A what if scenario

[Crease]

1. Herol Graham v Steve Collins
Graham wins the early rounds employing evasive tactics, but eventually the heavy-pressuring style employed by The Irishman catches up with Herol, he traps him in the corner and never gets out.
Collins wins by KO in round 7.

2. Nigel Benn v Joe Calzaghe
A frantic and furious affair where Mr Benn drags The Welshman into the trenches and bogs him down into a trading affair. Benn's immense punching power knocks Joe down twice in the later rounds and the ref steps in
Benn wins by TKO in round 11.
Note: It says in the title thread "the 90s" - I don't believe that Calzaghe was in his prime until much later circa the Kessler fight, whereas Nigel was at his best in the 90s hence the surprising outcome.
Note 2: Despite Joe's 46-win record, he did defend and defeat A LOT of lower ranked opposition and whilst I do make him the favourite against a Benn or a Eubank, I don't believe that he's a guarantee to win every time, like some people tend to think.

3. Chris Eubank v Robin Reid
A prime Reid was a good fighter, no question about it... But against a prime Eubank? He's swimming in deep water against a bigger shark.
Eubank wins by KO in round 8.

4. Ritchie Woodhall v Howard Eastman
A spiritied and brave performance by Eastman, who comes up against a hungry fighter with an excellent jab and a nice tendency to win rounds.
Woodhall wins by UD.

Semi Final: Steve Collins vs Nigel Benn
A fight that is very much reminsicent of Froch/Kessler - both men trade blows in a display of brutality. Nigel's eyes bulging and frothing at the mouth, whereas Collins looks a bit more composed and producing cleaner work, enough to win the rounds.
Collins wins by UD.

Semi Final: Chris Eubank vs Richie Woodhall
Woodhall's tall and rangey style buys him time... But Eubank's immense strength and power does eventually catch up with him.
Eubank wins by KO in round 10.

Tournament Final: Steve Collins vs Chris Eubank
The boxing game is interesting. Sometimes there are fighter who just have the other guys number even though the other guy may be considered better. When I think of that, I think of Paul Pender who surprised Sugar Ray Robinson, then in the second fight - Ray struggled against him again. I also think of Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, again Ali struggled in that trilogy. And I always put Steve Collins in that category against Chris Eubank. Eubank's belief in his own superiority would always be shattered by Collins resolve.
Collins wins by UD.

Championship Grand Final: Steve Collins vs Carl Froch
Two of my favourite fighters of all time. I genuinely believe that this fight could go either way and that it is an even 50/50 contest. I am aware that in his younger days that Steve could be outboxed but he was as tough as old boots and he was never stopped. If there's one style that he was great against was the brawling toe-to-toe. It is for this reason that I think that Collins edges it.
Collins wins by MD.

[polecateddy]

Right we got a round robin of 8 PEAK 90s British Midfleweights/Super Middleweights.

1. Herol Graham v Steve Collins

2. Nigel Benn v Joe Calzaghe

3. Chris Eubank v Robin Reid

4. Ritchie Woodall v Howard Eastman


1 v 2
3 v 4

Winner meets The Cobra

Who’s the Champ?

1. Herol Graham v Steve Collins - GRAHAM KO

2. Nigel Benn v Joe Calzaghe - CALZAGHE KO

3. Chris Eubank v Robin Reid - EUBANK KO

4. Ritchie Woodall v Howard Eastman - WOODALL PTS


1 v 2 - GRAHAM V CALZAGHE - CALZAGHE KO
3 v 4 - EUBANK V WOODALL - EUBANK KO

Winner meets The Cobra - CALZAGHE KO EUBANK

Who’s the Champ? CALZAGHE SCHOOLS PUNISHES AND STOPS FROCH

[/quote]

I reckon you’re getting carried away with the KO’s. Reid was very durable. Eubank mainly always won on points.

Collins KO
Calzaghe TKO
Eubank SD
Woodhall SD

Calzaghe Decision
Woodhall SD

Calzaghe TKO (again)
Calzaghe decisions Froch

[jwfg]

x2

Mate. It’s always a tragedy when something like this happens. Whatever the level. Michael was superb tho. Amongst my mates I picked him over Benn at Finsbury. I was laughed at. A smooth boxer with a dig. Loved watching him. The McCallum fight was great in defeat. Mind you. Body snatcher was one of the best.
Won’t watch the last one tho. Being a fellow Gooner don’t come in to it. Lovely boxer. Lovely man. Still is

Lovely words mate.

Seconded.

[SeanBrennan]

Right we got a round robin of 8 PEAK 90s British Midfleweights/Super Middleweights.

1. Herol Graham v Steve Collins

2. Nigel Benn v Joe Calzaghe

3. Chris Eubank v Robin Reid

4. Ritchie Woodall v Howard Eastman


1 v 2
3 v 4

Winner meets The Cobra

Who’s the Champ?

1. Herol Graham v Steve Collins - GRAHAM KO

2. Nigel Benn v Joe Calzaghe - CALZAGHE KO

3. Chris Eubank v Robin Reid - EUBANK KO

4. Ritchie Woodall v Howard Eastman - WOODALL PTS


1 v 2 - GRAHAM V CALZAGHE - CALZAGHE KO
3 v 4 - EUBANK V WOODALL - EUBANK KO

Winner meets The Cobra - CALZAGHE KO EUBANK

Who’s the Champ? CALZAGHE SCHOOLS PUNISHES AND STOPS FROCH

I reckon you’re getting carried away with the KO’s. Reid was very durable. Eubank mainly always won on points.

Collins KO
Calzaghe TKO
Eubank SD
Woodhall SD

Calzaghe Decision
Woodhall SD

Calzaghe TKO (again)
Calzaghe decisions Froch
[/quote]

very likely, my predictions are as biased as a Russian election mate. I know my faults :)

[olij999]

Never been a massive fan but Calazghe was different class. His match making was so poor we never got to see how great he was (maybe that's why I was never a fan).

I think people make too many excuses for him. He held the WBO belt hostage for a decade and was happy fighting Tocker Pudwills and Kabary Salems and various other nobodies. He didn’t want to fight outside the UK but then when it came to fighting past it legends he couldn’t get to Vegas quick enough. He squeezed past a 43 year old Hopkins and then fought a shot RJJ. Prime RJJ would have taken him apart, something he’s admitted himself. The Lacy win is massively overrated and really it’s a very close call against Kessler that’s his best win.

Froch’s CV wipes the floor with his all day long.

I’m not denying he was a good fighter but his reputation vastly exceeds his actual achievements IMO. There are people who have him on their ATG list which amazes me.

I’m totally with you on this

I agree with this too.

On another note, I take the point about Herol Graham sometimes being overrated, but in my view the same can be said for Steve Collins - he benefited from getting Eubank and Benn at the right time, in my view. If Graham v Collins were made at super-middle, Collins would have a good chance, but at middle against the Graham of, say, 1986, I can't see Collins winning.

[SeanBrennan]

Collins definitely benefitted from fighting them at the right time I think.

[nobleart1978]

Calzaghe all the way for me.
No way would Herol Graham KO Steve Collins.
Collins was a strong guy.

[PredatorHayds]

Calzaghe for me.

[margaret thatcher]

Tbh I didn’t include Michael Watson. Who was my favourite amongst early 90s Middles/SuperMiddleweights.

Couldn’t. Never rewatched the Eubank fight. Never will. The

Surprised no-one has gone for The Cobra in the final battle. His resume is pretty much over the others tbf.

it's not a resume battle, although even if it were the guy facing froch would have some very good wins added to their resume to get that far, likely making any froch win advantage negligible at best. just look at peak benn vs peak calzaghe - guaranteed right off the bat top level win, possibly even surpassing any win of carl's (surely benn over cal would)

taking jo for example......froch despite having lots of good wins was beaten by a guy calzaghe had already handled routinely. and never beat anyone id favour over joe. i dont have to think joe had the stronger record to think he was the better fighter head to head. there are other very good fighters in the mix too, the winner would have to really be delivering to get through. makes sense to me that froch wouldnt be a popular choice to beat them

[si7dog7]

Tbh I didn’t include Michael Watson. Who was my favourite amongst early 90s Middles/SuperMiddleweights.

Couldn’t. Never rewatched the Eubank fight. Never will. The

Surprised no-one has gone for The Cobra in the final battle. His resume is pretty much over the others tbf.

it's not a resume battle, although even if it were the guy facing froch would have some very good wins added to their resume to get that far, likely making any froch win advantage negligible at best. just look at peak benn vs peak calzaghe - guaranteed right off the bat top level win, possibly even surpassing any win of carl's (surely benn over cal would)

taking jo for example......froch despite having lots of good wins was beaten by a guy calzaghe had already handled routinely. and never beat anyone id favour over joe. i dont have to think joe had the stronger record to think he was the better fighter head to head. there are other very good fighters in the mix too, the winner would have to really be delivering to get through. makes sense to me that froch wouldnt be a popular choice to beat them

Totally respect your view on this. Not disputing Joe was an All-Time SMW. As was Froch.

It’s all about different opinions though isn’t it.

I do agree that JC beat Kessler much more convincingly. In my view though a peak Froch would have been a very, very dangerous oppo for JC.

I

[big lennox]

Aren't we lucky to have had all these great Super Middleweights over the years?