I like Calzaghe as a fighter. However, he cannot be completely exonerated from the catalogue of mediocrity he's faced between the better fighters over the past decade.
Eric Lucas, Glen Catley, Christian Sanavia, Markus Beyer, Sven Ottke, Mikkell Kessler, Anthony Mundine and Vanderpool are some of the fighters that have held belts during his reign and fights never materialised.
Robin Reid II, Carl Froch, Howard Eastman and Antwun Echols are fights that would have been infinitely preferable to some of the fights he made.
Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver, Dariusz Michelsweski and Glen Johnson have all been pound for pound entrants within 7 or 8 pounds of him during the same decade.
Jermaine Taylor, Winky Wright, Felix Trinidad have also been active in the division beneath him.
Clinton Woods is another fight that was all but made and Calzaghe pulled out of, of the opponents of merit he did face - Mitchell and Brewer were only considered once beaten, however contentiously, by Ottke. Woodhall and Eubank were both veterans and never fought again in the division (Eubank) or retired afterward.
Lacy was arguably far too green, and he was within a whisker of losing to Rob Reid, got dropped by the Kabery Salem, a very limited spoiler.
He's a greater fighter in desperate need of elite opponents before his brittle hands give up forever.
bika makes everyone looks bad, he has that kind of spoiling style.
Everyone rags on Calzaghe because he isn`t American.
He wants to prove he is the best but boxing politics and avoidance tactics by others have somewhat spoiled an otherwise glittering career.
I dont know where all the hate comes from. Out of all the people who have ever stepped into the ring, he is one of the best...
people need to stop hating him for no reason....he hasn`t fought that much outside of the UK but one can say the same for any US fighter about the US.
i think we should hold fire until we know the facts....
well then you have to realize that at his long carreer, he only has 1 "great" win and it came at later end of his career. This guy doesn't seek out REAL BIG fights. He needs to fight better comp simple and plain.
you're an idiot.
If Manfredo gets further than the other over-rated 'puncher' from America he faced and lands a punch I'd be stunned.
If he does better than Omar Sheika, who was well known but shyte, I'll be staggered.
If he makes it out of the first minute without being stopped I'll be mildly surprised.
Calzaghe may be 35, he may have brittle hands and he may have failed to capitalise on his prime but he remains leagues above Manfredo. Leagues.
And it will show when they meet.
What does the short middleweight with mediocre pop and no handspeed do with high-octane, high volume, longer reach ,faster hands, greater natural weight, better prepared, better stamina, more experienced, greater technique and every other criteria you want to muster on which Calzaghe has an advantage.
I dont think Manfredo even has a punchers chance. A clash of heads is his best hope of a 'result'. It's a terrible class match up. But makes sense for Calzaghe's belated birth as a star in the US.
Calzaghe will never fight Froch. He is far too risky. Froch would Knock him out.
More of risk than Manfredo IMO, but not sure that he'd KO Calzaghe! I would have said that i'd prefer to see him in with a better level of opponent before a Calzaghe fight, but if a match can be made with Manfredo then why not Froch? It would certainly attract more attention for the british fight fans, but it looks as though Calzaghe is trying to attract more interest in the States at the moment.
Carl frog is a big nose tosser he would get laid out on his back if
he fought Joe.
Frog and Manfredo should get it on both are complete Shite..
This Manfredo dude is a joke man a tv fighter a guy who couldnt
even win fights on the contender..
You talk out your arse.
Quoted for those of you who read a thread without a reliable linked source -- or who just read the title without paying attention -- and didn't seek to make sure it was true.
Don't make me do it again.
Thats all I needed to see!
fuck this useless thread then
Sakio Bika isnt in manfredo's league and he went 12 rounds with calzaghe in a close fight. '
I dont want too take anything away from joe he's as tough as nails and wont go down with out a fight but Bika isnt a contender Joe should of got rid of him early Bika has fought no bodies he is a no body
that's bullshit, calzaghe-bika was a near shut out, bika made it look ugly because he's a dirty bastard.
Carl frog is a big nose tosser he would get laid out on his back if
he fought Joe.
Frog and Manfredo should get it on both are complete Shite..
This Manfredo dude is a joke man a tv fighter a guy who couldnt
even win fights on the contender..
I'd rather hear "Froch impresses against a top contender. Now has legitimate case for calling out Calzaghe".
WHAT?
You mean judge Froch by the same standarts everybody else is being judged???
That's impossible - he might end up looking rather..... Ordinary.
That's just not acceptable for the man who right now seems to be the only UK hope for a future at SMW.
HBO just reannounced the fight..
It's STILL on.
Quoted for those of you who read a thread without a reliable linked source -- or who just read the title without paying attention -- and didn't seek to make sure it was true.
Don't make me do it again.
It would be great if the announcement came out and was:
Calzaghe pulls out of Manfredo bout
Lined up to fight Bernard Hopkins in Vegas
That would quieten some people.
Would Rather hear.
Manfredo pulls out of Calzaghe fight, Froch to Step in as replacement.
IMO it was a great win, and IMO Calzaghe is the best SMW in the world! Yes, i would have preferred to see him in with Kessler, or even Froch for that matter, but it isn't always that simple.
Calzaghe will never fight Froch. He is far too risky. Froch would Knock him out.
Calzaghe is a big name in the UK. He can sell out fights in Britain with ease.
Calzaghe cant sell fuck all. Even the Lacy fight all the top tier of seating was closed. Vanue not even 1/2 full.
Only place he could sell out is York Hall, around 900.