Who Was Greater: Duilio Loi or Joe Calzaghe?

Both men had long unbeaten stretches, Calzaghe never lost while Loi avenged every loss he ever had. Both men also only really stepped up their level of opposition when getting on a bit, but also very experienced.

Whatever your criteria what do you think?

Loi

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Record: 115-3-8 (26)

Titles Held: European Lightweight title (8 defences/6-0-2) European Welterweight title (5-0) World Light Welterweight title (later WBA only) 5 title fights (3-2-1)

Notable Scalps: Carlos Ortiz; One of the greatest lightweights of all time. The first bout, in California, saw Ortiz win a close decision that was 'booed lustily' by the crowd. Loi beat the brilliant Ortiz in two subsequent bouts, who went on to achieve his main goal of capturing the World lightweight title from Joe Brown. To put it into comparison the great light welterweight that followed, Nicolino Locche, did not handle Ortiz as well.

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Eddie Perkins; Their first fight was close, and Perkins felt he was robbed. Loi was well outworked and beaten by Perkins in their rematch, only to put in a more spirited performance to reclaim the title in his final bout, retiring a champion.

Outside of the two above well known fighters I find it hard to get a good grasp on Loi's opposition in his long consistent stretches without defeat. Chris Christensen, Orlando Zulueta, Ray Famechon, Bruno Visintin, Fortunato Manca are all fighters I recognise, and I've seen footage of at least two of them. There may be more solid European fighters on there I'm not aware of and haven't come across yet.

Plenty of good footage of him in here
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Calzaghe

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Record: 46-0 (32)

Titles Held: WBO Super Middleweight Title (21 defences/11 inside the distance) IBF Super Middleweight title (1 defence) WBC Super Middleweight title; The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight title

Notable Scalps: Bernard Hopkins; Like Loi, Calzaghe has handed a genuine and recognised all time great a loss. Lie Loi, the great fighter he beat went on to win a title after the defeat.

Chris Eubank: Despite taking the fight on fairly short notice after building himself up for a fight at cruiser, Eubank was very experienced and dangerous and Calzaghe still relatively untested.

Mikkel Kessler: Top-notch undefeated European-style fighter, World class and well regarded titlist. Hard fought battle, Calzaghe showed his ability to adapt mid-fight and won clearly. Kessler went on to show he was still an elite fighter despite losing some of his sharpness post-Calzaghe.

Woodhall, Reid, Shika, Lacy, Veit, Bika, Mitchell, Roy Jones make up his second tier opponents, some more highly regarded than others and some with straps to their name, or just a big name. Certainly easier to ascertain this tier for Calzaghe than it is for Loi's opponents, again, maybe Tin_Ribs, lora or AlFrancis might now more about Loi's European opposition than I do. However, having more footage is a double edges sword. We have Joe looking incredible when battering the hyped puncher Jeff Lacy and blowing away undefeated Euro-level operator Veit inside a round, and less brilliant against Reid and Starie. Against Mitchell we saw what Calzaghe can do, coming back from a flash knockdown to instantly turn the bout in his favour.

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Just rewatched Calzaghe-Kessler and I have to say it's a great fight. Seemed it on the night too, I remember certain parts vividly. Even given the domination of Lacy and the meeting of minds with B-Hop this one has to be Calzaghe's best win. Beat the only guy left to prove Calzaghe was the best super middle of the era, a basic but well-schooled fighter who could do a few things, hit hard, had never lost and beaten some good fighters.

Calzaghe had to adjust after the 4th and (I think) 6th (or 7th) when Kessler found his range and timed Calzaghe after he'd thrown and was of balance a bit. Calzaghe came back to dominate and had Kessler hurt to the body, something I noticed at the time and was sure was the start of a stoppage. Alas Kessler survived.

How do Kessler, Hopkins and Lacy (or Eubank) match up to Ortiz x2 and Perkins?

 

Nice, interested to see how others feel these victories weigh up for Loi.

And how many WBO defences Calzaghe really deserves to count as 'World title defences'.

 

Same as. But no one cares.

It's my birthday in a little over an hour. Come on lads :-(

 

I'm a big fan of Calzaghe's style.

But Bob Foster would've laid him out. As would Saad (this would be a great fight). And Spinks (this wouldn't). And Conteh would've decisioned him in a great fight.

 

Thank you chaps.

You are treated to some Ralph Dupas tonight. In 58 minutes apparently.

 

Oh, yeah another thing these two have in common: Italy atsch

Let's talk about the styles.

Before you see Loi you envision a Locche-esque defensive fighter, but whilst squat and broad shouldered, Loi seems more a bruising Italian type, skilled but rugged with it.

Calzaghe of course was handy in a punch up and came with known a unique and hard to decipher jazzy style, awkward and quick combinations and footwork, and ability to regain command with tactical adjustments.

So much more film on Calzaghe. Shame we don't have just one of the 15 round clashes Loi had :-(

Loi talked of moving up to fight Griffith, with the style we do see him employ on film I think it's safe to say that Loi, strong enough to handle future middleweights, would've got mauled.

 

Nice avatar Cobra :good