Who is the best British fighter?

Tunney · Post by **Tunney** » 19 Dec 2007, 23:12

Who would you pick as the best current British boxer, weight classes not being considered?

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 20 Dec 2007, 04:56

No offence, but a bit of a no-brainer, this one.

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:00

Great poll.

STP · Post by **STP** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:02

Froch is up there. He has the longest jab in his division, the best composure in his division, and is the smoothest operator in his division. He looks so difficult to hit hard with the right hand unless he makes a mistake, because he's long-bodied with an awkward stance and leans and rolls, and has that slow weary style that throws you off. And he can punch, uppercuts from out of range and so on. He's up there.

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:08

STP wrote:Froch is up there. He has the longest jab in his division, the best composure in his division, and is the smoothest operator in his division. He looks so difficult to hit hard with the right hand unless he makes a mistake, because he's long-bodied with an awkward stance and leans and rolls, and has that slow weary style that throws you off. And he can punch, uppercuts from out of range and so on. He's up there.

But the best British fighter pound for pound? He's not even the best in his division.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:11

As good as Calzaghe is, I still maintain he has only fought 2 guys who on paper were in any danger of giving him a real fight (Lacy and Kessler).

Hatton is surely the "best".

STP · Post by **STP** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:14

Froch for me is in the top two or three, atleast. It's difficult to see him being beaten. I've always been big on him. Strike me down, but he's done everything he said he would, with so much left in the tank.

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:17

Loftgroov wrote:As good as Calzaghe is, I still maintain he has only fought 2 guys who on paper were in any danger of giving him a real fight (Lacy and Kessler).

Hatton is surely the "best".

Eubank ON PAPER was a slight favourite.
Robin Reid and Charles Brewer DID give him a real fight.
ON PAPER, Omar Sheika, Richie Woodhall and Mario Veit (first time) were live challengers.
Mger Mkrtchian and Sakio Bika in hindsight were much better opponents than we considered at the time.

STP · Post by **STP** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:34

In a Calzaghe-Froch match, I'd honestly put money on Froch.

Calzaghe misses far more than he lands, and every time he falls short with his slaps/swings/cuffs/flurries he's going to be tagged by Froch's hard rangey pistols (while squared up, with his chin up in the air), if he looks at the canvas while throwing punches (as he often does) he's going to find a big, juicy right uppercut planted on his jaw.

Say Froch's defence is shit all you like (it's not), but you need feints and overhand shots rather than winging away with arm punches, and you need to pick your shots and moments against Froch.

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 20 Dec 2007, 05:39

Who the hell voted for Rees.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 20 Dec 2007, 06:33

A guy called Reece Gavin. SOunds a bit iffy to me.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 20 Dec 2007, 06:33

Calzaghe is currently the best fighter in Britain....

No argument

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 20 Dec 2007, 06:35

Loftgroov wrote:As good as Calzaghe is, I still maintain he has only fought 2 guys who on paper were in any danger of giving him a real fight (Lacy and Kessler).

Hatton is surely the "best".

Are you telling me former world champs like Brewer, Mitchell, Reid and woodhall were not a slight danger? Or up and comers like Sheika? and look at Bika now.....getting plaudits but JC beat him without too many problems, though lots of bumps and bruises.

bridportboxer · Post by **bridportboxer** » 20 Dec 2007, 06:46

Maccarinelli by far. Who can forget his war with Gunn who has since gone on to prove his class against world ranked Elija Dickens. Definately a no brainer.
Does 683 out of 682 make him world ranked? How does that work anyway?

Razor · Post by **Razor** » 20 Dec 2007, 08:12

Calzaghe by far...

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 20 Dec 2007, 08:19

Obviously the Reesuliser GO REES

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 20 Dec 2007, 08:48

Rees, but only because MT Gillick is not on the list.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 20 Dec 2007, 09:11

I voted for Arthur because I felt sorry for him.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 20 Dec 2007, 09:19

He could win it by a nose.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 20 Dec 2007, 09:23

ha ha

jimglen · Post by **jimglen** » 20 Dec 2007, 10:07

overall I think the answer would be Ricky Hatton followed by Calzghe & Woods based on the way 'best' is (wrongly) percieved - titles, popularity and so on...

However best as in who is 'actually' the BEST of the bunch based on - P4P, Abilty and of course Head to Head battles, who beats who; then on recent form and future hope/possibilty, that may very well be Maccarinelli, who could potentially be a British sensation.

I would also like to see if Froch can "cut the mustard."

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 20 Dec 2007, 10:08

? Macarinelli above Calzaghe ?

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 20 Dec 2007, 10:41

Rees is clearly the best because he has proved the most. if you say otherwise you don't know anything about boxing.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 20 Dec 2007, 11:28

In no order and based on natural ability and achievements:

Haye, Calzaghe, Hatton, Witter and Froch on the brink.

That's that.

Tunney · Post by **Tunney** » 20 Dec 2007, 11:30

Several months ago in another boxing forum, I saw a similar poll. On that one Hatton and Calzaghe were in a dead heat. But Calzaghe's win over Kessler and Hatton's loss to Mayweather have happened since then...

Joe Calzaghe is not only the best British fighter, he's one of the two or three best boxers in the world.