Of the names that Calzaghe could/should have had on his record, Beyer isn't really in the ascendancy.
Why didnt Calzaghe go to America sooner and cement his lagacy ?? Why didnt Calzaghe push for a fight with Hopkins and Jones earlier, he may have had to take 30% and he would have been knocked out but at least he would have stood on the threshold of 'True' greatness ?? Why did Calzaghe have so many defences against bums like Pudwell, Mcintyre, Salem, Ashira and the unforgettable Mgyr Mgkyrtchan (try spelling that when you've had a few beers) ?? Why did Calzaghe waste everyones time after his Lacy win by fighting Peter Manfredo ?? Because Joe Calzaghe's attitude stunk .. He was never interested in true greatness, he was quite happy on the WBO road taking easy paydays and risking nothing. He said himself that he wasnt interested in fighting at Madison Square Garden or America, what fighter has ever said that ?? He was a disappointment on so many levels, but give him his due he was a very good Suoer Middleweight Champion, although Sven Ottke's diehard fans might make a similar argument. The difference between Hatton, Naz and Calzaghe is that Hatton and Naz reached out for greatness and failed, Calzaghe didnt even attempt to reach for it !!
This would have been an interesting fight for us Brit fight fans and Witter only has himself to blame on why it didnt come off. He fought Zab Judah on the undercard of Tyson v Savarese and it was the most negative performance ive ever seen, bar Akinwande when he fought Lewis. If Witter had shown an ounce of heart and an ounce of willing instead of running for the whole fight and keeping out of range from Judah, then he could have made a name for himself not just as a Brit but in the US too. After this performance the American Tv execs did not want to touch him, they have long memories about guys who fought the way Witter fought that night, they cant afford to sanction a fight with a guy that stinks the place out .. By the time Witter had resurrected his reputation, Hatton was already on the road to Tzsyu and beyond that, Mayweather. It was Witter's own performance against Judah that stopped The Hatton v Witter fight from ever happening ..
I'd like to take an opportunity to give Calzaghe some credit, i always find myself slagging him off and i hate that because i respect every guy that goes in the ring. So let me say that his performances against Reid, Woodhall, Lacy and Kessler were good. It irritates me when people say hes an all-time great because hes not, it irritates me when the tv commentators used go wild when he through 6 punch combinations like they were on a par with Sugar Ray Robinsons combinations, the only difference being that Ray landed 4 out of 5 shots were as Joe usually landed 1 out 5 at the most. It also irritates me that people convince themselves that Calzaghe was an exciting fighter, the only brit fighter that bored me more when i watched him fight was Lennox Lewis but he had no chin so its forgiveable that he sat behind the jab for 12 rounds. When people talk about Calzaghe being an all-time great, i have to put on some old Pernell Whitaker, Salvador Sanchez, Azumah Nelson, Roberto Duran, Ricardo Lopez, Eder Jofre and Ezzard Charles fights to re-affirm my faith in the 'True' Greats of boxing .. **** !! Even when im determined to to give Calzaghe some props and compliments ive ended up in slating him .... He was a very good Super Middleweight Champion, but i reckon die-hard Sven Ottke fans might make a similar argument ..
