BoxRec

So Froch would have handled a peak Roy Jones and James Toney would he? Or would he have been in the same boat of being outboxed? (Yes it's fairly obviously the latter option!)

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Im not disagreeing with Calzaghe he would have knocked froch out. But I stand by my comment that the division is weak today.

It's easy to say the 80s/90s was a stronger era but Eubank never actually fought the best of his era did he?

On their best day, the guys in this list would beat the guy below them and so on at super middleweight, in my opinion...

Jones Jr
Toney
Calzaghe
Ward
Nunn
Kessler
McClellan
Froch
Eubank
Benn
Collins
Watson

I think we can exclude Herol Graham, who frankly could never seem to win his important fights ...ie every world title fight! Of the list above you might as well stick Ward under Jones only.

Would Thomas Hearns not have stopped Michael Watson?

polecateddy wrote:Would Thomas Hearns not have stopped Michael Watson?

I should have stated that the list is not all encompassing. It's a list made up of some of the names mentioned in this topic.

mimmy123 wrote:Eubank would kick the shit out of Froch. Different era different talent, period!

What rot. Nonobody but NOBODY, except maybe Roy Jones would have kicked the shit out of Froch, he's an iron man.

Close fight, hard to say who I would favour, Eubank had a habit of posing around a lot, and that would have cost him rounds.

As someone else said, the only one I'd have given a shot of stopping him is Benn from that era, but the liklihood is Froch would have stopped him first.

Watson would have been a very tough fight styles make fights.

I watched every Eubank, Benn and Watson fight that was live on TV and i'm wondering what Eubank some people watched. Eubank fought in a lot of stinkers, got a few gifts and never displayed what I'd call devastating punching power. In the build up to Benn V Eubank 1, Eubank was critisised for lacking in punch power by the ITV commentary team. He was wild at times, looked almost amateurish and Jim Watt was forever critisizing him for taking ages to warm up.

If the Froch that fought Bute turned up and fought Eubank of the first Benn fight or Rochiggiani(probably his best perfomances) I'd take Froch to win in a 8-4, 9-3 type of fight. I don't think Eubank really had a defining win against a really world class opponent.

Don't get me wrong I really loved Eubank and he was always my favourite of the Eubank, Watson, Benn, Collins quartet, but I just think there's a lot of revisionist stuff going on with how good he was and who he beat.

You could well be right, but I suppose you should also bare in a mind that a faded, and probably quite weight-drained Eubank gave Calzaghe his hardest fight. (Joe has said that on numerous occasions.) And yes of course it came at a time when Joe wasn't new to world title fights, i.e. it was his first. But still it was a lot of people's number two super-middle weight OF ALL-TIME getting his hardest fight. It says something the difficulty of dealing with Eubank in the ring, and just how hard a fight he theoretically could have given Carl Froch on say Chris' best night.

JLP wrote:On their best day, the guys in this list would beat the guy below them and so on at super middleweight, in my opinion...

Jones Jr
Toney
Calzaghe
Ward
Nunn
Kessler
McClellan
Froch
Eubank
Benn
Collins
Watson

Wildly optimistic...what on earth did McClellan ever prove at SMW?

polecateddy wrote:You could well be right, but I suppose you should also bare in a mind that a faded, and probably quite weight-drained Eubank gave Calzaghe his hardest fight. (Joe has said that on numerous occasions.) And yes of course it came at a time when Joe wasn't new to world title fights, i.e. it was his first. But still it was a lot of people's number two super-middle weight OF ALL-TIME getting his hardest fight. It says something the difficulty of dealing with Eubank in the ring, and just how hard a fight he theoretically could have given Carl Froch on say Chris' best night.

Yes, but to bear in mind, Calzaghe was a relative Novice compared to Eubank, that wasn't the best we saw of Calzaghe, whlist Eubank knew every trick on the book by then. It's a style thing too. Calzaghe struggled with counter punchers. Even an old Hopkins made him miss wildy at times.

polecateddy wrote:Would Thomas Hearns not have stopped Michael Watson?

Bear in mind, that Hearns was quite brittle at SMW, and Watson was the naturally bigger stronger man, and also had a very good chin.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

JLP wrote:On their best day, the guys in this list would beat the guy below them and so on at super middleweight, in my opinion...

Jones Jr
Toney
Calzaghe
Ward
Nunn
Kessler
McClellan
Froch
Eubank
Benn
Collins
Watson

Wildly optimistic...what on earth did McClellan ever prove at SMW?

Is it just McClellan you think I'm being optimistic with? He never had the chance to prove himself at the weight. So I accept that I'm being extremely hypothetical.

JLP wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

JLP wrote:On their best day, the guys in this list would beat the guy below them and so on at super middleweight, in my opinion...

Jones Jr
Toney
Calzaghe
Ward
Nunn
Kessler
McClellan
Froch
Eubank
Benn
Collins
Watson

Wildly optimistic...what on earth did McClellan ever prove at SMW?

Is it just McClellan you think I'm being optimistic with? He never had the chance to prove himself at the weight. So I accept that I'm being extremely hypothetical.

Don't you think Watson is a bit low, given that he smashed Benn, and really should have had a win over Eubank. How can you rate McClellan above him?

G0mez wrote:Devastating puncher ?

Malinga took Eubank to a split decision and then 12 months later, a novice Roy Jones wiped the floor with Malinga in 6 rounds.

Where are the top boys like Toney and Jones on this giant killer's record?

To be fair, Gomez, he dropped Malinga with one single shot, out of the blue (the 1st time Malinga had been down, ever, I think). I'd say he had pretty good one punch power. Not Tommy Hearns level, but definitely could crack hard enough when he nailed someone good. He seriously wobbled Calzaghe in the last few seconds of their 12 rounder, with 2 dynamite rights.

Some total shite being written on this thread, Benn & Eubank good fighters but both would of lost to Froch, I mean ffs the both lost to sugar boy malinga!!!!!

Froch is second in british boxing history so far to Calgzaghe all the other guys (in uk ie Benn etc) he uds

bengulnaci1 wrote:Eubank via late stoppage. Eubank can match Froch in pretty much everything and surpass him in a fair few. He would put dents in Carl and wear him down.

This.

froch has been in with thw worlds best smw 's and hasnt come close to being KO'd. how anyone can post on here with certainty that x fighter or y fighter would knock him out , is beyond me. another comedian has eubank beating ward!! people talk about floyd and manny being p4p , but for me its ward. when has he even been close to being beaten? froch is beyond criticism as hes fought all the top guys( more or less) eubank, much as i liked him, well, we will never know just how good he could have been...

bengulnaci1 wrote:

G0mez wrote:Devastating puncher ?

Malinga took Eubank to a split decision and then 12 months later, a novice Roy Jones wiped the floor with Malinga in 6 rounds.

Where are the top boys like Toney and Jones on this giant killer's record?

To be fair, Gomez, he dropped Malinga with one single shot, out of the blue (the 1st time Malinga had been down, ever, I think). I'd say he had pretty good one punch power. Not Tommy Hearns level, but definitely could crack hard enough when he nailed someone good. He seriously wobbled Calzaghe in the last few seconds of their 12 rounder, with 2 dynamite rights.

I see your point Bengulnaci, but the fact he was knocked out a couple of fights later doesn't really indicate Malinga was some granite-chinned beast.

Like i still maintain - where are the best of his era on Eubank's record? he has faced nobody, like the rest of the WBO holders.

It's similar to the old John Lennon quote: "When your six feet under, everyone suddenly loves you."

Except in boxing, when you retire you are utterly fantastic despite a ropey record avoiding all the legit, athletic and dangerous men in their absolute prime.

The people like Lennox coveted the big names, but they avoided him until they couldn't any longer - the rest of our 'famous brits' have rather different reasons for not making the big fights i.e. getting tonked.

Newport Daz wrote:I watched every Eubank, Benn and Watson fight that was live on TV and i'm wondering what Eubank some people watched. Eubank fought in a lot of stinkers, got a few gifts and never displayed what I'd call devastating punching power. In the build up to Benn V Eubank 1, Eubank was critisised for lacking in punch power by the ITV commentary team. He was wild at times, looked almost amateurish and Jim Watt was forever critisizing him for taking ages to warm up.

If the Froch that fought Bute turned up and fought Eubank of the first Benn fight or Rochiggiani(probably his best perfomances) I'd take Froch to win in a 8-4, 9-3 type of fight. I don't think Eubank really had a defining win against a really world class opponent.

Don't get me wrong I really loved Eubank and he was always my favourite of the Eubank, Watson, Benn, Collins quartet, but I just think there's a lot of revisionist stuff going on with how good he was and who he beat.

This

I remember watching Saturday fight night on Eubank nights, knowing some poor fighter was going to get the shaft because the WBO wanted a visible champion

I agree with the more recent posts scrutinising Eubank's resume. Maybe a tad harsh to say he had no "world class" wins (surely Benn did enough to get the label World class, surely Rochigianni was world class, surely Malinga was etc). However, he didn't fight the best and his 20 successful defences has to be scrutinised with the lack of American names on it.

However, I think it is harsh to say Eubank got a fair few gifts... name them? I remember there was a bit of an outcry at the time that Eubank didn't get thrown out for the Dan Sherry butt - however, if anyone should have got disqualified it was Sherry, so the right decision was made.

Yes, I agree I think Watson won the first fight.... but aside from that I think Eubank was rightfully awarded the fights he was given. Indeed, could say that he should have got the nod vs Thompson in fight 1.

stujones wrote:I agree with the more recent posts scrutinising Eubank's resume. Maybe a tad harsh to say he had no "world class" wins (surely Benn did enough to get the label World class, surely Rochigianni was world class, surely Malinga was etc). However, he didn't fight the best and his 20 successful defences has to be scrutinised with the lack of American names on it.

However, I think it is harsh to say Eubank got a fair few gifts... name them? I remember there was a bit of an outcry at the time that Eubank didn't get thrown out for the Dan Sherry butt - however, if anyone should have got disqualified it was Sherry, so the right decision was made.

Yes, I agree I think Watson won the first fight.... but aside from that I think Eubank was rightfully awarded the fights he was given. Indeed, could say that he should have got the nod vs Thompson in fight 1.

Both Ray Close fights, Dan Schommer, Benn 2, Malinga, Watson 1

Didn't Jim Watt say that the WBO headquarters were raided and they found the scorecards for Eubank's next six fights? (something on those lines)

thepocketrocket wrote:

stujones wrote:I agree with the more recent posts scrutinising Eubank's resume. Maybe a tad harsh to say he had no "world class" wins (surely Benn did enough to get the label World class, surely Rochigianni was world class, surely Malinga was etc). However, he didn't fight the best and his 20 successful defences has to be scrutinised with the lack of American names on it.

However, I think it is harsh to say Eubank got a fair few gifts... name them? I remember there was a bit of an outcry at the time that Eubank didn't get thrown out for the Dan Sherry butt - however, if anyone should have got disqualified it was Sherry, so the right decision was made.

Yes, I agree I think Watson won the first fight.... but aside from that I think Eubank was rightfully awarded the fights he was given. Indeed, could say that he should have got the nod vs Thompson in fight 1.

Both Ray Close fights, Dan Schommer, Benn 2, Malinga, Watson 1

Didn't Jim Watt say that the WBO headquarters were raided and they found the scorecards for Eubank's next six fights? (something on those lines)

Not sure what Watt said, I'll agree to disagree with those other ones though.... close fights yes (as they were on score cards). We had a thread on the Benn2 fight no long ago and it seemed a pretty even(ish) split... well more were saying Benn, but a good few saying a draw was right or Eubank by a point.

Malinga was very close and thought it could have gone either way (although I scored it for Eubank - I thought Malinga clearly beat Benn in their first fight), definately think Eubank was victor in the Close fights and against Schommer - Close fights, but Eubank had the edge.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

mimmy123 wrote:Eubank would kick the shit out of Froch. Different era different talent, period!

What rot. Nonobody but NOBODY, except maybe Roy Jones would have kicked the shit out of Froch, he's an iron man.

Toney could have too depending on what version turned up, probably the most skilled boxer I've ever seen in my life.