Former great most likely to capture old form...

[EddieShredder]

On another thread, I said I fancied RJJ to beat Calzaghe, and stand by that (although, I keep picking against JC and getting it wrong wishful thinking perhaps )...

There's a fair few "former greats" if you like, still fighting on and in the big fight/title fight mix;

DLH
Jones Jnr
Hopkins
Mosley
Tito
Vitali (OK, not a former "great" by any means, but a former title holder who's apparently coming back)

Can you see any of these having one last good fight at the highest level, or even run.... and claiming a title?

Feel free to add any others... I thought about putting Casamayor on that list too, but even though he's faded considerably, he's still right there at LW after the Katsidis fight.

[Coco]

James Toney

[Gray-Fox]

James Toney

Co-signed.

He is different to all of the others in that he doesn't RELY on athleticism.

[EddieShredder]

Good shout.... completely skipped my mind

[DavidPayne]

I'd say Mosley. Can crack, can move, has a good chin and is a tremendous athelete.

However, his most likely opponent at 147, Cotto - he's already lost too and Williams could pose all the questions Forrest did and more.

There is a cheeky side of me would add Hatton to the list.

I'd also venture Hopkins has a tremendous opportunity if he's facing Pavlik.

VK will get beaten by his speed bag and running before he ever faces an opponent.

[DavidPayne]

No, because of course, in Hopkins mind - where PR spin is king and they eye for the dollar ensures perfect 20/20 vision - he didn't lose.

In fact, Hopkins has never lost and the prison he went to 25 years ago makes him unbeatable, blah, blah, blah.

I like Hop, I like his integrity, his independence and his fierce self-discipline but I suspect the PR mouth must, must run upa cul-de-sac soon.

Pavlik could be too, fit, too busy, too strong, too ambitious and hit too hard for a 73 year old Hopkins.

But to me, they're taking a path to Calzaghe here. Not a path to Abraham, Sturm, Duddy etc.

[coneye]

Personaly i feel Hopkins could pull it off but has said all roads lead to Joe.

With saying that don't know why but got a sneaky funny feeling Roy could have one last hooray in him

[Autobarn]

I don't think any of them will capture old form.

DLH, Hopkins, neither can beat top names any more. They're too old. So they fight these silly catchweights. Simple solution. Try and get someone smaller than yourself. Tito & RJJ have been on the catchweight tour for seniors also. Can the achievement of beating someone much smaller than yourself be sufficient to qualify as "regaining form"?

[Coco]

No, because of course, in Hopkins mind - where PR spin is king and they eye for the dollar ensures perfect 20/20 vision - he didn't lose.

In fact, Hopkins has never lost and the prison he went to 25 years ago makes him unbeatable, blah, blah, blah.

I like Hop, I like his integrity, his independence and his fierce self-discipline but I suspect the PR mouth must, must run upa cul-de-sac soon.

Pavlik could be too, fit, too busy, too strong, too ambitious and hit too hard for a 73 year old Hopkins.

But to me, they're taking a path to Calzaghe here. Not a path to Abraham, Sturm, Duddy etc.

I agree, it's all about Calzaghe, that's why Lockett had the fight

[chesh]

I don't think any of them will capture old form.

DLH, Hopkins, neither can beat top names any more. They're too old. So they fight these silly catchweights. Simple solution. Try and get someone smaller than yourself. Tito & RJJ have been on the catchweight tour for seniors also. Can the achievement of beating someone much smaller than yourself be sufficient to qualify as "regaining form"?

Good point. Some fans are mistakenly thinking RJJ is back to (near) his best after beating a retired former welterweight.

[Gray-Fox]

Can't believe people are overlooking the role of age with boxers that rely on athleticism. Hopkins and Toney are the only ones that don't, and Hopkins has shot his bolt. We saw that against Calzone.

[Captain Hook]

Mosley for me, I can see him pulling off one last great victory, then hopefully retiring.

A champ in and out of the ring.

[TerribleTerry]

Mosley for me, I can see him pulling off one last great victory, then hopefully retiring.

A champ in and out of the ring.

Some would say that his 'associations' with Balco have somewhat muddied the waters as far as Sugar Shane is concerned..

Great fighter, no doubt - as a lighweight especially, he was just awesome - but if he was juicing all along does that throw his historical standing into doubt?

[Captain Hook]

Mosley for me, I can see him pulling off one last great victory, then hopefully retiring.

A champ in and out of the ring.

Some would say that his 'associations' with Balco have somewhat muddied the waters as far as Sugar Shane is concerned..

Great fighter, no doubt - as a lighweight especially, he was just awesome - but if he was juicing all along does that throw his historical standing into doubt?

Was he 'juicing' from the start?

[Poncey]

Mosley is apparently starting to show the wear and tear from the ring as he's started slurring.

Glencoffe Johnson for me. He beat Dawson on my card.

[oliverfennell]

If Tyson trained properly, he'd be undisputed champ again.









(Sorry, I thought this was Current Scene)

[Scrap]

Ive got a feeling Jones will spring a surprise. I really do I think his laterel movement will cause Joe problems, Roy to nail Him. Against Trinadad I Think He looked good Technically, I know he was Boxing a Lt middle Bla bla blah, but I thought it was a good Fight with Roy never coming out of 2nd gear and I was impressed. Plus I believe losing all that weight was his main problem as regards his form.

[Wales]

im with you scrap. Also, hopkins beats pavlik.

[Gray-Fox]

I really don't know about Jones. I do think Hop can beat Pav though.

[Wales]

I'm seeing Joe on the slide just as the others are.the worry with jones is he appears happy to cruise to defeat and pick up a cheque.

[Gray-Fox]

I'm seeing Joe on the slide just as the others are.the worry with jones is he appears happy to cruise to defeat and pick up a cheque.

Nah. Jones will come to win.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

DLH - not fighting any top guys in his weight class
Jones Jnr - fighting Calazage, he has stylistic advantages but just doesnt have the engine to put them into gear for long enough
Hopkins - Old False Teeth may have 1 last hurrar up his sleave
Mosley - I had him beating Cotto, cant see a rematch and cant see him being around long now
Tito - cant be assed to make weight
Vitali - could beat sloppy Peter, neither are great

Youth usually prevails in boxing but a few of the top dogs are still golden oldies, Calazage (36), Marquez (34), Casamayor (37), Nate Campbell (36)

[EddieShredder]

Youth usually prevails in boxing but a few of the top dogs are still golden oldies, Calazage (36), Marquez (34), Casamayor (37), Nate Campbell (36)

Agreed.... I thought about including all of them, but they're all still at - or at least near - the top of their game

[Scrap]

Ive never Bet against Joe, but I have a Feeling about this one. Joe these Days isnt a Banger and you dont throw clusters in front of Roy youre giving Him to much time .

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

If Tyson trained properly, he'd be undisputed champ again.









(Sorry, I thought this was Current Scene)

ahhh i adore those posts on the current scene. I remember people responding to a quote where Tyson said after the McBride fight "I got beat by the better man, i'm not interested in boxing no more, I haven't trained for years, i just want out"

by saying "If Tyson was trained by Kevin Rooney again, he's be back in shape and KO'ing Vitali in 1 round"

terrific stuff


Jones to KO Calzaghe by the way, and im being serious