BoxRec

bengulnaci1 wrote:As a fellow Brit and a genuine non-Calzaghe hater all I would say on this topic is that in FW's own words JC struggled to make SMW for 10 years - the reason? RJJ was the supreme fighter and Undisputed LH Champ. All the spin FW used to churn out was simply a smoke screen, spewed to simply keep JC in Wales, fighting, FW selected opponents.

The only exceptions being Kessler and Lacy - which were demanded by JC, as his dissatisfaction grew - and respect to him for pushing and winning these fights.

IMO he needed to step up and fight RJJ, Tarver, Johnson (the Johnson fight fell through a few times due to injuires and money issues - according to FW, for what that is worth - not a whole lot in my bookl, so what if he had lost a few times! He already had enough money, that was the time to chase the legacy and earn his place as an ATG. He let it pass and as such ppl will always question.

Is he an ATG. some will say he is, others will say no. IMO I would say no, partly due to my dissappointment as he had the ability, the heart, chin etc...but passed up the opportunity, in order to preserve the '0'. As GI saiid, he isnt as bad as some say and he is not a great as others state. Shame, as he could have done a fair bit more, but meh :)

TigerMoth wrote:

I've never said i rated him highly outside super middle weight, i wouldnt have fancied him to be undisputed at light heavy. But i dont think anyone could have beaten him prime for prime at super middle.

Where does it state fighters have to fight at different weights to be considered all time greats. Did Ali or lennox lewis drop to middle weight at some point?
I think I do remember Lewis dropping 80 lbs to challenge Joe for the Super Middleweight title, but, Joe wouldn't fight him.
Surely would have been difficult for Joe at his height to put on 7 lbs and fight at Lightheavy. Actually, with 7 lbs of muscle, he might have been able to throw a punch rather than being a slapper! D

kingfinn wrote:

TigerMoth wrote:

I've never said i rated him highly outside super middle weight, i wouldnt have fancied him to be undisputed at light heavy. But i dont think anyone could have beaten him prime for prime at super middle.

Where does it state fighters have to fight at different weights to be considered all time greats. Did Ali or lennox lewis drop to middle weight at some point?
I think I do remember Lewis dropping 80 lbs to challenge Joe for the Super Middleweight title, but, Joe wouldn't fight him.
Surely would have been difficult for Joe at his height to put on 7 lbs and fight at Lightheavy. Actually, with 7 lbs of muscle, he might have been able to throw a punch rather than being a slapper! D

He won the world title at light heavy. I didnt say it would be hard for him to move up a weight, i said he was the best at super middle, why move up a to a weight your not as good in.

Calzaghe was the ultimate super middle weight fighter, id fancy him to beat RJJ at that weight hands down. I wouldnt favour him again Jones at light heavy. Calzaghe would never have been able move up to cruiser but jones made it. Calzaghe didnt have the muscle mass.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:"If it's alot more easier for him, yet you feel he would lose to RJJ, what makes you think RJJ won't beat him at SMW?" - Observer

He's British --- that's all you need know.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:I get that, & my implication wasn't Brits are one-eyed. It was simply a mantra I've long-since held --- show me a non-Brit who thinks Calzaghe beats Jones at SMW. No Brit has yet taken me up on it.