Joe Calzaghe was right all along

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Dec 2007, 10:36

Yep, keep hold of the belt for long enough and people will love the fact that your unbeaten...why risk anything until you need to??

Ricky goes in with the best on the planet, gets beaten and now we are all saying he 'wasnt that good' and 'he got exposed'. Who cares that no other fighter on the planet could beat him..

Go Joe, congrats on realising that the British public love to rip down guys when they get beaten......

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:05

Shut up.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:24

Southpaw Stylist wrote:Shut up.

Erm, no.....

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:41

Joe wasnt given much of a chance against Lacy, not even by his most loyal fans - Most people including myself sat on the fence for most of the time in the leadup to the Kessler fight - These were risky fights, especially the Kessler one and Joe could easily have lost his 0 - He proved to be the worthy champion he undoubtably is by beating them but you cant suggest he picked easy fights - OK he has had easy ones but what fighter hasnt.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:57

WildWaylon wrote:Joe wasnt given much of a chance against Lacy, not even by his most loyal fans - Most people including myself sat on the fence for most of the time in the leadup to the Kessler fight - These were risky fights, especially the Kessler one and Joe could easily have lost his 0 - He proved to be the worthy champion he undoubtably is by beating them but you cant suggest he picked easy fights - OK he has had easy ones but what fighter hasnt.

how exactly was an even money fight 'given no chance'?

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:57

Lacy is crap, an American hypejob whos last two fights have put the exclamation mark on that...Kessler was goo, just how good will be determined in the future...

But prior to that its been shit all the way...the amount of times on the forum that Joe has been lambasted for his opposition is unreal, but now it seems we have forgotten about that and he has a 'Ten year reign of terror'

Ricky stepped up, lost and is being treated as some sort of joke figure....

If Joe has fought RJJ or Hopscotch 6 years ago and been beaten what would have been the reaction?? Pretty much the same as Ricky has got..and for thoise who say 'Oh, my Joe would have beaten them'..well, they can always say that now cant they, it never happened

Joe and Frank picked up on this and kept him fighting the salems and Pudwills of the world, or REAL shot champs like Brewer and Mitchell(who had been schooled by Ottke previously)

I hear crap like Witters now the man at LW cos he beat Corley and Harris, all this because hatton stepped up to a whole new level and got beaten..

its winding me up

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Dec 2007, 11:59

Riddick Blowe wrote:
WildWaylon wrote:Joe wasnt given much of a chance against Lacy, not even by his most loyal fans - Most people including myself sat on the fence for most of the time in the leadup to the Kessler fight - These were risky fights, especially the Kessler one and Joe could easily have lost his 0 - He proved to be the worthy champion he undoubtably is by beating them but you cant suggest he picked easy fights - OK he has had easy ones but what fighter hasnt.
how exactly was an even money fight 'given no chance'?

Its called revisionism my friend

StepinFetchit · Post by **StepinFetchit** » 16 Dec 2007, 12:21

thepocketrocket wrote:Lacy is crap, an American hypejob whos last two fights have put the exclamation mark on that...Kessler was goo, just how good will be determined in the future...

But prior to that its been shit all the way...the amount of times on the forum that Joe has been lambasted for his opposition is unreal, but now it seems we have forgotten about that and he has a 'Ten year reign of terror'

Ricky stepped up, lost and is being treated as some sort of joke figure....

If Joe has fought RJJ or Hopscotch 6 years ago and been beaten what would have been the reaction?? Pretty much the same as Ricky has got..and for thoise who say 'Oh, my Joe would have beaten them'..well, they can always say that now cant they, it never happened

Joe and Frank picked up on this and kept him fighting the salems and Pudwills of the world, or REAL shot champs like Brewer and Mitchell(who had been schooled by Ottke previously)

I hear crap like Witters now the man at LW cos he beat Corley and Harris, all this because hatton stepped up to a whole new level and got beaten..

its winding me up

Wrong.... people like me were calling Hatton rubbish long before PBF beat him.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Dec 2007, 12:24

StepinFetchit wrote:
thepocketrocket wrote:Lacy is crap, an American hypejob whos last two fights have put the exclamation mark on that...Kessler was goo, just how good will be determined in the future...

But prior to that its been shit all the way...the amount of times on the forum that Joe has been lambasted for his opposition is unreal, but now it seems we have forgotten about that and he has a 'Ten year reign of terror'

Ricky stepped up, lost and is being treated as some sort of joke figure....

If Joe has fought RJJ or Hopscotch 6 years ago and been beaten what would have been the reaction?? Pretty much the same as Ricky has got..and for thoise who say 'Oh, my Joe would have beaten them'..well, they can always say that now cant they, it never happened

Joe and Frank picked up on this and kept him fighting the salems and Pudwills of the world, or REAL shot champs like Brewer and Mitchell(who had been schooled by Ottke previously)

I hear crap like Witters now the man at LW cos he beat Corley and Harris, all this because hatton stepped up to a whole new level and got beaten..

its winding me up
Wrong.... people like me were calling Hatton rubbish long before PBF beat him.

And now, despite all the victories, the world titles youget the chance to start multiple threads proclaining such things...

have a Merry Christmas

fist · Post by **fist** » 16 Dec 2007, 13:20

Riddick Blowe wrote:
WildWaylon wrote:Joe wasnt given much of a chance against Lacy, not even by his most loyal fans - Most people including myself sat on the fence for most of the time in the leadup to the Kessler fight - These were risky fights, especially the Kessler one and Joe could easily have lost his 0 - He proved to be the worthy champion he undoubtably is by beating them but you cant suggest he picked easy fights - OK he has had easy ones but what fighter hasnt.
how exactly was an even money fight 'given no chance'?

Lacy was favourite to win at many bookies. After this fight many critics said that Calzaghe had to fight Kessler to really prove himself. Some were silly enough to say Joe was scared to fight Kessler - silly because bravery is implicit in boxing, if a champ thinks the public consider another man to be better, most would want that fight. And I believe it was those critics and an increase in world awareness over Kessler, that proved to be a motivating factor for Joe. Credit to him, he took on an excelent world champ in Kessler, took some heavy heavy blows! and showed his class by unifying the division.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Dec 2007, 19:47

Hatton lost now, I would get over It If I was you.

I favoured Floyd before It happened and said why.

We knew Floyd was good, Hatton losing to him doesn't mean that Hatton's still as good as most made out just because he lost to the best P4p fighter. Hatton's an average world level fighter, nothing more.

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:02

well I predicted Calzaghe would beat Lacy, in fact I was quite contemptuous of the possibility of any other outcome.
Likewise with the Kessler fight.
Although as opposed to one of my above fellow posters I believe that pre-fight going in, LACY was actually considered the biggest threat, moreso than Kessler was.
Don't forget that Calzaghe was also in with Eubank and if there were chinks they could have been discovered then quite easily.

I appreciate JC never boxed a Hopkins or a RJJ. Personally I believe Jones would have just edged him on points but Hopkins would have lost to Joe......but as mentioned above also, the fights never took place so who knows for certain.
I can't remember exactly which guy it was came over and decked Joe in the first or second with a huge shot right on the jaw (Brewer or Mitchell, Mitchell I think) but Joe was up and sparked him big time in the very next round. So the "got no balls" .....or "chinny" argument goes out the window right there.

What is apparent to me though is that at 35 Calzaghe is still in his prime and is still, undoubtedly "the man", whereas many would agree, Hatton's best years would appear to have passed.

Horse · Post by **Horse** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:17

Max Molyneux wrote:Hatton lost now, I would get over It If I was you.

I favoured Floyd before It happened and said why.

We knew Floyd was good, Hatton losing to him doesn't mean that Hatton's still as good as most made out just because he lost to the best P4p fighter. Hatton's an average world level fighter, nothing more.

Top 10/20 P4P is well above average at World level. Why are you being such a dick regarding Hatton?

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:45

of course you're quite right..........I had a pop at the last person who used that phrase " average world class". It's moronic.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:46

So I'm a dick because I don't join on the hypetrain like most did?

Some have terrible judging when It comes to styles and boxers that they rely on resume too much.

He shouldn't of even been that much of a p4p fighter, he picked the right guys to become a two weight champ which any good fighter can do If there are any weak champs.

His way to the top was prerry much a picnic for him filling up the MEN and all.

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:49

well I was there for Tackie and I reckon Tackie's a tough kiddie. So whilst I appreciate your comments we should recognise that RH still deserves some credit for his achievements in what is, the toughest sport around.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 16 Dec 2007, 21:12

There is a valid point that Hatton deserves credit for fighting the best and Joe Calzaghe could have fought RJJ when they were both prime fighters at similar weights and he didn't he may have ended up like hatton (on his arse).

Joe had a Legit contender at his weight (Sven Ottke) who he didn't fight when should have but didn't fancy it.

However your forgetting so did Ricky he could have fought Witter for years but didn't.

STP · Post by **STP** » 16 Dec 2007, 21:14

Calzaghe won the BBC award because of the beautiful feature on him on the night. It was tear-jerking, seriously!

And he's classier than Ricky, in my opinion, and I think more down-to-earth personally.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 16 Dec 2007, 21:23

WildWaylon wrote:Joe wasnt given much of a chance against Lacy, not even by his most loyal fans - Most people including myself sat on the fence for most of the time in the leadup to the Kessler fight - These were risky fights, especially the Kessler one and Joe could easily have lost his 0 - He proved to be the worthy champion he undoubtably is by beating them but you cant suggest he picked easy fights - OK he has had easy ones but what fighter hasnt.

Only if you know little about boxing you sat on the fence. It was clear that Lacy was taylor made for Joe. Kessler, by contrast, was a risky fight indeed which Joe took after 10 (!) years as beltholder, realizing that otherwise people wouldn't respect him. Well, better late than never, but it was -- very late.

I sympathize with the opening post. "0"s are way overrated, allowing mangers like Farnkie Warren or Hans-Peter Kohl to play cynical games with the audience. Hatton deserves great respect for taking on a once-in-a-decade boxer like PBF in the US and fighting his heart out.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 16 Dec 2007, 21:28

Only if you know little about boxing you sat on the fence.

Indeed and even when you wanted him to fight Kessler, you still said your head went with Calzaghe.

bugs · Post by **bugs** » 16 Dec 2007, 22:33

Ok same old responses coming up, Calzaghe tried to fight Hopkins, Hopkins pulled out with insane wage demands, Calazage tried to fight Ottke, in Germany, Ottke refused, Calzaghe wanted to fight Collins, Collins pulled out. I have no idea if a fight with RJJ could have been made but Calzaghe has beaten Reid, Sheika, Woodhall, Eubank, Mitchell, Lacy, Kessler, Brewer and other reasonably solid operators, including beating Mark Delaney early on in his career. No fighter has every fight as a superfight, and no division is ever as deep as the fans would like. He is a ten year champion in a time when people like Mayweather and RJJ just do enought ot claim the weightclass then skip to another. What is it he has not done? What more do you need? I think it is a hell of a resume!

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 16 Dec 2007, 22:41

bugs wrote:Ok same old responses coming up, Calzaghe tried to fight Hopkins, Hopkins pulled out with insane wage demands, Calazage tried to fight Ottke, in Germany, Ottke refused, Calzaghe wanted to fight Collins, Collins pulled out. I have no idea if a fight with RJJ could have been made but Calzaghe has beaten Reid, Sheika, Woodhall, Eubank, Mitchell, Lacy, Kessler, Brewer and other reasonably solid operators, including beating Mark Delaney early on in his career. No fighter has every fight as a superfight, and no division is ever as deep as the fans would like. He is a ten year champion in a time when people like Mayweather and RJJ just do enought ot claim the weightclass then skip to another. What is it he has not done? What more do you need? I think it is a hell of a resume!

Have you stopped to consider that these pull outs and failed fights might not be everyone except for Joe's fault?

Just because the allegedly press relise says Ottke was being unreasonable don't make it so.

bugs · Post by **bugs** » 17 Dec 2007, 01:13

Ok, so find me somewhere that suggests hopkins ridiculous claims (after a prelim agreement) were not the reason, find me somewhere that says Ottke was not offered 1m to fight in Germany. I thought Collins ducking him was a given, do you think Joe somehow ducked him instead?

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 17 Dec 2007, 06:49

Terry D wrote:
NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:of course you're quite right..........I had a pop at the last person who used that phrase " average world class". It's moronic.
Yup, that was Max also.

Theres a recurring theme here..............

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 17 Dec 2007, 07:13

Perhaps the fights couldn't be made because Joe would have to concede some purse and felt it was better to fight bums for good money rather than taking a risk.

As I have said before that is my main beef with Joe, so little risk in his career.

Granted Hatton got paid a fortune versus FLoyd but it was a fukcing huge risk.

Put Calzaghe in with a 2000 RJJ at Light heavy and see who still has a Zero.

That is essentially what Ricky has done.

Fought a once in a generation fighter at a weight class higher than he was in.