Joseph Calzaghe

[FLINT ISLAND]

This thread is to discuss the professional career of Joseph Calzaghe.

46 wins 0 losses 0 draws

The man -The Legend - The Myth

Is he Wales best ever fighter ?

Is he Britains best ever fighter ?

Is he a all time great ?

Or is he a coward - who run from real challenges - and stayed in the safe cocoon of the WBO / allegedly / Sports Network / Cardiff Ice Rink - during his prime years ???????

[DavidPayne]

He's all those things.

[banjo]

He beat some good solid fighters and he beat some fighters who shouldn't have been in the same ring as him and the two "great" fighters he beat were past there best.

I wouldn't go as far to say he's a coward but he certainly didn't seem to push for certain fights as much as he could have.

[Scrap]

I would never have Bet against Him

[alexpaterson]

He's all those things.

x2 Very true

[alexpaterson]

True Ant his injuries must of affected him he lost his power but he was still a great fighter it would've been good to see how he would of faired fighting great fighters in their prime I think he would've been as good as them. He definelty is great though no questioning it!

[Wales]

He's all those things.

Im assuming you're being sarcastic there David.

Calzaghe above Jimmy Wilde - I dont think so, and thats just in Wales. The ghost with a hammer in his hand fought in ane ra where there were no handpicked opponents or waiting for fighters to be over the hill.

Calzaghe was great, Wilde greater.

[Asterix]

Hand troubles and troubles outside of the ring stopped his career from being something more. He was undoubtedly World class, but avoided challenges that would have gained him a lot of respect, whether he won or lost.

A brilliant boxer, imo. I'm not going to get hung up over whether he was the best Britain has ever had. Frankly, I don't give a sh*t. I enjoyed his fights with Lacy and Kessler immensely.

[tonyevs]

This thread is to discuss the professional career of Joseph Calzaghe.

46 wins 0 losses 0 draws

The man -The Legend - The Myth

Is he Wales best ever fighter ?

Is he Britains best ever fighter ?

Is he a all time great ?

Or is he a coward - who run from real challenges - and stayed in the safe cocoon of the WBO / allegedly / Sports Network / Cardiff Ice Rink - during his prime years ???????

You`d have to be very stupid, to ever try to seriously label any guy who gets into the ring a coward

I say he is definety one of Wales/Britains best. The top 5 will always vary depending on each of our views, but he would make the top 5 in most people list.

I`d say he did stay too long in his comfort zone. He was getting paid very well, so who can really blame him? If he was after the trophies and accolades he`d have stayed in the vest - but no, he wanted the money, as all pro boxers do. The step up to fight Eubank and early in his career and fighting such an awkward guy as Hopkins, in his own country - on his own bill shows he could, when pushed, take the risks.

Lazy? maybe.
A coward? never.

[ALI]

His legend status is being based on two fights, his wins over Hopkins and Jones Jr. Stupid really as Hopkins was 43 and still made Calzaghe look amatuerish, a younder Hopkins would have easily beaten him. Jones Jr was never at the races in their fight, but what would have been the outcome had they fought around 2000/1/2??? Anyone backing Calzaghe?

The legend status is nonsense. He may be considered as one of Britains best, but globally, his record falls way way short in what would be required to reach all time great/legend status.

[Asterix]

You`d have to be very stupid, to ever try to seriously label any guy who gets into the ring a coward

I say he is definety one of Wales/Britains best. The top 5 will always vary depending on each of our views, but he would make the top 5 in most people list.

I`d say he did stay too long in his comfort zone. He was getting paid very well, so who can really blame him? If he was after the trophies and accolades he`d have stayed in the vest - but no, he wanted the money, as all pro boxers do. The step up to fight Eubank and early in his career and fighting such an awkward guy as Hopkins, in his own country - on his own bill shows he could, when pushed, take the risks.

Lazy? maybe.
A coward? never.

In his book, Joe says that he was having relationship troubles and that's why he pulled out of some fights (Glen Johnson being one, I think). So, rather than it being a comfort thing, I think his head just wasn't right.

[Wales]

better that than fighting losing then moaning about it.

[Adamj1987]

i agree with a except brittains greatest fighter

i think ken buchannen was the better fighter and took the harder challenges and if you include lennoz lewis then id put calzaghe 3rd but that is behind 2 absolutte legend hall of famers

[tonyevs]

He's all those things.

Im assuming you're being sarcastic there David.

Calzaghe above Jimmy Wilde - I dont think so, and thats just in Wales. The ghost with a hammer in his hand fought in ane ra where there were no handpicked opponents or waiting for fighters to be over the hill.

Calzaghe was great, Wilde greater.

You can only really judge a boxer by the era in which he fought in. I`m pretty sure Jimmy Wilde, like almost all pro boxers, given the chance, would stay in the comfort zone if they too were being well paid.

And without trying to come across as condescending - You really need to read up on the boxing game from that era if you think there was no hand picked opponents. Jimmy Wilde fought for the money firstly and most importantly.

[hitman_hatton1]

best super middleweight champion of all time.

[Wales]

Thats fine, Ive read his autobiography. Wilde was a fighter who took on all comers. Of course he fought for money primarily, he didnt fight for legacy like Calzaghe admitedly did. When Wilde fought Herman (who'd intentionally lost his title a month before fighting wilde and regained it around a month after - that what we in wales believe anyway) he was giving away 14lbs!!! When you consider Wilde wa sa flyweight, thats a massive ammount to give away. Quite astonishing when you think of it.

Its a shame we dont know how many fights wilde had, 500? and 90+% will have been against much bigger men

[tonyevs]

The legend status is nonsense. He may be considered as one of Britains best, but globally, his record falls way way short in what would be required to reach all time great/legend status.

I can`t think of any British fighter, who measures up against the true greats of the sport.

We have never had an Ali, Robinson, Duran, Lopez or even a ODLH :(

[banjo]

It is amazing how people do put the blinkers on while analysing boxers careers though isn't it, I mean you see Calzaghe derided as a fraud or a coward whereas Floyd Mayweather Jr. is heralded as an all time great even though his career is manufactured in a similar fashion to Calzaghes ie. the biggest name on his record being the best part of a decade past his best.

[Wales]

Im not slating joe, or bigging up floyd banjo... but look at the fighters PBF stepped UP to fight in Hatton, De La Hoya, Judah, Gatti, Baldmoir or corrales when both were undefeated. mayweather has a far far stronger resume.

[tonyevs]

I`d take all boxers autos/bios with a pinch of salt

Things are always glossed over, forgotten or sometimes imagined

Floyd `Money` Mayweather .. just about says it all ...

[DavidPayne]

He's all those things.

Im assuming you're being sarcastic there David.

Calzaghe above Jimmy Wilde - I dont think so, and thats just in Wales. The ghost with a hammer in his hand fought in ane ra where there were no handpicked opponents or waiting for fighters to be over the hill.

Calzaghe was great, Wilde greater.

I was being too casual. Of course, Wilde is leagues higher.

[Wales]

I feel like a cheated on partner now, never know if you're telling me the truth.

[Adamj1987]

Im not slating joe, or bigging up floyd banjo... but look at the fighters PBF stepped UP to fight in Hatton, De La Hoya, Judah, Gatti, Baldmoir or corrales when both were undefeated. mayweather has a far far stronger resume.

wasnt mayweather a clear fave in all those fights except DLH where the odds where closer

thats same as joe's carrier i think mayweather seems to be bigger because he's big in america and was on HBO where as joe was on sky and free itv

[ALI]

The legend status is nonsense. He may be considered as one of Britains best, but globally, his record falls way way short in what would be required to reach all time great/legend status.

I can`t think of any British fighter, who measures up against the true greats of the sport.

We have never had an Ali, Robinson, Duran, Lopez or even a ODLH :(

Lennox Lewis would come closest to it i reckon.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He's all those things.

Im assuming you're being sarcastic there David.

Calzaghe above Jimmy Wilde - I dont think so, and thats just in Wales. The ghost with a hammer in his hand fought in ane ra where there were no handpicked opponents or waiting for fighters to be over the hill.

Calzaghe was great, Wilde greater.

I was being too casual. Of course, Wilde is leagues higher.

Very hard comparing those era, but what is clear is that Wilde was in incredibly tough guy. He would no doubt have flourished in an era were careers were managed with a lot more caution and it was easier to avoid the best.

If we imagine that Calzaghe would have been around the likes of Toney, Jones Jr, Michael Nunn etc, in an era where you simply had to fight the top boys he would have had one, and possibly quite a few more losses.

Although the overlap with Jones Jr wasn't that big, I've no doubt he would have lost to Jones Jr had they met. Toney, maybe he could have beaten, but judging by how badly he struggled with old man hopkins, another counterpuncher, I very much doubt it.

Calzaghe was a very very good figthter, maybe a great one, but legend - my ass!