BoxRec

When Joe Calzaghe outpointed Jeff Lacy many fans and people in the media were praising Calzaghes performance. They were saying such things as it was the greatest performance by a UK based fighter against an overseas fighter, ever seen in the UK (at world level).

Now this got me thinking about another Welsh fighter Eddie Thomas, The Merthyr Marvel, who in 1949 at the Harringay Arena outpointed the outstanding Billy Graham over 10 rounds. I've never seen this fight but have read that Thomas gave a Boxing lesson to the American Graham.

Now Billy Graham was a much better fighter than Jeff lacy has proved to be, so far. Now if indeed Thomas did outclass Graham that night doesn't it rate as more of an achievement than anything Calzaghe has done on a given night, including the Lacy fight?

That nights bill was certainly better than Calzaghe v Lacy.

http://www.boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=46040

Any thoughts or opinions fight fans?

Awe KO the Golden Age indeed, and to think that all over Britain & America & France and South Africa and Australia these type of cards were the 'standard' on an "every other weekly bases!"

I remember one quote, from ESB, I think, the reporter said; " a time when TRUE Champion's and Contenders fought each other every night of the week!" In Benny Lynch's book (if I remember rightly), the Author states; " a World Champion on every corner..!", to illustrate the level of competition at the time.

National titles carried legendary status, a British title was like "a world title" and the ONE official World title was worthy of Sainthood.

We shall never see their like again!!!

Calzaghe's performance over Lacy was one of the best ever by a Brit at world level in the UK. However it sort of exposed Lacy more than anything. I dont think it compares with Randy Turpins victory over SRR. Id also rank Benn's win over McClellan and Hatton's win over Tzsyu higher, not because they were more complete performances but they were over better fighters than Lacy

Exactly, dr_devious...but a more important question, how can this compare with literally dozens of British triumphs over American's, Calzaghe IS LATE in some of these big fights (maybe Hopkins can be blamed, I don't know), but Jeff Lacy(?), overhyped and overated for my money.

Like it says in the old vs new thread "modern" fighters BENIFIT from modern media, which gives exposure to any fighter, the same luxury many past greats never enjoyed the privilege.

Harry Scot scored a victory over Rubin Carter, you could argue quite accuratley is much more impressive than Old (new) Joe!

I think this is a statue of Eddie Thomas, but the website was in Welsh.

KOJOE90 wrote:I think this is a statue of Eddie Thomas, but the website was in Welsh.

You are right mate, that is Eddie Thomas statue in Merthyr.

dr_devious wrote:Calzaghe's performance over Lacy was one of the best ever by a Brit at world level in the UK. However it sort of exposed Lacy more than anything. I dont think it compares with Randy Turpins victory over SRR.

Hell no!!

Thanks Owain.

I have read that Eddie Thomas has a great straight left jab and the statue seems to pay tribute to that.

KOJOE90 wrote:Thanks Owain.

I have read that Eddie Thomas has a great straight left jab and the statue seems to pay tribute to that.

Funny you should say that! There is, allegedly, a political reason for the direction that left jab is being thrown in. Most boxing people in Merthyr know of the story, which I don't really want to go into here. It is a very good statue though.

Jeff Lacy has been largely and rightly discredited as yet another false alarm/hype job... He wasnt all that much at all. The Robinson, Benn, and Hatton victories all rank above Calzaghes.

I agree with DR dEVIOUS. cALZAGHE SHONE AGAINST A VERY POOR lACY i FELT.
hE WAS MORE LIKE A BODY BUILDER THAN BOXER

Didn't Eddie Thomas train Ken Buchanan and Colin Jones? Thomas had a strange way of toughening skin. He wanted Buchanan to piss on his hands & rub on his face, but Buchanan refused.