Best brit since 1980? ?

benn & eubank by miles the shitman should'nt be on the list until he beats somebody who was'nt blown up or washed up, or actualy shows some skills :rolleyes:

I've got footage of Kirkland winning the ABA's at 17, and he looks more like a 12-year-old.. 11-year-old even. He was a very 'young 17' and had no punch, but boy he was good back then (pre-Special K).

he wasted his talent, but kirkland laing was the best fighter of his era, but he'll not be remembered like lewis or hamed cos he did'nt win world titles. but i'll never forget him.

Whos the prick that said Lewis was born in Jamaica? heheh why cuz his skin color aint white? lol That dude must have ring sting.He was born in london u thick shit.. And he is by far the best brit since 1980

Mundine would've been an intriguing fight The Kessler/Beyer winner has already been pushed aside for the likes of Johnson or Woods. As for his career resume, when people highlight Mitchell and Brewer as two of your biggest wins, and those guys are hardly even remembered in American boxing, you have some serious holes in your career. True, one fight does not determine a career, but Bika is the same type of fight Joe has taken 40 times in his career. Robin Reid was the only guy outside his typical opponent, he actually moved, jabbed, and showed something other than power and a chin, and he gave Joe the toughest fight of his career. Mundine? Another no mark quite frankly. I don't understand people criticising his next opponent without coming out with another one who isn't at least world class. As for the next fight, I can't see the Woods one happening - too much politics and some rather unrealistic demands from the Woods camp (if their demands are even half serious then Calzaghe would probably have to pay to fight). Can't see the Kessler fight happening 4 months after his warmup against Beyer, but you never know. His career seems to be going towards the US fighters, so wouldn't surprise me to see one of the "big names" over there be next up. As for holes in his career, it rather depends on what Calzaghe's ambitions were. He's fought the best around at his weight, been undefeated and reigned as World Champion for a decade, and not ducked anyone - there's an argument that the likes of Jones and Hopkins ducked him (particularly the latter given their agreement) but that's irrelevant. I'm sure he'd like one or two more massive paydays but from a career point of view the people that will generate the money are not necessarily the ones who will challenge him in the ring. Anyway, Reid wasn't his toughest fight. Closest, probably. That Eubank fight was brutal though.

Lennox is the top heavy since Ali, but Zaghe has sick skills

I got to say lewis, I like Hatton, and Hammed, but when you say best, you have to take in several variables. I think Lewis dominated his division, Had a huge money making potential, and made a name for himself amongst legends. He also unified his division. So yeah I'll go with Lewis

I remember thinking Calzaghe was going to seriously hurt Eubank, he'd clearly lost every minute of every round in the second Collins fight (outrageous scoring) and looked Very lacklustre in the Middle East. Calzaghe proved his chin, heart and stamina that night though - kind of the missing pieces of the jigsaw.

When you do it against guys who present no threat, it proves nothing. Have any of Hector Camacho's fights proven anything except his last fight and his Weis fight? Nope. Those were by far his two best opponents and he got beaten by both. Oh, fuck off.

Kirkland had so much talent, a complete waster. Bomber had even more talent, but was avoided like the plague. Honeyghan lacked talent, and discipline for that matter, but was determined enough in the ring. Pre-Watson Eubank was the best of the lot.

Hey, I was just saying it proved at the time that he could box as well as punch. He knocked an opponent CLEAN out, then the following week won every second of every round with dazzling skills against a real slugger who was clearly naturally bigger. When you do it against guys who present no threat, it proves nothing. Have any of Hector Camacho's fights proven anything except his last fight and his Weis fight? Nope. Those were by far his two best opponents and he got beaten by both.

i think lang beat duran (correct me if im wrong) if so that is a great achievement depending on when he actually beat him though

Edwards sucked, all he had going for him against Joe was size, and it was only like 8 pounds. The guy ended up 6-16. Minton was about 8 years out of his "prime", for the lack of a better word, and was only beating the likes of Strickland at that point in his career. Joe proved nothing against two severely overmatched opponents. 49 losses between them, I wouldn't exactly use them of proof of anything except Joe can beat guys he should beat. Hey, I was just saying it proved at the time that he could box as well as punch. He knocked an opponent CLEAN out, then the following week won every second of every round with dazzling skills against a real slugger who was clearly naturally bigger.

Back then, Calzaghe had scarey power. The shot he hit Tyler Hughes with was unreal, he jumped in and swung a 100% arm punch with a kind of cocky expression on his face and Hughes went flying and was out before he hit the canvas. Killing himself to make weight and a fragile hand have prevented him hitting as hard as he did in his early career.

That's Bobbie Joe Edwards. Joe fought him the following week he put Frank Minton (who had been in with six former or future world champions) to sleep, proving he could box as well as punch. Edwards sucked, all he had going for him against Joe was size, and it was only like 8 pounds. The guy ended up 6-16. Minton was about 8 years out of his "prime", for the lack of a better word, and was only beating the likes of Strickland at that point in his career. Joe proved nothing against two severely overmatched opponents. 49 losses between them, I wouldn't exactly use them of proof of anything except Joe can beat guys he should beat.

I remember Joe using sweeping left hooks over and over, more so than the right hook, against Eubank.

Nobody expected Eubank to put up such a good fight, indeed people feared for his safety, especially after having to lose 20lbs in seven days, post-Watson he'd never shown that heart and drive again until the Calzaghe fight. It was much closer than expected, he made the wild boy dig deep, and was the first person to ever withstand Calzaghe's power of punch (Calzaghe did a Lacy on Eubank's cousin and just boxed his ass off because he was a slugging cruiserweight). Right and Eubank did show heart. But that also doesn't change the basic fact that Joe is not exactly the most difficult guy to hit. The scoring in that fight could be closer if someone took a penchant in awarding effort. Eubank landed but Calzaghe landed way too many fucking chopping shots on top of Eubank's head. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

(Calzaghe did a Lacy on Eubank's cousin and chose to box his ass off instead of try to KO him because he was a slugging cruiserweight ie too dangerous). That's Bobbie Joe Edwards. Joe fought him the following week he put Frank Minton (who had been in with six former or future world champions) to sleep, proving he could box as well as punch.

Close fight my ass. Joe was landing the right hook at will on Eubanks head. Chopping shots from different angles. Nobody expected Eubank to put up such a good fight, indeed people feared for his safety, especially after having to lose 20lbs in seven days, post-Watson he'd never shown that heart and drive again until the Calzaghe fight. It was much closer than expected, he made the wild boy dig deep, and was the first person to ever withstand Calzaghe's power of punch (Calzaghe did a Lacy on Eubank's cousin and chose to box his ass off instead of try to KO him because he was a slugging cruiserweight ie too dangerous).

You're gonna have a tough time making people believe an 8 point fight was close. Eubank landed some good shots, but Calzaghe was hardly "battered" and he won a very wide decision. That's like agreeing with the 118-110 scorecard in Hagler/Leonard. I have yet to see anyone believe that. In terms of the scoring system it wasn't obviously. But every round was close.. mostly due to Eubank's ability to absorb, heart and long-lost determination.