So Hopkins doesn't get credit for beating former "light middle and welters", but Calzaghe's only name win is against an 43 year old former MIDDLEWEIGHT? Like I said, you can pick Hopkins record apart. But then Calzaghe has no record.
That is the biggest problem we have in boxing. I am sure we could take any top elite ATG fighter from history and tear there record to pieces. We can find fault with all wins and losses from anyone. I am trying to keep out of the whole scene of debate's going off right now because all last weekends fight did for me was put the two best Light Heavy Weight fighters on the planet together and find a winner. No one can touch these two even at 43 and 36.
No, you really couldn't because virtually all "top elite ATG fighters" fought prime great fighters. Joe's beat two unproven young world champions, and two old champions who no one can say were prime. 6-8 years ago, if Calzaghe fought Roy Jones he'd deserve all the respect in the world. And if he beat Roy Jones he'd have been a legend, a really great British fighter. It's a shame, but Calzaghe's record is crap compared to ANY ATG's.
Yes you could. All you would need were a couple of free hours and boxrec plus a few boxing history books. Name a good B-Hop win that can not be pulled apart?
Back on the original topic, I think his voctory against Lacy was one of the most dominant performances against a legitimate challenger in a good few years. Now before you all jump in and say "Lacy is a bum" - you need to roll back to the moment that the first round started in that fight. Bookies had Lacy as a favourite, the hype (correctly hyped or not) was massive for Lacy, and a huge majority of people believed he'd walk over Joe. Honestly? Alot of Lacy supports on here dropped him like a deaf kid playing musical chairs - unfairly so. Now then, on the topic of resumes - everyone has duff fights, but at the end of the day there are only two things that really matter. 1. You beat the man in front of you there and then. Who, how, when mean nothing. 2. You beat a man with a better resume, then it's all for naught. They may as well be playing conkers for all it's worth. Making statements like "Joe has no record" is just cheap and easy - anyone can throw out statements like that. If you want an honest answer to your "poll" sleaze', then ask an honest question. From the posts you've made, you come across as being alot more intelligent than to have asked a question like this. Raise your game.
As I've said quite a few times, I don't regard Hopkins record as a great one. Only when compared to a truly terrible one (Calzaghe's) does it look good.
The poll is just a little bit fun, I couldn't help it. But I am actually interested in what people view as his best victory, considering there isn't a clear stand out brilliant one, imo.
The only thing I hate is that he didn't go after his biggest challenges when they were there. It's disappointing to me. This is what young fighters are watching. Calzaghe is an amazing, great boxer who has had a wonderful unbeaten career! What do you want from future British boxers? To sit at home for 10 years while their biggest challenges get old or retire before they fight them? How about Khan, how about he fights nobody until 2018, and then he fights a 41 year old Floyd Mayweather? It's a example that Calzaghe and Warren have set and it's getting praised. Well, I'm not going to be quiet about that sh*t. I want the future of British boxing to be Hatton's and Haye's - not guys who wait 10 years to fight old men. Sorry about that.
Let's not keep this Calzaghe specific then. What about your superhero Hatton? His best wins are against old men! Old men that were well past it too
No, Tszyu wasn't past his best. He was unbeaten in 8 years, undisputed champion and p4p top 3. He was only "well past it" after Hatton beat him. And then Hatton fought the p4p #1 in America at welterweight. That's all I'm asking for. I'm not asking British fighters to be better than they are, I just want them to take on the biggest challenges they can, Hatton did it. If Calzaghe had fought Roy 8 years ago, win or lose, I wouldv'e respect him for ever. Because I can't ask anymore than give your best. Calzaghe didn't.
Am I wrong in thinking that Hopkins ducked Calzaghe back in 2003 - when Hopkins verbally agreed to terms, then claimed he wanted more money? Could someone correct me on this?
There was a 3 fight deal on the table for Hopkins which totalled 3 million. Calzaghe was one of those fights. Warren announced that the deal was done (one of many fights he announced before they were actually made). Hopkins said the money didn't match what he wanted for 3 fights.
You obviously havn't seen much have Kostya Tszyu then, one of the greats at 140. That was not even close to a prime Tszyu, and the fact he hasn't fought since suggests he knew he was past it in there I see where you are coming from with Haye, but you must be joking if you think Hatton's route to glory should go down as some blueprint. Apart from the fact there is not a credible victory on his record apart from Tszyu just shows what a smoke and mirrors career the guy has had, which only dumbass football supporters fall for. If he had fought Witter when he was defending his shitty WBU belt the hype train would never have got started, and for that reason many of us in here do not take his bull**** seriously Not fighting a guy 50 miles down the road and coming up with an array of pitiful excuses is embarrassing, I wouldn't wish that sort of management on any upcoming Brit