Joe Calzaghe: The greatest Super Middleweight ever?

[pundit]

I think even if Calzaghe suddenly has a great spell toward the end of his career, Toney and especially Jones will always be considered the greater fighters. They used their best years while Calzaghe wasted them, and he won't be able to catch up with them in a final spurt.

However neither Jones nor Toney spent most to their careers at 168 -- so if you take them out there comes a bunch of second-rank fighters like Benn, Eubank, Ottke, Collins. Calzaghe is one of them. Where you rank him there -- first or last -- is largely a matter of taste.

If he unifies with Kessler though I guess one has to place him on top of that group. And if he'd unify, then step up to 175 and win a belt there, he would actually put some clearn air between himself and the other claimants.

[jimglen]

Joe won't beat Kessler, if they even meet?

I'd love to see Joe end his career with a match against Hopkins, that would be huge both sides of the Atlantic. Hop & Jones vs Calzaghe should have happened years ago and on the home front Calzaghe vs Froch.

Benn isn't second rate and Michael Watson neither, these are Joe Calzaghe's British "daddy's" as well as Jock McAvoy, Bert Gilroy, Len Johnson, Jack Casey, Ginger Sadd and the like...

[Ezzard]

Calzaghe is a very good fighter. People seem to be forgetting that Eubank also had a fair share of poor challengers and got some very dodgy decisions.

I'd take Calzaghe's industry to take a decision off Eubank and Watson. Benn could catch him in the exchanges though.

Toney was too inconsistent and wouldn't beat Calzaghe if he didn't take the fight seriously. If Toney prepared properly I'd make him favourite.

It's disappointing that Joe hasn't taken on more top fighters within the division but that's the disease that is killing the sport.

[I Feel Fine]

It depends on your criteria.

I think Jones would beat Calzaghe or Benn or Eubank. But he only had 5 defenses, even if he beat Toney. Does that hurt him? Maybe, maybe not.

Benn and Eubank had a lot of defenses and some good wins, even if Calzaghe has had more longevity. But Calzaghe hasn't beaten any McClellan's either.

It's kind of subjective. I guess any of those answers would be okay. A win over Kessler would help Calzaghe's argument.

[Chuck1052]

Joe Calzaghe knows how to fight and has fast hands,
but he is far from being a great fighter, let alone the
top 168-lber of all time.

- Chuck Johnston

[Elton John]

Is he the greatest super middleweight ever?

That title goes to Roy Jones.

[bollox]

It depends on your criteria.

I think Jones would beat Calzaghe or Benn or Eubank. But he only had 5 defenses, even if he beat Toney. Does that hurt him? Maybe, maybe not.

Benn and Eubank had a lot of defenses and some good wins, even if Calzaghe has had more longevity. But Calzaghe hasn't beaten any McClellan's either.

It's kind of subjective. I guess any of those answers would be okay. A win over Kessler would help Calzaghe's argument.

Well put

[I Feel Fine]

Yeah, because four major title defenses really means something. Beating Kessler would simply make him a Champion for the first time in Calslappy's pathetic career.

Yep, you can make that case too. I think that is also relevant, though to be fair, Eubank was also WBO champion at 168. How long has Calzaghe been Ring Magazine champion, anyway? Did he win that in the Lacy fight, or did he have that from beforehand? I don't really remember.

[I Feel Fine]

I usually like Ring rankings, though not always. I agree though, you could make the case that Calzaghe is not the clear cut champion... it would be wise for him to fight Kessler, if he cares about his status at 168. The winner is undisputed champion and its an even fight, I can see either of them winning.

[generic screen name]

Being the best in a pseudo division means crap.

Who's the best super bantamweight ever?
Who's the best junior welterweight ever?
Answer to both WHO CARES!!!!

Being the best in the original six division really matters in my opinion. Your measuring the history of the sport against a whole division. Why care about who's the best cruiserweight ever if the division is only there for 20-ish years??

[silkov]

Calzaghe is a good fighter but he's just fought too many mediocre opponents to be classed as great imo.... I can see Benn, Collins and Eubank having a good shot at beating him in their primes, also Barkely, Hearns and Jones and Toney... God knows I'm no fan of Jones but I dont see how anyone can put Calzaghe in Jones or Toneys class... Toney would have beaten him up imo...

[I Feel Fine]

Being the best in a pseudo division means crap.

Who's the best super bantamweight ever?
Who's the best junior welterweight ever?
Answer to both WHO CARES!!!!

Being the best in the original six division really matters in my opinion. Your measuring the history of the sport against a whole division. Why care about who's the best cruiserweight ever if the division is only there for 20-ish years??

In some ways I agree, in some ways I don't. I would agree that being the greatest Lightweight or Welterweight or Middleweight is a lot more impressive, but I don't think its fair to say that being the best ever at 122 or 140 or 168 is insignificant... those divisions have had some great fighters.

[I Feel Fine]

Well hopefully it happens later this year, or at least by next year. We'll see.

[silkov]

Being the best in a pseudo division means crap.

Who's the best super bantamweight ever?
Who's the best junior welterweight ever?
Answer to both WHO CARES!!!!

Being the best in the original six division really matters in my opinion. Your measuring the history of the sport against a whole division. Why care about who's the best cruiserweight ever if the division is only there for 20-ish years??

I know what your saying but there have been some very good even great fighters at 168... as for the 140 division its history contains a huge list of great fighters and champs... the same could be said for the 130 division.... so its silly really to just dismiss these divisions the same thing happened when the flyweight and Lightheavyweight titles were originally started...