Benn, Calzaghe, Collins, Eubank, Froch...

[J]

Its so hard to choose.

The Benn that beat Mclellon beats any of them thats all i'm certain of.

spot on.

[Londonirish]

Calzaghe Froch Eubanks Collins Ben....

[kamicazze]

I honestly believe that Calzaghe is better than all of them. If you put him in there with the others well here's how i think it would go.
Benn - Just a rerun of the Lacy Fight
Eubank - probably a more convincing win for calzaghe as he was coming straight from his first domestic title fight at that point so was very raw
Collins - I think this would have been a war, with calzaghe adapting and pulling away in rounds 8 onwards.
Froch - I think he would have outworked froch but do believe he may have had a difficult time and eaten a lot of right hands

1.Calzaghe - performances and always won
2.Benn - because he had some good wins at 168
3. Froch - Endless list of names
4. Eubanks - tomato can of the month has him down here
5. Collins - performances you all speak of are down at middle,

[earsjohn]

Im finding it too hard to rank them (Calzaghe above Froch, Froch above Eubank, Eubank above Calzaghe).

Instead I chose the fight I'd most like to have seen (other than the ones we did see)....

Easily prime Froch v prime Benn. That would have been some kind of war. Prime Eubank v prime calzaghe would have been a very interesting fight too.

[loaded_gloves]

Benn - Just a rerun of the Lacy Fight

This is an astonishing thing to write.

You think the man who took Gerald McClellan to war could just be dominated like JEFF LACY?

Words fail me.

[dve3333]

Froch
Calzaghe
Collins
Eubank
Benn

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Calazghe would have been all wrong for Benn I am afraid. Eubank in his prime would have dragged
Calazghe into the Atlantic ocean and drowned him - as for Collins - he was so damn lucky in getting Benn and Eubank when he did.

[sharpei_louis]

Gotta say I'm not convincing myself I rate him the highest in terms of ability, but none of those on the list can match Froch for simply being prepared to fight anyone. His resume is amazing, he will fight anyone anywhere and has put it all on the line. I'm not sure he'd beat Calzaghe or Eubak in their prime, but reckon he probably out 'chin's Benn, and I know he would be the guy making the fights actually happen. If Calzaghe's talent would have had Froch's balls in terms of matchmaking, he would be an all time great.

[taffytoon]

So in terms of placing the 5 in order, its very tough cause styles do make fight - but I would have the Celtic Warrior at #1. Did he duck Joe? Yes, very possibly, but he was also past his prime when they would have fought.

I asked Collins at a Dinner show in Cardiff why he never fought Calzaghe and his actual response was 'I'm Irish, not Stupid'

I was behind you when he said it

[Jon Saxon]

This is mental...I can't believe what I'm reading in this thread.

Calzaghe is a mile out in front of them all...really miles ahead.

[yiddo14]

This is mental...I can't believe what I'm reading in this thread.

Calzaghe is a mile out in front of them all...really miles ahead.

He isn't. We are talking on their very best night against each other, well that's what I'm talking anyway!

In terms of career, there are people on here that have Froch almost level ( some have him ahead ) in terms of achievement.

Joe was a super fighter but let's not elevate him too much. Talk of him being Britains best ever is silly I think. Wilde has that sewn up.

It's so easy to pick holes in all of these guys.
Joe - sub standard opposition, best wins against shot/unproven fighters, arguably lost to Reid and Hopkins.
Froch - arguably lost to Dirrell. Lost to Kessler who Joe beat.
Eubank - arguably lost to Watson, got a couple of questionable decisions. Lost to Collins.
Benn - lost to Watson, Eubank, Malinga and Collins.
Collins - all about timing, beat shot fighters in Eubank and Benn.

A prime Roy Jones stands them all on their head on the same night.

[Finch]

Calzaghe
Eubank
Benn
Froch
Collins

x 2

x3

Can't see how anyone can argue with that, other than possibly Collins being ahead of Froch.

[NazNaci1]

This is mental...I can't believe what I'm reading in this thread.

Calzaghe is a mile out in front of them all...really miles ahead.

He isn't. We are talking on their very best night against each other, well that's what I'm talking anyway!

In terms of career, there are people on here that have Froch almost level ( some have him ahead ) in terms of achievement.

Joe was a super fighter but let's not elevate him too much. Talk of him being Britains best ever is silly I think. Wilde has that sewn up.

It's so easy to pick holes in all of these guys.
Joe - sub standard opposition, best wins against shot/unproven fighters, arguably lost to Reid and Hopkins.
Froch - arguably lost to Dirrell. Lost to Kessler who Joe beat.
Eubank - arguably lost to Watson, got a couple of questionable decisions. Lost to Collins.
Benn - lost to Watson, Eubank, Malinga and Collins.
Collins - all about timing, beat shot fighters in Eubank and Benn.

A prime Roy Jones stands them all on their head on the same night.

Spot on mate. I can't disagree with any of this.

[fist]

Calzaghe
Eubank / Benn
Froch
Collins

[slapbangwhallop]

Always love this topic. Some hilarious opinions.

So Collins beat a shot to pieces washed-up over the hill UNBEATEN Eubank that was two years younger than him, oh yeah and Eubank was afraid to knock anyone out at this stage because of the demons he was carrying around, didnt stop him finishing 4 of his next 5 fights early - the only blemish being another defeat to Collins. You guys will believe any ould shite. ITV sure did addle yer nappers.

Ah sure let them have their fantasy, and let Collins rest easy with his set of 4 wins over the pair.

[allahsnackbar]

prime roy jones at 168 beats all of them with ease

[Karl Jade]

Eubank
Benn
Calzaghe
Froch
Collins

[NazNaci1]

Eubank
Benn
Calzaghe
Froch
Collins

....More like it. This is how I fancy it, Peak for Peak.

[yiddo14]

Always love this topic. Some hilarious opinions.

So Collins beat a shot to pieces washed-up over the hill UNBEATEN Eubank that was two years younger than him, oh yeah and Eubank was afraid to knock anyone out at this stage because of the demons he was carrying around, didnt stop him finishing 4 of his next 5 fights early - the only blemish being another defeat to Collins. You guys will believe any ould shite. ITV sure did addle yer nappers.

Ah sure let them have their fantasy, and let Collins rest easy with his set of 4 wins over the pair.

Eubank was past his best. I notice you didn't bring up Benn. Nobody could argue he was anything other than completely finished by the time Collins got to him.

Eubank was too active considering his decline at that point in his career. You mention Eubank won 4 of his next 5 too, but against pony opposition! Even after taking that all into account, the first Collins fight was effing tight and could easily have gone either way.

I don't hate on Collins, I think he was managed perfectly at that point, hence why his name is on such lists and crops up in these debates when his talent doesn't warrant it.

Anyway, this is prime for prime...I could argue that Robin Reid on his best night would beat Steve Collins if I chose to!

[Roco]

Gotta say I'm not convincing myself I rate him the highest in terms of ability, but none of those on the list can match Froch for simply being prepared to fight anyone. His resume is amazing, he will fight anyone anywhere and has put it all on the line. I'm not sure he'd beat Calzaghe or Eubak in their prime, but reckon he probably out 'chin's Benn, and I know he would be the guy making the fights actually happen. If Calzaghe's talent would have had Froch's balls in terms of matchmaking, he would be an all time great.

Can't see Froch chinning Benn to be honest. Benn was more skilled and quicker of the two. I see Benn getting the better of the exchanges all night long.

[loaded_gloves]

Ditto. The man who was down and hurts vs Jermain Taylor and takes punches to land punches? Recipe for disaster. Benn is going to splatter a bloke like Froch.

[stujones]

If Nigel could survive the likes of McClellan's punches (barely, but he did survive the scares), if he could go the distance with Eubank, if he could go the distance with the likes of Henry Wharton then I aint convinced Froch has got the tools to KO him.

Whilst Froch's strength is probably underated, his power is overated. Only one world class fighter Froch has hurt in his career (Taylor).

[stujones]

Always love this topic. Some hilarious opinions.

So Collins beat a shot to pieces washed-up over the hill UNBEATEN Eubank that was two years younger than him, oh yeah and Eubank was afraid to knock anyone out at this stage because of the demons he was carrying around, didnt stop him finishing 4 of his next 5 fights early - the only blemish being another defeat to Collins. You guys will believe any ould shite. ITV sure did addle yer nappers.

Ah sure let them have their fantasy, and let Collins rest easy with his set of 4 wins over the pair.

Eubank was past his best. I notice you didn't bring up Benn. Nobody could argue he was anything other than completely finished by the time Collins got to him.

Eubank was too active considering his decline at that point in his career. You mention Eubank won 4 of his next 5 too, but against pony opposition! Even after taking that all into account, the first Collins fight was effing tight and could easily have gone either way.

I don't hate on Collins, I think he was managed perfectly at that point, hence why his name is on such lists and crops up in these debates when his talent doesn't warrant it.

Anyway, this is prime for prime...I could argue that Robin Reid on his best night would beat Steve Collins if I chose to!

Whilst naturaly Slapbangwhallop is bias I think your doing Steve Collins a mighty disservice there Yiddo.

Mike McCallum in 1990 - would have destroyed Eubank and Benn. Collins was a 13 (I think) fight novice and he ran him relatively close for the world title. He lost a mighty close (some say hometown) to Reggie Johnson - who would have possibly been the best win on either Eubank or Benn's record and certainly no forgone conclusion had they fought. He also lost a close one to Sambu Kalambay who was an outstanding fighter.

He demolished Chris Pyatt, who was an outstanding fighter and apparently regularly gave Eubank fits in sparring.

All of these were before he entered his prime years as a fighter.

His early career is very underated.

[bigjack]

If Nigel could survive the likes of McClellan's punches (barely, but he did survive the scares), if he could go the distance with Eubank, if he could go the distance with the likes of Henry Wharton then I aint convinced Froch has got the tools to KO him.

Whilst Froch's strength is probably underated, his power is overated. Only one world class fighter Froch has hurt in his career (Taylor).

Yes and Taylor was a middleweight,i have just listened to Froch on the BBC interview going on about Wards lack of power,if he really believes that he is a fool.Then when asked about his own lack of stoppage wins he claims that he has hurt every one of them.

[stujones]

Always love this topic. Some hilarious opinions.

So Collins beat a shot to pieces washed-up over the hill UNBEATEN Eubank that was two years younger than him, oh yeah and Eubank was afraid to knock anyone out at this stage because of the demons he was carrying around, didnt stop him finishing 4 of his next 5 fights early - the only blemish being another defeat to Collins. You guys will believe any ould shite. ITV sure did addle yer nappers.

Ah sure let them have their fantasy, and let Collins rest easy with his set of 4 wins over the pair.

Eubank was past his best. I notice you didn't bring up Benn. Nobody could argue he was anything other than completely finished by the time Collins got to him.

Eubank was too active considering his decline at that point in his career. You mention Eubank won 4 of his next 5 too, but against pony opposition! Even after taking that all into account, the first Collins fight was effing tight and could easily have gone either way.

I don't hate on Collins, I think he was managed perfectly at that point, hence why his name is on such lists and crops up in these debates when his talent doesn't warrant it.

Anyway, this is prime for prime...I could argue that Robin Reid on his best night would beat Steve Collins if I chose to!

Whilst naturaly Slapbangwhallop is bias I think your doing Steve Collins a mighty disservice there Yiddo.

Mike McCallum in 1990 - would have destroyed Eubank and Benn. Collins was a 13 (I think) fight novice and he ran him relatively close for the world title. He lost a mighty close (some say hometown) to Reggie Johnson - who would have possibly been the best win on either Eubank or Benn's record and certainly no forgone conclusion had they fought. He also lost a close one to Sambu Kalambay who was an outstanding fighter.

Edit: Lets not forget what McCallum did to Michael Watson who beat Benn and would go on to beat (in my eyes) Eubank. Steve Collins did a far better account of himself against the bodysnatcher.

He demolished Chris Pyatt, who was an outstanding fighter and apparently regularly gave Eubank fits in sparring.

All of these were before he entered his prime years as a fighter.

His early career is very underated.