Let's consider the best of the best in Super Middle Weight, according to facts. Not per "who-would-win", but per "level" - boxers standing on the same level. 1: Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins Prime RJJ defeated prime BH in a very tough match, and BH defeated many great opponents before and after that, and he's even still going strong at nearly 50, having given Joe Calzaghe a very tough match. These two fighters were something special. 2: Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward Joe Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler, a world class opponent, and Chris Eubank and Robin Reid among other very strong combatants. He retired undefeated. Andre Ward defeated Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, etc. Andre Ward has the better resume, but both, in having defeated Kessler with their awkward styles, have proven to be something special. Old Bernard Hopkins gave Calzaghe a run for his money, though, and most likely, the same would happen against Andre Ward (but Andre Ward is getting better and better, let's see the future). 3: Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell Mikkel Kessler defeated Carl Froch in a very close contest, being his career's best win. Carl Froch tore Lucian Bute apart and defeated Arthur Abraham. Andre Dirrell showed to be more than a match for Froch and arguably won (but also arguably lost - it doesn't matter, point is that they're on the same level). Andre Dirrell also demonstrated great skills against Arthur Abraham. 4: Arthur Abraham, Lucian Bute, Chris Eubank and Robin Reid *I could go on and on, but I guess you got the idea about what I mean now*
1. Calzaghe and Jones 2. Eubank, Benn, Ward 3. Kessler, Steve Collins, Ottke 4. Froch Dirrell, Abraham and Bute don't deserve to be on that list, can't believe you left out Benn Watson and McClellan would have been amongst the best as well
Eubank and Benn are not above Kessler. Steve Collins is not on par with Kessler. Ottke got beaten by Robin Reid and Danish boxer Mads Larsen... He just got gift victory for boxing in Germany. Froch is on same level as Kessler. Ward is on same level as Calzaghe.
Maybe Benn is not above Kessler, but I would rank Eubank on the tier above Ottke got beaten by Reid, but Ottke was past his best at that point, you can't deny that he was one of the top SMW's. Calzaghe is on the top tier with Jones, because he reigned as a champion for a decade, and held all four of the belts at one point or another. He has the best SMW resume of all time (albeit it's a young division). Jones is on the top tier because he is the H2H king at SMW, and holds a great win in the division over James Toney. Ward will probably be on the top tier in a few years time
Why do you insist on Eubank being on par with Kessler? Eubank was great, but he never beat anyone on Carl Froch's level.
I think Kessler might be a level above Froch since they fought when Kessler was slightly passed prime and he managed to win that fight.
1. Calzaghe Jones 2. Ward(knocking on tier one's door) Eubank 3. Kessler Benn Collins Froch 4. McClellan Reid 5. Ottke Bute Abraham Dirrell
