Will They Or Won't They ?

[Seamus]

Make into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. I'm not trying to limit this discussion, but I'am trying to focus on fighters who are active or retired in the 1990's or later.

I'll throw out the first 3 names. Say yes or no, and WHY !

1.Wladimir Klitschko
2.Joe Calzaghe
3.Winky Wright

Feel free to add names.

[Ezzard]

1. Yes, all successful HWs who hang around as long as Wlad get in. he deserves it too. Klits are still underrated around here IMO.

2. Yes, eventually foguth the big names and Hopkins is still taking scalps so they did have something left.

3. Trickier... Not sure... A good fighter

[MEISINGER]

Make into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. I'm not trying to limit this discussion, but I'am trying to focus on fighters who are active or retired in the 1990's or later.

I'll throw out the first 3 names. Say yes or no, and WHY !

1.Wladimir Klitschko
2.Joe Calzaghe
3.Winky Wright

Feel free to add names.

wlad will get into the hof though i do not consider him hof caliber

calzaghe will easily get in even though he is as exciting to watch as paint drying

wright i do not see getting in

[SaadOffTheDeck]

1. Not in a million years does he deserve it. I'm still waiting for him to have one really good win. You never know who is going to get the vote, but Wlad's boring style hasn't made him many fans in the media and combined with his pathetic resume I'd have to say no.

2. No doubt, probably first ballot. The heat that Calzaghe has gotten will disappear more with every passing year. One of the best of his era and he closed with Kessler & hopkins that are his best wins. He ruined Kessler mentally and he will probably never accomplish anything else, that may take something away from that one.

3. Meh, I would say no. But high profile wins over Shane & tito may be enough to squeeze him in.

[Seamus]

Wlad is already 14-2 in World title fights, he was acknowledged by just about everyone as the best HW in the World until his brother beat Peter. Trying to go contrary, to the " the best HW in the world should always get in" argument, on the basis that you don't like his style or think this is a weak era, is just overtly biased and hypocritical.

[MEISINGER]

Wlad is already 14-2 in World title fights, he was acknowledged by just about everyone as the best HW in the World until his brother beat Peter. Trying to go contrary, to the " the best HW in the world should always get in" argument, on the basis that you don't like his style or think this is a weak era, is just overtly biased and hypocritical.

since when did the wbo become a real world title?

8-0 at ibf
4-2 at wbo

knocked out 3 times
he is not hall of fame material
but he will get in

[SaadOffTheDeck]

LOL, I have no bias when ranking careers. I detest Sugar ray leonard more than any fighter and he rates in my all time top 15.

Wlad has zero wins of note and some very poor losses. He simply doesn't have a HOF resume and I shouldn't be held to any standards of mediocrity.

Hypocritical? WTF is that? Where have you seen me salivating over the career of any fighter with similar holes in their career? And if you're referring to writers, each case is individual and opposition most certainly should play a role. Pretty impossible to be hypocritical when everything should be a clean slate case by case basis. I hate the notion that because some fighters that don't belong are in the standard has to be lowered for eternity.

Zsolt Erdei is 13-0 in world title fights, going by your system, is he first ballot?

Edit: As a rule of thumb, and there could be an exception here and there, I wouldn't vote for anyone that hasn't defeated or, at a minimum, lost closely to a fighter that belongs in there with them.

[Seamus]

I don't think anyone will make a case for Erdei being the best at his weight.

I pretty much stick with the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO. Might as well count all 4, since unification bouts have never been all that popular. Sometimes the WBO champion is the best of the bunch.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Being the best of a putrid weight isn't saying that much. It would be one thing if he was dominant over the reluctant slobs and midgets he has fought. But he was stopped three times by predominantly mediocre fighters and more than likely rescued against Davarryl Williamson.

You could easily make a case for Ruiz or Rahman over Wlad.

[allworld80]

As Eastwood says, deserves got nothin to do with it.

Wlad - yes
Calzone - yes
Wright - I would put him in, but it's 50/50

[BoxBuzz]

Ruiz in the Hall of fame?, sadly it's going to happen.......Something about that just does not set right with me.....Here's something for all of our tears on that sad sad thought.



As for the three names mentioned.

VK Yes reluctantly
JC Certainly
WR deservedly, and hopefully

[Goodnight, Irene]

Leaving aside the arguments on for or against, I'll just say I suspect all three will one day be inducted.