"I aim to prove that I am the greatest British Super-Middleweight - better than Nigel Benn or Chris Eubank. I have a dream that I can take on and beat Roy Jones Jr." - Joe Calzaghe April 1996
Joe's first ever defeat came when he was 10 years old, the referee was his opponents father and the referee gave the decision to his son instead of Joe, that was despite Joe coming out of the fight without a mark on him whereas his opponent (the referee's son) came out of the fight with puffy eyes, a fat lip and a bloody nose. Joe quit boxing for three years after that loss to concentrate on football instead. Joe's only ever loss apart from that came at the 1990 European's in Romania, Joe lost to a Romanian in the semi-final in what makes Roy Jones Jr's loss to Si-Hun Park look fair by comparison!
Every witness to Joe Calzaghe's two losses in the amateurs claim Joe completely dominated the fights with talented handspeed and was absolutely robbed. So basically, Joe has never lost a boxing match in his entire life!
Joe won four British Schoolboy titles in a row (1985-88), at Lightweight in 1985 and at Light-Welterweight 1986-88. He won the British ABA Junior's in 1989 and 1990 at Welterweight, he won the Welsh ABA Senior's in 1989, 1990 and 1991 at Welterweight, he was screwed at the 1990 Senior European Championships.
He then went on to win three British ABA Senior titles one year after another at three different weights (Welterweight in 1991, Light-Middleweight in 1992, Middleweight in 1993). He turned professional in 1993 as a Super-Middleweight on the Lewis-Bruno undercard in Cardiff (live on HBO and Sky Sports).
Politics didn't allow Joe to compete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the Welsh ABA refused to nominate him because they felt he was disrespectful (dropping his gloves and tapping opponents on the head, and Ali shuffles etc). Only one boxer took Joe the full nine minutes as a Senior Amateur and that was that Romanian who Joe was utterly robbed against.
It should be noted that Joe beat Chris Sanigar's Bristol boys at the 1992 ABA's - Glenn Catley and Dean Francis. Catley was a future world champion and Francis was a future European champion. So these were quality opponents. Joe stopped Francis easily in the semi and stopped Catley easily in the final.
Before Eubank, the only fighter to take Joe the distance in the pro's was actually Chris Eubank's cousin Bobbie Joe Edwards, but Joe was fighting a Cruiserweight here in only his 10th pro fight. Calzaghe was turning heads in the paid ranks with the power and athleticism that was blowing away opponents.
At 19-0-0 with 18 KO's (most of which TKO's in one or two rounds), Joe was all set to fight Charles Brewer in an eliminator to decide who fights Roy Jones, but Joe suffered an injury and had to pull out. I often wonder what would of happened had Joe not picked up that injury, had he beaten Brewer in 1996 and fought Jones Jr right after...
That's just not true, sorry. He doesn't choose to fight ageing past their prime fighters, he has always wanted to fight the best but can only beat who actually wants to fight him.
Sounds exactly like a De La Hoya fan, but even DLH has been in some fights with live bodies! I think Calzaghe has skills, and that the fight with Lacy will be a good one while it lasts. I just dont see him beating Lacy at this stage in his career. He should have fought Lacy 2 years ago when he was still green. Then again that would be what we "expect" from Joe. Who knows maybe we will all be eating crow on 3/5. As long as its a good fight I honestly could care less. Plus its FREE!
:boxing:
Ring Magazines 2002 edition of the "Best 80 fighters of the past 80 years" is quite interesting...
they show no signs of chris eubank, nigel benn, or even joe calzaghe...
curious...
*Rated #3 (behind Ali and Hamed) in KO Magazine's "Top Ten Showmen of the Last 50 Years" (2001)
*Named World Boxing Organisation "Fighter of the Decade" (1990s)
*Involved in World Boxing Organisation "Fight of the Decade" (18.11.1990, Vs. Nigel Benn)
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Boxer:Chris_Eubank:000804
fighter of the decade for the 90's? no oscar de la hoya, or evander holyfield, or pernell whitaker, or even lennox lewis? their choice is chris eubank? come the fuck on...
fight of the decade for the 90's? no tyson/holyfield, or holyfield/bowe, or chavez/taylor? they settle for benn/eubank? give me a break...
top ten showmen... who the fuck cares? boxing is not a show, boxing is not a play, boxing is not something thats for the viewers entertainment (mostly its not). being a good showman and being a good boxer are too very different things. just look at sugar ray leonard. he was built for TV, not boxing.
I thought Calzaghe was as good as anything I saw when he was wiping out everybody put in front of him, then the Eubank fight came along and he won it spectactularly and that was supposed to be the start of something special, but he hasnt done anything since!
Id say the best he's fought are Brewer and Starie ..
(Eubank dehydrated and rusty, Mitchell overrated)
I was never impressed with Reid, other than his physique, the only decent win Reid has ever had was Wharton (but he was an underdog in that fight even though Wharton only had four weeks to prepare and had been inactive, and he broke Whartons nose in round eight which allowed him to pick up the last four rounds because Wharton couldnt breath properly, if it wasnt for that Wharton would of won) ..
I think Calzaghes toughest nights work remains Eubank, followed by Brewer .. Mitchell and Salem were tough because he had to get up off the floor, and Reid and Ashira were tough because he was fighting with one arm ..
In Calzaghe's last three fights he has been a shadow of his former self and its only a matter of time before some young hotshot comes along and beats him ..
I agree he is a big waste of talent .. but he is actually afraid of flying so maybe thats why he was reluctant to jump on the plane and go to Stateside ..
*Rated #3 (behind Ali and Hamed) in KO Magazine's "Top Ten Showmen of the Last 50 Years" (2001)
*Named World Boxing Organisation "Fighter of the Decade" (1990s)
*Involved in World Boxing Organisation "Fight of the Decade" (18.11.1990, Vs. Nigel Benn)
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Boxer:Chris_Eubank:000804
This is all I could find..
http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/836/bennringmag4ir.jpg
https://secure.contactdesigns.net/boxingstuff.com/htdocs/contactcommerce/images/items/bm1090mag.jpg
http://img108.echo.cx/img108/3482/k5tv.jpg
Have you seen any Benn or Eubank fights?
Yes or no.
It's understandable you don't want to elaborate or back up your non sense when you know it will lead to further exposure of your ignorance.
i saw clips of eubank/benn 1 and i saw benn/mcclellan.
yes, eubank was slick, skillful, and impressive. benn was average and nothing notable, except his heart and power.
why are you talking? ur not saying anything...
Have you seen any Benn or Eubank fights?
Yes or no.
It's understandable you don't want to elaborate or back up your non sense when you know it will lead to further exposure of your ignorance.
Yes, about how ignorant and uninformed you are.
Question:
Have you seen any Benn or Eubank fights?
Yes or no.
why are you talking? ur not saying anything...
Any sane boxing enthusiast would rate Benn-Eubank and Benn-McClellan in the top 10 fights of the 1990's, Benn-McClellan maybe even top five all-time.
top ten of the 90's? who gives a shit about the 90's? the 90's was the beginning of the worst time for boxing.
you DO know that the ring magazine was around since the 1920's, right? and that means that they were still around when those two were fighting, right? if they were as good as you say they were, then they probly shouldve won some sort of award like, o say maybe, Fighter of the Year, or Fight of the Year?
Any sane boxing enthusiast would rate Benn-Eubank and Benn-McClellan in the top 10 fights of the 1990's, Benn-McClellan maybe even top five all-time.
Plain stupid would be calling Eubank and Benn "bums".
They were very good fighters. Not as great as this guy makes them out to be, but you only make yourslef look ignorant and grossly uninformed to write them off as anything short of World Class fighters.
im sorry, are you talking?
What are you talking about? I really don't understand. How are you going to see Benn or Eubank in Ring magazine when they don't even fight anymore? Are you for real or what?
you DO know that the ring magazine was around since the 1920's, right? and that means that they were still around when those two were fighting, right? if they were as good as you say they were, then they probly shouldve won some sort of award like, o say maybe, Fighter of the Year, or Fight of the Year?
thats not an excuse. thats just plain stupid.
Plain stupid would be calling Eubank and Benn "bums".
They were very good fighters. Not as great as this guy makes them out to be, but you only make yourslef look ignorant and grossly uninformed to write them off as anything short of World Class fighters.
I'll go and scan some ancient front covers of American Ring Magazine with Benn or Eubank on the front cover if I can find any in my collection (if that would make you feel any better)?
thats not an excuse. thats just plain stupid.
What are you talking about? I really don't understand. How are you going to see Benn or Eubank in Ring magazine when they don't even fight anymore? Are you for real or what?