Better career - Lewis or Calzaghe?

[Rocky Balboa]

Let the debate begin...

[states]

Lewis. Ok, he's not got the undefeated record, and those two KO defeats can be counted against him. Also, being a heavyweight, he didn't have the options to move up, like Joe's done, and heavyweight is traditionally a small talent pool. However, the era Lennox fought in was actually a pretty good one for the big men. And of that era, who, outside of Bowe, is missing from the Lewis C.V.?

[DG.]

Let the debate begin...

Lewis!

Ruddock
Holyfield
Tyson
Briggs
Weaver
Biggs
Botha
Akinwande
Klitschko


No contest.

[banjo]

Lewis - fought the best fighters available apart from Bowe who dropped the title and the '96 version of Tyson who ducked him to fight Bruce Seldon. He was KO'd twice but avenged those losses easily proving he has amazing heart to come back from defeat, also he wasn't afraid to travel, fighting in Canada, USA and even South Africa, he also managed to stay top dog while Don King tried every dirty trick in the book to throw him off his game.

Calzaghe is a quality fighter with some good wins on his record, I don't care what anybody says, a fighter who beats Eubank(yes not the fighter he was but still a tough bastard, not to mention he was a huge step up in class for JC at that time), Reid, Woodhall, Mitchell, Lacy, Kessler and Hopkins is hardly a poor fighter.

But I still feel Lewis had the better career.

[Chambers2]

The final opponent of each fighter speaks volumes IMO

[banjo]

The final opponent of each fighter speaks volumes IMO

True, especially when you consider Lewis was woefully out of shape yet still managed to tear VK's face to pieces.

[stujones]

Lewis - he beat the best, Calzaghe didn't fight the best.

[gobbles]

The final opponent of each fighter speaks volumes IMO

What an utterly bollocks remark!

Lewis got lucky against Klitschko and was behind on the scorecards when Klitschko got stopped on cuts. Prior to that he fought Tyson, who could barely move his arms he was so gone.

Who was more shot, Tyson or Jones? Tyson obviously.

Yet he took stepaside money to avoid Tyson, wouldn't take the short end of the purse to face Bowe when Bowe was champion and didn't face Holyfield until he was well on the slide and, many would say, got lucky in the second fight. The genuine top fighters Lewis faced at their peak are few and far between and he was dull too.

Calzaghe had the better career. he had fewer opportunities and finished with a flawless record.

[banjo]

"Yet he took stepaside money to avoid Tyson"

No he didn't as I said Tyson was stripped of the WBC belt because he wanted to face the ferocious Bruce Seldon rather than fight Lewis.

[stujones]

Who was more shot... Tyson was ranked number 2 by BM, and even for a period ranked #1 in the 00's (when Lewis lost to Rahman). He had been on an undefeat run and looked impressive in his display against Golota.

Jones beat a fat Tito Trindad and was absolutely dead against Glen Johnson.

Tyson was less shot... but Tyson was less prepared came in heavy - not Lewis' fault.

Refused to take the wrong end of the purse to face Bowe.... and Joe made a big attempt to get Ottke at all costs and Bhop in his prime, Markus Beyer, Glenn Catley etc etc etc?

Fought Holyfield past his prime.... umm Hopkins and Jones?

[n1ebf]

Threads like this bore the sh*t out of me quite frankly.

Literally what is the fcking purpose?????????? It's a bit late to do anything about it now!!!

Better career - Lewis or Calzaghe?...........Our survey said: if you don't like Calzaghe get on here and tell others, for the umpteenth time, why not!

I think Lennox Lewis gets revered in some quarters too much. He got his clock cleaned twice, not once, twice...that's a lot for an all time great in my book. Plus he was getting beat by Klitschko wasn't he? And as for Tyson....well fair do's beat the man in front of you but give me a prime Lewis and a prime Tyson and Tyson would do a Berbick on him in my book.

Speaking of a prime Tyson, that is exactly what Jeff Lacy was gettin billed as a smaller version of when he came over here. Mikkel Kessler, younger, harder hitter..JC did a great job. Chin?? Watch the Charles the hatchett Brewer(I think that one) fight, that was a HUGE knockdown in the first or second round, Joe's head looked like it was going to fly off. Could have pulled a Lennox Lewis, did he? No did he bollox, KO's the guy in the next round. Fantastic. I also thought that Sakio Bika win was a fantastic win considerin he was dirty and Joe had one good hand. Granted it all seemed to get a bit "hyped" at the end...but to be fair I don't think you can say that Hopkins' style has really changed all that much plus he virtually lives in the gym so age wasn't an issue. Plus he tried like fck to cheat. Granted Jones was a bit of a shell of the fighter he once was, that was a bit like beating up an old man even though Calzaghe goes on about it like he beat a legend.

Conclusion....pound for pound, prime for prime, Joe Calzaghe was a superior boxer to Lennox Lewis by quite some distance IMO. And before you say it I know that wasn't the answer to the question asked. I'd still say Calzaghe though.

[Collins2000]

Lewis by a country mile

[n1ebf]

Let the debate begin...

Lewis!

Ruddock
Holyfield
Tyson
Briggs
Weaver
Biggs
Botha
Akinwande
Klitschko


No contest.

Henry "Action" Akinwande?, Shannon Briggs??....if he was one of the seven dwarves he'd be Sleepy. They asked me if Lennox Lewis had a better career that Joe Calzaghe NEBF say NO , NO, NO.

[gobbles]

"Yet he took stepaside money to avoid Tyson"

No he didn't as I said Tyson was stripped of the WBC belt because he wanted to face the ferocious Bruce Seldon rather than fight Lewis.

Not true. He was paid $4million to allow the Seldon fight and I believe he was paid again ahead of the Holyfield fight, but when Tyson got beat the title became vacant.

On another point, I can't believe that Weaver, Botha and Akinwande have been held up as examples of good opponents.

By Ed Schuyler Jr., Associated Press writer
LAS VEGAS -- Evander Holyfield is next for Mike Tyson, and boxing fans, starved for someone to give Tyson a fight, are hopeful.
Tyson's four fights since being released from prison March 25, 1995, have lasted less than eight full rounds. In the last, Saturday night, Tyson needed only 109 seconds to dispatch WBA champion Bruce Seldon.
"Fix, fix," fans at the MGM Grand Garden chanted.
"Mismatch," would have been a more accurate description.
Seldon simply was overwhelmed, and while fans questioned the legitimacy of the two knockdowns, there was little doubt that once the opening bell rang, it was only a matter of time until the quick, explosive Tyson would end the fight.
The Tyson-Holyfield match Nov. 9 could be short, but fans and the people with a financial interest in Tyson's career are hoping it will be a brawl as long as it lasts. Holyfield's reputation as a warrior will be a big selling point.
Promoter Don King said yesterday that the Tyson-Holyfield match will be part of a heavyweight championship doubleheader.
Jay Larkin of Showtime, Tyson's television backer, said Henry Akinwande of Britain could also make a WBO title defense against Russian Alexander Zolkin on the card. It's also possible there could be a bout for the vacant WBC title.
Tyson is the WBC champion as well as the WBA champion, but the WBC title was not at stake Saturday night because of an agreement that he would make his first WBC title defense against Lennox Lewis of Britain, who was paid $4 million to allow the Tyson-Seldon match.
Now that the Tyson-Holyfield bout is set, Tyson is expected to relinquish the WBC title.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman said a purse bid is scheduled for Sept. 24 for a Lewis-Oliver McCall fight for the WBC championship. Bidding will be between King, McCall's promoter, and Dino Duva, the promoter of Lewis, who is tied to HBO.
Holyfield, like Tyson, is a former undisputed champion. His goal is to be a champion again, and he admits fighting Tyson in a title match will be special.
Holyfield was to have defended the undisputed title against Tyson in November 1991, but the fight was called off because Tyson suffered a rib injury, then went to prison.
Holyfield said he thought a fight against Tyson was his due.
"You've got nothing coming to you," Tyson snapped at Holyfield after his easy victory Saturday night. "I'm going to have a good time in this fight."

[banjo]

Absolute rubbish

[banjo]

Tyson took the Seldon fight as an easy warm up for a fight against the supposedly "damaged goods" Holyfield

[Twinkle Toes]

As much as I rate Calzaghe, Lewis fought pretty much everyone, and even though he lost twice, he avenged both defeats in style.

[kevo]

Lewis for me, and by some margin.

[banjo]

As much as I rate Calzaghe, Lewis fought pretty much everyone, and even though he lost twice, he avenged both defeats in style.

Aye, he made the Atomic Bull cry.

[n1ebf]

As much as I rate Calzaghe, Lewis fought pretty much everyone, and even though he lost twice, he avenged both defeats in style.

Aye, he made the Atomic Bull cry.

yeah it was those bright white shorts which reveal a contented soul etc... I get that when I do my washing sometimes.

[gobbles]

"Yet he took stepaside money to avoid Tyson"

No he didn't as I said Tyson was stripped of the WBC belt because he wanted to face the ferocious Bruce Seldon rather than fight Lewis.

Not true. He was paid $4million to allow the Seldon fight and I believe he was paid again ahead of the Holyfield fight, but when Tyson got beat the title became vacant.

On another point, I can't believe that Weaver, Botha and Akinwande have been held up as examples of good opponents.

By Ed Schuyler Jr., Associated Press writer
LAS VEGAS -- Evander Holyfield is next for Mike Tyson, and boxing fans, starved for someone to give Tyson a fight, are hopeful.
Tyson's four fights since being released from prison March 25, 1995, have lasted less than eight full rounds. In the last, Saturday night, Tyson needed only 109 seconds to dispatch WBA champion Bruce Seldon.
"Fix, fix," fans at the MGM Grand Garden chanted.
"Mismatch," would have been a more accurate description.
Seldon simply was overwhelmed, and while fans questioned the legitimacy of the two knockdowns, there was little doubt that once the opening bell rang, it was only a matter of time until the quick, explosive Tyson would end the fight.
The Tyson-Holyfield match Nov. 9 could be short, but fans and the people with a financial interest in Tyson's career are hoping it will be a brawl as long as it lasts. Holyfield's reputation as a warrior will be a big selling point.
Promoter Don King said yesterday that the Tyson-Holyfield match will be part of a heavyweight championship doubleheader.
Jay Larkin of Showtime, Tyson's television backer, said Henry Akinwande of Britain could also make a WBO title defense against Russian Alexander Zolkin on the card. It's also possible there could be a bout for the vacant WBC title.
Tyson is the WBC champion as well as the WBA champion, but the WBC title was not at stake Saturday night because of an agreement that he would make his first WBC title defense against Lennox Lewis of Britain, who was paid $4 million to allow the Tyson-Seldon match.
Now that the Tyson-Holyfield bout is set, Tyson is expected to relinquish the WBC title.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman said a purse bid is scheduled for Sept. 24 for a Lewis-Oliver McCall fight for the WBC championship. Bidding will be between King, McCall's promoter, and Dino Duva, the promoter of Lewis, who is tied to HBO.
Holyfield, like Tyson, is a former undisputed champion. His goal is to be a champion again, and he admits fighting Tyson in a title match will be special.
Holyfield was to have defended the undisputed title against Tyson in November 1991, but the fight was called off because Tyson suffered a rib injury, then went to prison.
Holyfield said he thought a fight against Tyson was his due.
"You've got nothing coming to you," Tyson snapped at Holyfield after his easy victory Saturday night. "I'm going to have a good time in this fight."

Maybe I should repeat that cutting

[brian13]

Lewis , there is absolutely no comparision. Calzaghe fought mostly top 20 or 30 fighters

[DG.]

Let the debate begin...

Lewis!

Ruddock
Holyfield
Tyson
Briggs
Weaver
Biggs
Botha
Akinwande
Klitschko


No contest.

Henry "Action" Akinwande?, Shannon Briggs??....if he was one of the seven dwarves he'd be Sleepy. They asked me if Lennox Lewis had a better career that Joe Calzaghe NEBF say NO , NO, NO.

Lewis!

Akinwane was a World champ - Brigs was a solid contener at one time.

Lewis fought the best ALL the time - never duked anyone and never let a Promoter line up stifs for him.


JC is a brilliant fighter - but Lewis has the better career.

Hoylfield/Tyson/Ruddock/Klitschko eclipse JCs fights.

[DG.]

"Yet he took stepaside money to avoid Tyson"

No he didn't as I said Tyson was stripped of the WBC belt because he wanted to face the ferocious Bruce Seldon rather than fight Lewis.

Not true. He was paid $4million to allow the Seldon fight and I believe he was paid again ahead of the Holyfield fight, but when Tyson got beat the title became vacant.

On another point, I can't believe that Weaver, Botha and Akinwande have been held up as examples of good opponents.

By Ed Schuyler Jr., Associated Press writer
LAS VEGAS -- Evander Holyfield is next for Mike Tyson, and boxing fans, starved for someone to give Tyson a fight, are hopeful.
Tyson's four fights since being released from prison March 25, 1995, have lasted less than eight full rounds. In the last, Saturday night, Tyson needed only 109 seconds to dispatch WBA champion Bruce Seldon.
"Fix, fix," fans at the MGM Grand Garden chanted.
"Mismatch," would have been a more accurate description.
Seldon simply was overwhelmed, and while fans questioned the legitimacy of the two knockdowns, there was little doubt that once the opening bell rang, it was only a matter of time until the quick, explosive Tyson would end the fight.
The Tyson-Holyfield match Nov. 9 could be short, but fans and the people with a financial interest in Tyson's career are hoping it will be a brawl as long as it lasts. Holyfield's reputation as a warrior will be a big selling point.
Promoter Don King said yesterday that the Tyson-Holyfield match will be part of a heavyweight championship doubleheader.
Jay Larkin of Showtime, Tyson's television backer, said Henry Akinwande of Britain could also make a WBO title defense against Russian Alexander Zolkin on the card. It's also possible there could be a bout for the vacant WBC title.
Tyson is the WBC champion as well as the WBA champion, but the WBC title was not at stake Saturday night because of an agreement that he would make his first WBC title defense against Lennox Lewis of Britain, who was paid $4 million to allow the Tyson-Seldon match.
Now that the Tyson-Holyfield bout is set, Tyson is expected to relinquish the WBC title.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman said a purse bid is scheduled for Sept. 24 for a Lewis-Oliver McCall fight for the WBC championship. Bidding will be between King, McCall's promoter, and Dino Duva, the promoter of Lewis, who is tied to HBO.
Holyfield, like Tyson, is a former undisputed champion. His goal is to be a champion again, and he admits fighting Tyson in a title match will be special.
Holyfield was to have defended the undisputed title against Tyson in November 1991, but the fight was called off because Tyson suffered a rib injury, then went to prison.
Holyfield said he thought a fight against Tyson was his due.
"You've got nothing coming to you," Tyson snapped at Holyfield after his easy victory Saturday night. "I'm going to have a good time in this fight."

Maybe I should repeat that cutting

TYSON has to PAY the money..wouldn't you take it?

Tyson PAID to avoid Lennox.

FACT!

[states]

Threads like this bore the sh*t out of me quite frankly.

Literally what is the fcking purpose?????????? It's a bit late to do anything about it now!!!

Better career - Lewis or Calzaghe?...........Our survey said: if you don't like Calzaghe get on here and tell others, for the umpteenth time, why not!

I think Lennox Lewis gets revered in some quarters too much. He got his clock cleaned twice, not once, twice...that's a lot for an all time great in my book. Plus he was getting beat by Klitschko wasn't he? And as for Tyson....well fair do's beat the man in front of you but give me a prime Lewis and a prime Tyson and Tyson would do a Berbick on him in my book.

Speaking of a prime Tyson, that is exactly what Jeff Lacy was gettin billed as a smaller version of when he came over here. Mikkel Kessler, younger, harder hitter..JC did a great job. Chin?? Watch the Charles the hatchett Brewer(I think that one) fight, that was a HUGE knockdown in the first or second round, Joe's head looked like it was going to fly off. Could have pulled a Lennox Lewis, did he? No did he bollox, KO's the guy in the next round. Fantastic. I also thought that Sakio Bika win was a fantastic win considerin he was dirty and Joe had one good hand. Granted it all seemed to get a bit "hyped" at the end...but to be fair I don't think you can say that Hopkins' style has really changed all that much plus he virtually lives in the gym so age wasn't an issue. Plus he tried like fck to cheat. Granted Jones was a bit of a shell of the fighter he once was, that was a bit like beating up an old man even though Calzaghe goes on about it like he beat a legend.

Conclusion....pound for pound, prime for prime, Joe Calzaghe was a superior boxer to Lennox Lewis by quite some distance IMO. And before you say it I know that wasn't the answer to the question asked. I'd still say Calzaghe though.

It's not a case of knocking Calzaghe. He's being called the 'Greatest British Fighter Ever' (tm BBC), so it's only fair to compare him with a fighter who retired less than a decade ago, and had a career that, at worst, matches that of Joe's. I don't think anyone would say that Calzaghe is anything less than a very, very good fighter, just that he could have achieved more. Lewis took out the best, bar Bowe. Calzaghe's C.V. is missing Ottke and Beyer, both champions when Joe held the WBO strap, not to mention other 168lb'ers like Mundine or Larsson. Then there's the missed opportunities against Johnson. And this is before we get to the fact that Calzaghe expressed no desire to step up to 175lb's and fight Jones Jnr when he was at the top of his game. Never mind Lewis, or fighters like Buchanan and Wilde before him, the much maligned Ricky Hatton was prepared to take the risk, step up in weight and take on the best p4p fighter in the world. Calzaghe had that chance and never took it. As such, it's a little galling to hear him described as the best this country has ever produced. Joe was a very good fighter, probably the best Supermiddleweight ever. But he left the game with some doubts hanging over him.