I will remember him for the number that he did on Jeff Lacey. He absolutely ruined Lacey. A very strong and undefeated super middleweight champion, who retired at the right time and stayed retired. He did slap at times though. In an all time British boxers list of all weight classes he would be in most peoples top 10.
The record speaks for itself but the number of pointless fights including his final fight allows people to question how good he really was. I personally think Joe was better than he was given credit for - an elite fighter and certainly in any top 10 list and probably top 5. Just a pity that he did not have another 2-3 Lacy type opponents to really hammer his CV home. Joe goes down as one of the greats as does his father as one of the great trainers.
Probably top 5, certainly top 10. Joe was quality but as Jurgen says there are questions marks over some of his opponents in accumulating 46 - 0.
Had him 11 the last time I did a list: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...rs-of-queensberry-rules-era-in-the-uk.543579/
it's refreshing to read a Calzaghe thread for once( so far touch wood) without that mentally ill freak spamming the entire thread and replying to every single person.
Joe Calzaghe, Ken Buchanan, Jimmy Wilde, Carl Froch, Bob Fitzsimmons, Ted Kid Lewis, and Lennox Lewis (if you class him as British, not sure if I do) are the 7 standouts when it comes to the greatest Brits ever in my opinion.
A true great in terms of ability but such a frustrating career. Literally spent years and years fighting nobodies in fights nobody wanted to see.
