Calzaghe

[JC]

I think people are more likely to renounce his Britishness due to his success, such is the mentality in this country.

Not to sure about that, I know there's this perception that we don't like winners but I don't fully buy into it. Look at Greg Rusedski, the press and the public were all calling him Canadian, then when he won a few tourniments he became British.

Well, Rusedski talks acts grins like a North American, Lennox does not. Lennox grew up between the worlds really and settled for the UK, Greg became a Brit because he wanted to play tennis at Wimbledon.

In the end it's pretty immaterial anyway. Only the folks themselves can determine who and what they are.

Wouldn't disgree with that.

I wasn't comparing Lennox's "Britishness" to Greg's. I was just challenging the idea that Brit's don't like their sportpeople to be successful which is something I hear a lot but have never thought myself or heard anyone I know express.

[jamesmcdonnell]

You're a prat, I'm not wasting any more breath on your spurious argument. It's quite clear you cannot handle the fact that Lennox is an English heavyweight champion and are bitter about it. Poor you.

I am a prat? Oh yes that old mechanism - "if you're struggling to come on top in an argument, just insult the other party and then refuse to engage in further argument, climing not to have the time to waste..."

Great intellect - this may be one of the reasons you have failed to become a successful writer.

ANd so, you sir, are a pudendum. But seriously - do you regard Kessler as being English?

So that's the first 12 years in Britain, then back 11 years later. If he says he's British and opens up a school for kids in east london that's more than good enough for me. I think people are more likely to renounce his Britishness due to his success, such is the mentality in this country.

THis may be an intersting article to you:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/11/ ... 11115.html


Well, I am willing to settle on Lewis being part British - but as he himself said:

"I see myself as world champion representing the whole world,"

Whatever intellect I possess, It is wasted on you, your agenda is obvious and rather pathetic. Taking a single quote out of context like that demonstrates little, except that you have the brains to cut and paste or perhaps copy type from a single article to try and support your spurious contention that in fact Lennox was a Canadian Heavyweight Champion, something Lennox himself has never said.

As for being successful or unsuccessful as a writer, I'm happy with what I've achieved, having my work published and printed, and working as a columnist for a prominent website for a couple of years satisfies me. I'm not done writing yet either, so we shall see what I achieve when I'm finally done. Suffice to say, my opinions have at least been considered worthy enough to make it into print.

[E]

Lennox himself claims alliegence to three countries, Jamaica, the UK and Canada. Rightly so, one is his genetic heritage, one his country of birth, and one the place that started him on the path to the undisputed title. He used to wear a jacket emblazoned with the flags of all three countries.

Well I am OK with that. But you were kind of pushing his Britishness as if it were his only nationality.

But to the guy who says Lennox is as 'British as the spitfire' is laughable and in contrast to what Lewis himself has said.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I certainly never said he is as British as the Spitfire, but I'll refute anyone who tries to deny he claims any alliegence to britain.

[Twinkle Toes]

As a talent, Joe is right up there as one of the best to be represent the British Isles, but as we all know, his path has been littered with inadequate fights.

His legacy will be tarnished by that fact.

The last five years have been littered with unimpressive challenges, or when they have been a name someone else has gotten to them in the two or three fights preceeding Joe actually fighting them (Lacy excluded)

[Achybreaky]

Lewis was born in the UK, and lived here until his early teens.

Zola Budd was born, raised and lived in South Africa, and was granted a British Passport because she had English relatives, or in fact was it merely because SA was part of the commonwealth?

Get over it mate, Lewis is, was, and remains British.

Lewis moved to Canada when he was 12, not in his teens.

Lewis being 'british' is just a business decision. Has he even ever owned a house here? I'm sure he doesn't now.

I would be interested to know what country he paid his taxes to.....

He is a tax-exile, I suppose that means to you he does not exist. Mick Jagger pays a minimum tax to this shit-hole, I suppose he is Jerseyan?

He would be a jersey 'bean' nice spot jersey is to.

[Chesney_Chambers]

But to the guy who says Lennox is as 'British as the spitfire' is laughable and in contrast to what Lewis himself has said.

It was meant 'tongue in cheek'

Lennox is British, because he was extremely successful, Rusedski is Canadian, because he wasn't

[Chesney_Chambers]

He is a tax-exile, I suppose that means to you he does not exist. Mick Jagger pays a minimum tax to this shit-hole, I suppose he is Jerseyan?

He would be a jersey 'bean' nice spot jersey is to.

I hear it is, my cousins used to go over there once a year to bang the native girls.

Are your cousins female??

3 of my mates spent about a year in Jersey, they weren't quite so complimentary about the place......mind you they did spend the time 'At Her Majesties Pleasure' after a Keystone Cops attempt at drug smugling

[nickd]

But to the guy who says Lennox is as 'British as the spitfire' is laughable and in contrast to what Lewis himself has said.

It was meant 'tongue in cheek'

Lennox is British, because he was extremely successful, Rusedski is Canadian, because he wasn't

Bollocks. Lewis was BORN in Britain, and lived his first 12 years here. Rusedski was born in Canada and had a British mother.

HUGE difference.

[Chesney_Chambers]

But to the guy who says Lennox is as 'British as the spitfire' is laughable and in contrast to what Lewis himself has said.

It was meant 'tongue in cheek'

Lennox is British, because he was extremely successful, Rusedski is Canadian, because he wasn't

Bollocks. Lewis was BORN in Britain, and lived his first 12 years here. Rusedski was born in Canada and had a British mother.

HUGE difference.

I wasn't seriously comparing the 2, I was merely stating how I look upon them. If Rusedski was extremely successful he would be as 'British as the Spitfire' in my eyes.......just as Kevin Pietersen is

[m1kee50]

Lewis is a West Ham fan too lol, like all the best Brits

nationality is what you make of it, I'm half Irish, but i could ignore it and say i was english.

Lennox can be martian for all i care, he was a great fighter, a great champion, a great man, and hes a hammer at heart.

Gawd bless ya mr lewis, lol

(tongue well and truly in cheek)

[E]

But to the guy who says Lennox is as 'British as the spitfire' is laughable and in contrast to what Lewis himself has said.

It was meant 'tongue in cheek'

Lennox is British, because he was extremely successful, Rusedski is Canadian, because he wasn't

Bollocks. Lewis was BORN in Britain, and lived his first 12 years here. Rusedski was born in Canada and had a British mother.

HUGE difference.

HUge difference???? REally? Lennox was born here to Jamaican parents and left at 12.... Rusedski was born in CAnada but has a British mother??

So who is the more British according to you?

Christ..I no longer care anyway, they are British-Canadian, and Jamaican-Dritish-CAnadian respectively, but neither are 'as British as the spitfire', baked beans, pie and mash, a pint of warm piss masquerading as beer etc etc


RE TErence's question about tax - well there is some argument that if people take advantage of a country's benefits they should pay some tax.... However I agree the UK is effectively a sh1thole now, not that it was always that way.

PS Can anyone live in Jersey? How does one qualify for living there permanently?

[m1kee50]

you can live in jersy if you know how to play the banjo, and have more toes than average

[E]

you can live in jersy if you know how to play the banjo, and have more toes than average

What about if your name's Funso Banjo?

[nickd]

It was meant 'tongue in cheek'

Lennox is British, because he was extremely successful, Rusedski is Canadian, because he wasn't

Bollocks. Lewis was BORN in Britain, and lived his first 12 years here. Rusedski was born in Canada and had a British mother.

HUGE difference.

HUge difference???? REally? Lennox was born here to Jamaican parents and left at 12.... Rusedski was born in CAnada but has a British mother??

So who is the more British according to you?

Christ..I no longer care anyway, they are British-Canadian, and Jamaican-Dritish-CAnadian respectively, but neither are 'as British as the spitfire', baked beans, pie and mash, a pint of warm piss masquerading as beer etc etc


RE TErence's question about tax - well there is some argument that if people take advantage of a country's benefits they should pay some tax.... However I agree the UK is effectively a sh1thole now, not that it was always that way.

PS Can anyone live in Jersey? How does one qualify for living there permanently?

Someone born in Britain is more British than someone who is born elsewhere but has British parent/s. Quite straightforward surely??

[m1kee50]

you can live in jersy if you know how to play the banjo, and have more toes than average

What about if your name's Funso Banjo?

if we are talking about the actual funso, you can tell him lol

[states]

Nationality is all a load of Bollocks. I'm very glad I'm British, but I'm not proud of it, principally because I had fornicate all to do with it.

[stujones]

Yes, I agree with the last post by States.

I actually consider Greg Rusedski to be British. He done alot for the Game in the UK. Played as many tournaments in the Uk during the season as Tim. Still plays the Davis Cup (Tim doesn't), Enter the British Championships for many years when there was no need and no ranking points up for grabs.

Since "becoming" British, he has certainly done his bit... far more so than Lewis. Who should have had more "homecomings" than he did. Given Tyson's difficulties with getting a licence in Nevada - Lewis vs Tyson should have been set for Wembley or somewhere of that ilk.

[nickd]

Money talks Stu, Lewis v Tyson in the US was one of the biggest boxing PPV's ever. It wouldn't have been if it was held over here.

[stujones]

Money talks Stu, Lewis v Tyson in the US was one of the biggest boxing PPV's ever. It wouldn't have been if it was held over here.

Not sure why if it would have been on prime time in the US live (ala Hatton vs Tszyu).

[nickd]

Money talks Stu, Lewis v Tyson in the US was one of the biggest boxing PPV's ever. It wouldn't have been if it was held over here.

Not sure why if it would have been on prime time in the US live (ala Hatton vs Tszyu).

Possibly, I still don't think it would have done as many PPV's not being in America. Plus 2am start times over here weren't even considered back then. And problems with Tyson getting in the country following the trouble when he was over here a couple of years earlier.

[Max Molyneux]

Kessler is a half unified champion with more titles than you and better challengers queueing up than are in the WBOdorous -the Dane has even beaten the same # of world title holders in only 3 yrs as champ.

Who the hell is queueing up to face Kessler?

Andrade's probably just more interested In being champ a world champ. Other than Otis Grant, I see no good name to see how he'll be a threat to Kessler.

Mundine Is the only good name, but he only goes for WBA regular titles fights journeymen in Oz for a couple of million. What else does he do?

Calzaghe needs Kessler and the other way around.

Kessler's name won't increase fighting on low rate Danish channels.

Beyer wasn't thought of much but when he fights Kessler, oh he's so goooood. Pundit was similar when Beyer was offered to Calzaghe and brought up the not fighting Kessler issue, but then says Joe Is ducking Beyer.

[The Blade]

To emphasise what I was saying about nCalzaghe being avoided, I see Hopkins- according to Boxing News - is going for the low threat return against the shot Roy Jones. Hopkins knows the sport and knows he doesn't need a six foot southpaw in his face.