Where does Kalambay rank ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Sonny's jab, Mar 25, 2008.


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  1. Sonny's jab

    Sonny's jab Guest

    I'm glad to see Kalambay is in fact more appreciated here than I had guessed.

    So where does Kalambay rank ?

    I'd say he's as good as any middleweight we have seen since Hagler's retirement.

    Benard Hopkins' longevity should probably set him apart from Kalambay, and Nunn's 1st round KO is good reason to rank him over Kalambay, but I reckon Sumbu is on an even field with the other likely suspects.
    Toney, McCallum, Wright etc. - even Jones (who didn't stay long at 160) - dont have better credentials at that weight.

    It's actually quite sad that the talent at 160 has been drained ever since the early-mid-1990s when 168 became a popular division.
    When you think about all the excellent middleweights who were fighting at the same time in the 60s, 70s, 80s and through to the early 90s, and compare the recent bunch ... ... There's quite a gulf.
     
    Sonny's jab, Mar 26, 2008
    Sonny's jab, Mar 26, 2008
    #31
  2. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Post-Hagler i would rank him pretty highly.

    Jones being the best head to head and then Hopkins for his longevity and undoubted ability despite poor comp.

    After that it really comes down to who you prefer head to head, as a lot of fighters have similar amounts of good wins and accomplishments.

    Somewhere between 3-5 would seem about right.Jostling for position with Nunn, McCallum and Toney.Then would come Benn, Eubank, Reggie Johnson etc.
     
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    #32
  3. brownpimp88

    brownpimp88 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    even all time he should be repected in the rankings. When did nino benvenuti or marcel cerdan ever beat someone like a prime mike mcallum. Hell herol graham is better than most middleweights that they beat. Benvenuti kept fighting welterweights and cerdan fought two old guys like zale and holman williams. yet everyone refers to these two as top 12-15. Gene Fullmer also fought alot of little or old guys.
     
    brownpimp88, Mar 26, 2008
    brownpimp88, Mar 26, 2008
    #33
  4. Sonny's jab

    Sonny's jab Guest

    Am I right in thinking Kalambay was recognized as the real world champion by RING Magazine ?
     
    Sonny's jab, Mar 26, 2008
    Sonny's jab, Mar 26, 2008
    #34
  5. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think he was seen as the number 1 guy due to having beeat the best comp of the new champions, but the lineage was not re-established until Nunn-kalambay winner.
     
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    #35
  6. Bigcat

    Bigcat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Kalambay was indeed ranked by Ring Magazine as the Numero uno after he won the title.. He was the on fire man at the time...
     
    Bigcat, Mar 26, 2008
    Bigcat, Mar 26, 2008
    #36
  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I would say that beating Graham could of been written off as a fluke; beating Barkley was expected, particularly as it was in Italy; but beating McCallum meant the match-up with Nunn was nearly a pick-em.
     
    TBooze, Mar 26, 2008
    TBooze, Mar 26, 2008
    #37
  8. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    in retrospect, the amount of hype that Nunn was getting at that time was ridiculous in comparison to the other top ten middleweights.

    he was being groomed as the heir to Leonard, but if he had been fighting out of Denmark, Australia etc. he woudl have been for the most part ignored, unfairly or not.
     
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    Mantequilla, Mar 26, 2008
    #38
  9. Sister Sledge

    Sister Sledge Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I wouldn't discredit Nunn. He was a very good champion. The knockout of Sumbu proves that.
     
    Sister Sledge, Mar 26, 2008
    Sister Sledge, Mar 26, 2008
    #39
  10. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i wasn't trying to discredit him, as i said it may have been unfair had he not got any exposure.

    But he was a fighter that was built up ridiculously out of proportion before he had done much at all.A bit like Vinnie pazienza only with actual talent.

    Frank Tate and Olajide were the same.
     
    Mantequilla, Mar 27, 2008
    Mantequilla, Mar 27, 2008
    #40
  11. Sonny's jab

    Sonny's jab Guest

    Yeah, this is true.
    Olajide, Tate and Nunn carried the "American golden boy" torch to some extent. A new face at middleweight to get behind, their records suggested they had talent, they looked marketable.

    Iran Barkley had the face of a man you dont wanna meet in an alley, an actual Bronx gang history, a slightly spotty record and a crude style. His "talent" wasn't apparent, it was unorthodox at best. He looked and fought like a neanderthal, and his first name was the name of a country run by Ayatollah Khomeini where they chant "Death To America".
    Needless to say Barkley wasn't included in this "American golden boy" middleweight club.
    :lol:
     
    Sonny's jab, Mar 27, 2008
    Sonny's jab, Mar 27, 2008
    #41
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