Which is the better victory?

Hatton's win. To break a guy like Tszyu was some feat. Brilliant win for Hatton.

 

There are both great wins and about level.

 

But he had been broken before. By Vince Phillips.

Calzaghe had Hopkins baffled. That had very rarely happened before, only a peak Roy Jones (and Hop was still competitive) and Jermain Taylor in two close fights, and he outworked Hop more than anything.

I think Calzaghe proved he had an awkward and formidable style.

Hatton proved he had grit and determination.

So it comes down to who the better opponent was. I'm very much of the opinion that Tszyu gets fairly overrated.

 

Did you read what Budd Schulberg said about Hatton's win over Tszyu? I wouldnt go as far, but it was one of the best World Title wins involving a British fighter in recent times.

Calzaghe won a very close SD - I dont think it merits the same acknowledgment.

 

Hatton over Tszyu by a long way.

Calzaghe didn't even beat Hopkins.

 

I'm going with Hatton.

Hopkins is a better fighter than Tyszu p4p, but we should consider that JC was an elite p4p fighter himself. Hatton had a much bigger task on his hands due to his own abilities as a fighter, hence for me, it was a better win

 

I wouldnt compare 'broken down' by Phillips with what Hatton did to Tszyu. Of course Phillips stopped Tszyu but I take my lead from Schulberg who clearly held Tszyu in the highest regard:

"Tszyu, at his best belongs with the top junior welters of all time".

"He has had a distinguished career, beginning in 1992, with only one previous loss, to Vince Philips, eight years ago, and with dramatic knockouts of top contenders Sharma Mitchell and Zab Judah. He is a gentleman and a scholar of boxing, with a memorable right hand, a nifty left and a pleasing boxer-puncher style.

I sense that reading Schulbergs thoughts on this, he is impressed (surprised) that Hatton, beat Tszyu, not by KO or on points, but retired Tszyu on his stool:

"Watching Kostya's trainer ask his man if he wanted to continue and then, taking passivity for an answer, tell the referree, "No more, no more"....the long-time king of the 140-pounders, the Russian-Australian Kostya Tszyu, give up on his stool in exhausted defeat after 11 gruelling rounds with the underdog local boy, Ricky Hatton, replacing him as the IBF junior welterweight champion of the world, I realised once again why the dean of boxing writers, Hugh McIlvanney, calls boxing 'the hardest game'.

 

Schulberg was a good writer but he overrated Tszyu by the sounds of it. I'm not gonna he swayed by his opinion I'm afraid. And Hopkins is an ATG, getting an SD over one of those is more impressive than steamrolling through a fine, but not great, fighter IMO.

 

Shculberg often got over-excited about fighters. His early love for Roy Jones Jr and Oscar dissipated over time. But Tyszu he always liked personally and that seeped into his writing.

 

I cant understand peoples reasoning behind Hattons win being better

If Khan was to fight Bradley and won by impressive knockout then fought Mayweather and won by SD what would be the more impressive victory?

Mayweather by a mile

Why is Calzaghes win over Hopkins held in such low regard in comparison?

 

He made no bones about getting close to fighters, he was born into Hollywood but had no affinity to the movie world. It was different with fighters. But, i think it is a bit of stretch to accuse his of bias when he wrote his boxing. The two things that he principled himself on with his writing was to be non-baised and entertaining.

 

I think Hatton`s win is better,he pretty much dominated a guy who was expected to beat him and got the stoppage.Calzaghe was in a close fight which many thought he lost,it was a good win but he did not dominate the fight the way Hatton did.

 

calzaghe's over hopkins , Tszyu was at the very end of his career and has never fought again ,where as hopkins has gone on to prove he has had a lot left in the tank since he lost to calzaghe

 

You can make a good case for either one being a better win. Kostya might have been past his best and not as good as Hopkins, but Calzaghe is also a much more talented fighter then Hatton and had a nightmare style for Bernard.

I'll go with Joe's win as being historically better.

 

on paper calzaghe - bhop a legend & much bigger name

better victory hatton - underdog takes top dog convincingly vs razor thin victory in a 50-50 (didn't think so meself by the by)

legacy wise, what the history books will say - calzaghe