BoxRec

Jeff Thomas wrote:Its so hard to choose.

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

kamicazze wrote:
Benn - Just a rerun of the Lacy Fight

Cardiff-Lad1 wrote:

stujones wrote: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'

Jon Saxon wrote: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.

bigjack wrote:

Gazmac81 wrote:Calzaghe
Eubank
Benn
Froch
Collins

x 2

yiddo14 wrote:

Jon Saxon wrote: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.

Karl Jade wrote:Eubank
Benn
Calzaghe
Froch
Collins

slapbangwhallop wrote: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.

sharpei_louis wrote: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.

yiddo14 wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote: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!

stujones wrote: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 wrote:

yiddo14 wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote: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.