BoxRec

Joe Calzaghe went 46-0.

Now regarded rightly or wrongly - as one of Britains greatest ever.

Those who know boxing - know alot of his long undefeated record is padded out with nonense fights.

But he did have a number of good world class wins too.

But a casual member of the public just flicking through a newspaper or picking up and having a look at random one of his DVDS in HMV - would be told - Joe Calzaghe the invicincible undefeated greatest British Boxer of all time

Most people would agree that a prime Roy Jones Jnr - would have beaten a prime Calzaghe, etc. - and maybe the likes of James Toney and Bernard Hopkins , etc, etc

But what British Super Middleweight or Light Heavyweight ( the 2 divisions that Calzaghe operated in) - do you feel had the best chance of beating a prime Calzaghe and spoiling that undefeated record .....................

From the poll above - is a number of different fighters - you may feel a few of them could have beaten him

But just select your top choice who you would put forward as the guy you most fancy to beat Calzaghe if they met prime against prime - maybe you just think they were a better fighter - or maybe you just think a certain fighter while not as great as Calzaghe may just have the style to beat him, etc

I selected John Conteh - a dangerous hard punching Light Heavyweight.

I also feel a prime Chris Eubank would have the ring smarts to have beaten Calzaghe.

Collins shouldn't be on this list if you're talking about British fighters. If you're going to include non-British fighters why choose only Collins - what about Ottke or any of the Americans such as Jones, Toney and McCallum?

Lots of ifs and buts surriunding it but had Dean Francis had both arms I think he would have given Calzaghe huge problems.

I honestly have to give Calzaghe the Benefit of the Doubt that he would be able to beat all of the above. His Boxing skills were amazing and Heart couldnt be Questioned during his fights , good Chin also.

The mans a winner

On that list Michael Watson is a good shout. Would have been a good one that.

wouldn't have tipped any of the british fighters against him.

certainly not eubank.

not with his workrate.

Conteh and that's it.

Some would have had a good chance but you never know and I'd never have put money on them like I would with Conteh.

Conteh would give him problems but JC was a class act I dont see anyone else on that list beating him except Conteh he was a strong LHW and could punch

Michael Watson wouldof been the hardest fight for Joe because Watson is a fighter that counters with combinations himself (ala JMM) , Hopkins and Kessler had success by countering Joe but it was often just with single shots.. also Watson dealt with the southpaw stance of Don Lee well who was a dangerouspuncher.. he had a fast overarm right hand punch Watson did that i can just right now visualize catching Joe a fair bit- he caught Mccallum and Eubank with it..

At the same age (22 - 25) Watson was more advanced than Joe nd if his career carried on he would of done alot more than Joe alot faster IMO..

Conteh was big, hard hitting, and a very skilfull boxer, he would have been a very hard night's work.

Watson's workrate and combination punching would have made for a very very close fight.

Prime Eubank was crafty as hell, and hit like a mule - again, a very very hard fight.

All three men would have had a good chance of winning.

what about a prime herol graham

dbf wrote:Lots of ifs and buts surriunding it but had Dean Francis had both arms I think he would have given Calzaghe huge problems.

Like he did in the ABA's!!
KO1 JC and Francis def had both arms

Lennox Lewis would have beat him

Coco wrote:Lennox Lewis would have beat him

Read the post................got to be a active Super Middle or Light Heavyweight - like Joe was.

paulgmccabe wrote:Collins shouldn't be on this list if you're talking about British fighters. If you're going to include non-British fighters why choose only Collins - what about Ottke or any of the Americans such as Jones, Toney and McCallum?

My mistake

However - Collins is so close to home - and well known on these shores - he can stay as a valid option on the list.

Coco wrote:

dbf wrote:Lots of ifs and buts surriunding it but had Dean Francis had both arms I think he would have given Calzaghe huge problems.

Like he did in the ABA's!!
KO1 JC and Francis def had both arms

When i read that earlier,i thought Calzaghe stopped him in the semis in a round
Francis was on fire that year aswell,beat Double ABA Champion Tim Taylor along the way...

SOUTHPAW wrote:what about a prime herol graham

The opition is there for other fighters not listed on the poll

like

Herol Graham
Richie Woodall
Ray Close
Henry Wharton
David Starie
Dean Francis
Mark Prince
Crawford Ashely
etc
etc

Not that I would personally fancy any of the above to beat a prime Calzaghe

FLINT ISLAND wrote:

paulgmccabe wrote:Collins shouldn't be on this list if you're talking about British fighters. If you're going to include non-British fighters why choose only Collins - what about Ottke or any of the Americans such as Jones, Toney and McCallum?

My mistake

However - Collins is so close to home - and well known on these shores - he can stay as a valid option on the list.

You are starting to get in Horse's mindset over lists!

Randy Turpin or John Conteh. I think Freddie Mills would've been a nightmare for him as well.

benn would of blugened calzaghe in his prime

Adamj1987 wrote:benn would of blugened calzaghe in his prime

Benn was one of my fav british fighters ever
but he wouldnt hav blugened Calzaghe,he wot have shot his bolt by 6-8rds&got stopped late

only my opinion

Tommy Gunn13 wrote:

Adamj1987 wrote:benn would of blugened calzaghe in his prime

Benn was one of my fav british fighters ever
but he wouldnt hav blugened Calzaghe,he wot have shot his bolt by 6-8rds&got stopped late

only my opinion

calzaghe had been floored and i think benn hit hard enough to do it perminantly though i know what you are saying benn did gas out in the later rounds looking for a big finish

Benn's style would have been tailor made for Calzaghe. He'd have eaten so many shots on the way in it would have been painful to watch.

I love Benn, a real blood and guts warrior, but no way would he have beaten Calzaghe.

For one thing, Calzaghe's chin was a hell of a lot better than Nige's.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Benn's style would have been tailor made for Calzaghe. He'd have eaten so many shots on the way in it would have been painful to watch.

I love Benn, a real blood and guts warrior, but no way would he have beaten Calzaghe.

For one thing, Calzaghe's chin was a hell of a lot better than Nige's.

it would of been like the robin ried fight excpet benn would of had more effect also. which calzaghe are we talking about? the early championship reign 1 where he had a leathel right hand or the "slapping" version