The Best S.Middleweight of all time is.....

I'm not a big Calzaghe fan but I would have to say Calzaghe ... 21 or 22 title defenses ... undisputed championship ... this man has done it all and hasn't lost in the process of doing it.

I can question his resume but it doesn't matter ... its tough 40+ fights someone hasn't got lucky enough to knock you off ...

 

That maybe true, but I would have like to have seen him in the ring with a prime Eubank, the one from the early part of the 90's then we would have seen what he was made off.

 

For you as well then:

I thought this thread was called the BEST supermiddleweight of all time, not who stayed there the longest and racked up the most defences v largely mediocre opposition. As I said, the RJJ who beat Toney in 94 would have demolished Calzaghe on any night of Calzaghe's 168 career.

 

Calzaghe

 

Benn doesn't have any case for being the best ever at SMW. He'd have lost to so many fighters from MW-SMW from that era or around it.

 

Can you even imagine RJJ v Benn? It would've been target practice. The Dark Destroyer would have been hopelessly out of his depth.

 

True. Though I actually think he'd have an easier time with McClellan given the styles, regardless of what anyone has to chime in about their amateur meetings, which mean less than nothing prime for prime. Benn had relentless pressure on his side, G-Man didn't, just power, and he was not only very open with his guard, but he left himself ridiculously open after his straight right, which Jones would counter all night. He also had balance issues after certain shots because he would miss after throwing them with such authority. Jones would stop him by the mid to late rounds.

 

A guy like Sumbu Kalambay would've handily outboxed both McClellan and Benn as well barring a big shot. I maintain to this day that his 1st round KO loss to Nunn was about as flukish as it gets.

 

GOAT @ Super Middle = Joe Calzaghe, without question.

Best, and possibly greatest fighter to have fought in the 168 division: Roy Jones Junior. Calzaghe has the legacy @ 168, Roy 160 to 175, and up at HW. He didn't stay at @168 long enough to be the divison's best however.

 

There's your answer to the thread.

 

Roy Jones Jr no contest

 

roy had what? 6 fights at 168?

James Toney
Antoine Byrd
Vinny Pazienza
Tony Thornton
Eric Lucas
Bryant Brannon

and people criticise calzaghe's 168 resume.

Toney - yes, great fantastic win, but the rest is pathetic.. isnt pazienza a blown up lightweight?

h2h - i'd hear an argument for him, but for me, his best work came at 175, not 168. his only 168 claim to fame is James Toney.

I think Calzaghe, with all his achievements, and when you actually look at it properly, his resume, takes this with ease.

 

To be fair the win over Toney at 168 is Greater then any single victory Joe had in over 15 years in the division.


I voted Joe Calzaghe by the way.

 

This thread is called THE BEST SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT OF ALL-TIME.

Roy Jones Jr fought at supermiddleweight.
Joe Calzaghe fought at supermiddleweight.

Roy Jones Jr WAS BETTER THAN Joe Calzaghe.

The Roy Jones Jr who beat Toney WOULD HAVE BEATEN Joe Calzaghe on any night of Joe Calzaghe's 168 career BECAUSE HE WAS BETTER THAN HIM.

This thread is NOT called WHO WAS SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND MADE THE MOST DEFENCES AGAINST BARELY ADEQUATE OPPOSITION.

Why is this so hard to understand?!?!?!?!?!!?

 

not really, thats serious over elevation of a fighter.

Obviously perceptions of a fighter counts - and toney has become a fans favourite, therefore is well loved, thus the perception of Jones win over toney is elevated perhaps more than it should have been.

Joe has never had a close fight at super middle weight, the closest was really Robin Reid SD, however two scored it 116-111 calzaghe, and another 116-111 RR. I've not seen the fight but the reports suggest Joe had an injured hand during the fight, and he won it convincingly enough on two of the scorecards for me to give it the benefit of the doubt.

Other than that, for 44 fights, he has dominated a division, no one around his division wanted to know him - WAY too much risk, no gain.

One fight does not trump 44 fights with over 20 defenses of a title, included full unification (the IBF stripped Joe, he never lost it), first linear champion (therefore never before the number 1 and 2 in a division fought each other!!!)

So whether you voted Calzaghe or not - no, thats not fair, and completely disregards many good fighters on Joe's record, and Joe himself.

Yes, Toney is a good win, but it doesnt trump everything Calzaghe ever did - not by a long shot. Calzaghe is past prime (anyone who thinks he is prime isn't worth listening to), and has a style that really is a young mans style - the fact he is keeping it up at a high level, still undefeated - that trumps Toney, and many times over.

Go through Joe's record in more depth, look up the names that his fans bring up. They're very good wins, and Joe won them very very comfortably.