The difference between Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008.


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  1. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    Joe Calzaghe won a world title in October 1997.

    At the time, the undisputed world pound-for-pound number 1 was fighting in the division above him, Roy Jones Jr.

    Calzaghe defended that same WBO title until November 2007 - over a DECADE.

    In this 10-year period:

    - Calzaghe left the UK twice in over 20 fights, once to fight Will McIntyre in Denmark and once to rematch Mario Veit in Germany

    - He never fought one man ranked in the world top 10 p4p

    - He didn't have a unification fight for 9 years


    In this 10-year period:

    - Roy Jones Jr was ranked either pound-for-pound number 1 or 2 at lowest, from when Calzaghe won the title in October 1997 until he lost to Antonio Tarver in May 2004. That's SEVEN YEARS.

    ______________________________________________________________


    Ricky Hatton won a world title in June 2005.

    Five months later, the undisputed world pound-for-pound number 1 moved into the division above him, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

    Hatton defended that belt ONCE before, despite being very comfortable at light-welterweight, he moved up in weight and went to the USA to challenge for a welterweight title and therefore make viable a fight with the world pound-for-pound number 1.

    Eleven MONTHS after winning his first world title, Hatton won another world title at a second weight class.

    Eighteen MONTHS after that, Hatton got his wish by going up to the USA again, going up to welterweight again, and getting his crack at greatness against the world pound-for-pound number 1 in Las Vegas in December '07.

    He had been a world champion for 2 and a half years.

    ______________________________________________________________



    Before Ricky Hatton got his fight with Mayweather, he and Joe Calzaghe were both on the brink of the top 5 in the pound-for-pound rankings, Calzaghe having recently moved up from around 8th/9th due to his win over Mikkel Kessler.


    Hatton lost by knockout. He slipped out of the world pound-for-pound top 10, and is now not mentioned in the same breath as Calzaghe, who is currently pound-for-pound number 3 and is constantly promoted as a legend and an ATG by his fanatical fanbase.



    The overwhelming majority of rational, objective fans with good knowledge of boxing know that between 1997 and 2004 Roy Jones Jr was operating on a different level to Joe Calzaghe.

    Had that fight been made, Jones Jr would have dealt Calzaghe a similar outclassing and defeat to that which Hatton suffered at the hands of Mayweather.


    Joe Calzaghe never moved up and won a light-heavyweight title to make a possible Calzaghe-Jones fight an issue. Joe Calzaghe never went over to the USA to put pressure on Roy Jones to take the fight. He did neither of these things. He was happy to stay at home, beat mediocre challengers, hold his WBO title, and wait for Jones to get old and shot.

    And his strategy has undoubtedly worked. Ricky Hatton wanted it too badly, showed no fear. Joe Calzaghe has calculated his career-path brilliantly.


    IMO :bbb
     
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    #1
  2. Beeston Brawler

    Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly Full Member

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    Excellent post

    Hatton should have moved to world level in '03 when he was ready, however.

    The Mayweather fight may have happened in '05 at 140 - result would still be the same as we have discussed previously.
     
    Beeston Brawler, Nov 19, 2008
    Beeston Brawler, Nov 19, 2008
    #2
  3. rossd1506

    rossd1506 Member Full Member

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    How much of a coincidence is it that they were both promoted by Frank Warren when they were at there peak. Do you think he was holding them back for his own benefit i.e he knew theyd get beat or do you think it was the boxers choice?
     
    rossd1506, Nov 19, 2008
    rossd1506, Nov 19, 2008
    #3
  4. El Cepillo

    El Cepillo Baddest Man on the Planet Full Member

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    Top quality post.
     
    El Cepillo, Nov 19, 2008
    El Cepillo, Nov 19, 2008
    #4
  5. "TKO"

    "TKO" Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I have no doubt if it was up to Warren, Hatton would still be fighting 10-25 level fighters at the MEN for the WBU title now with the promise of a big fight next year... or maybe the one after.

    It's not a case of knowing someone would get beat (after all, how many "knew" Hatton would get beat by Tackie, then by Tszyu, then by Castillo) - how many "knew" Calzaghe would lose to Eubank, to Lacy, to Kessler, to Hopkins), but from Warren's perspective why bother when you can get 20,000 packing out the MEN whoever he fights. He doesn't care about the fighter's legacy - his pocked are lined regardless!
     
    "TKO", Nov 19, 2008
    "TKO", Nov 19, 2008
    #5
  6. Scratch

    Scratch Active Member Full Member

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    Amended for accuracy :good
     
    Scratch, Nov 19, 2008
    Scratch, Nov 19, 2008
    #6
  7. "TKO"

    "TKO" Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Going a BIT over the top I feel, it takes two to tango and there was never much interest in the Beyer/Ottke fights from their camps. Plus there are some who seem to expect even now that calzaghe needs to go to (say) Chad Dawson's backyard to fight. However, you are right in the substance of what you are saying - Hatton dared to be great, took a gamble. Okay in the end it backfired against the p4p number 1 no less, but the amount of **** he gets for it is just fcuking ridiculous!
     
    "TKO", Nov 19, 2008
    "TKO", Nov 19, 2008
    #7
  8. D-MAC

    D-MAC Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Its a great post PacFan, it really is.:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

    A "Nail on the head" kinda post.
     
    D-MAC, Nov 19, 2008
    D-MAC, Nov 19, 2008
    #8
  9. rossd1506

    rossd1506 Member Full Member

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    Wrong choice of words on my behalf should have said "he thought they would get beat"
     
    rossd1506, Nov 19, 2008
    rossd1506, Nov 19, 2008
    #9
  10. smjm1

    smjm1 New Member Full Member

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    smjm1, Nov 19, 2008
    smjm1, Nov 19, 2008
    #10
  11. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    The WBU title is not, never has been, and never will be a major recognized world title. End of lesson.
     
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    #11
  12. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    Cheers to D-Mac, GoldenHoya and Beeston Brawler for comments.
     
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    DINAMITA, Nov 19, 2008
    #12
  13. El Cepillo

    El Cepillo Baddest Man on the Planet Full Member

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    Absolutely, Warren is in it for the money, why risk you're cash cow against top fighters when people are willing to pay to watch them fight cans.
     
    El Cepillo, Nov 19, 2008
    El Cepillo, Nov 19, 2008
    #13
  14. Scratch

    Scratch Active Member Full Member

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    Someone ought to have told Ricky that, I could have sworn he went around calling himself a world champion.
     
    Scratch, Nov 19, 2008
    Scratch, Nov 19, 2008
    #14
  15. Beeston Brawler

    Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly Full Member

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    It is well known that Hatton basically said to Warren that it was time for a big fight or he was off.....

    When it's backs to the wall time Warren is useless.

    He didn't have to get Tszyu, he could have got Vivian Harris for the WBA and made a ton of easy defences after that and kept his cash cow.

    By feeding Hatton to Tszyu and hoping he fell flat on his face, he totally ruined it!
     
    Beeston Brawler, Nov 19, 2008
    Beeston Brawler, Nov 19, 2008
    #15
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