, and it's why the guy still faces all hell. 5 years of obscurity, wearing a paper belt.

Do you think Calzaghe regrets this, does he hate Warren? Who's to blame in the end?


Were there truly no fights to be made?

 

The Calzaghe that fought Lacy, would have beaten anyone today at that weight class
But he did seem to have sold himself short

 

a lot of it was just really poor promotion

 

He dominated as weight class and fought all the best available opponents at that class. You can't hate on him without hating on bhop for ruling over a weak middleweight division for so long while Jones and Toney moved up and sought out bigger challenges.

 

yeah you know it's true. but ruling a weak division in the UK isnt considered as great as ruling a weak division + defeating big name smaller guys in the US.

somehow location has something to do with this.

plus, at least Calzaghe did end up traveling at the end of his career. Hopkins still talks about his 1 trip to Ecuador. really man...

 

He never fought all the best SMW at that time. He never fought Otkke or Glen Johnson.

 

No he shouldnt and that's what his entire reputaion is based upon, tv pundits in the uk have been calling him the best thing since sliced bread long before anyone knew who Jeff Lacy was.
MANUFACTURED CAREER.

 

I hate Calzaghe but I dont think its up to us to forgive/excuse him. I mean at the end of the day he probably kicks himself because he could have had a far better resume and a far greater legacy. For one reason or another he doesn't. Sometimes I just wish he'd have had the confidence in himself that his gobshite Dad did. Then we'd know what he was made of

 

After seeing Carl Froch take on Jermain Taylor in his 1st defence, and David Haye force a fight with Wladimir Klitschko I have changed my mind about Calzaghe. He should have forced fights and pushed for tougher opposition in those years 2001 - 2006.

He could have fought Roy Jones, Hopkins, DM, Glen Johnson, Tarver. Heck, even somebody like Montell Griffin would have been better than Will McIntyre, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill and Evans Ashira.

However, Calzaghe did beat 2 good Americans in that period: Charles Brewer and Byron Mitchell, both hungry as hell and at their best.

 

I think BHOP fought in Paris as well. Yeah basically what ever criticism you give Calzaghe you have to give to BHOP except one thing. BHOP fought all contenders and champs at SMW and unified the division in less fights from the day he won his first title.

 

Clazaghe had the ability to make fights happen. He was happy making bank vs. Pretenders. He squandered a HUGE part of his career.

 

I think that is a fair assessment and ultimately Calzaghe was all to happy to allow him self to be pwaned by Warren. Look at what Haye is prepared to sacrifice to become the no 1 at HW and Froch is goingt to the USA in his first defence. Even Naz cleared out a division quicker than JC before he moved in weight.

 

Adds quite the perspective doesn't it?

 

I would have been interested to see the Byron Mitchell fight in the states - It certainly wouldn't have been stopped when it was and that's a chame for Calzaghe as it kind of robbed him of the most exciting fight he'd been in til that point.

 

Calzaghe's name was here, in the States, if only for his record. But he was out there. The undefeated record was documented by even regular sports journalists in everyday papers. There were big fights and big names fighting then. He had an opportunity. And then he disappeared from all non boxing related talk in the US. Until Lacy. It's more odd and absurd than anything that i can recall.