Recognize A Legacy - Calzaghe

His "place in the books" is unquestionably and far above the likes of: Bernard Hopkins, Tito Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Winky Wright, Shane Mosley Joe is more talented, more courageous, and has had a better career than all these people. This truth hurts a lot of narrowminded (and racist) xenophobes on this side of the ocean, but none of the fighters I listed were ever quite in Joe's class You tell em' Kayjay !! How can a DeLaHoya even compair - I mean it's not like Oscar won a Gold Medal as an Olympian or anything, the way people talk about DeLaHoya you would think he won the belts in 4 or 5 different divisions!! Everyone knows Joe Calzaghe is much more successfull as a fight promotor too, they just won't admit it -I can't believe the nerve of some people around here, Joe is better than Ali ever was - even Lennox Lewis was scared to death of Joe Calzaghe moving up to Heavyweight, that's why he retired and it's time they all knew it ...

Ooh Joppy. That's told me. Trinidad - exceptional WW but couldn't carry it up against a genuine middleweight. Anyway, this is going way off track. Hopkins has had an exceptional career but so has Calzaghe. It's a tribute to both that at the end of their careers - and both, regardless of their respective ages are at the end of their careers now - that they can still be competitive against the other.

So did Hagler so what ? And Trinidad didnt look so out of his division when he stepped up and fought Joppy did he ?

Still people act like Joe beat a bigger prime Hopkins. Yes Joe is 36, so was Bernard when he stopped Trinidad. And still the only man to have stopped Trinidad. Its a big difference to be 36, or to be 43. Yes, in fairness to Calzaghe he's never been beating up welterweights even in the twilight of his career.

Wow you just picked holes in a 45 fight resume of boxrec.. well done. your so clever. Name a fighter with true depth of quality opponents more than say 20?

Still people act like Joe beat a bigger prime Hopkins. Yes Joe is 36, so was Bernard when he stopped Trinidad. And still the only man to have stopped Trinidad. Its a big difference to be 36, or to be 43.

"The fact that, at 36, he could still move up a division and take out the reigning Ring and linear champion in a foreign country with corrupt officiating is very impressive." And whys that so impressive at 36, when you are fighting a former middleweight who is 43 ? Both are at the end of their careers. Everyone has focused on Hopkins' age but Calzaghe is also old for a boxer. To achieve what he has done at the end of his career is very impressive and it would be wrong to ignore that fact.

"The fact that, at 36, he could still move up a division and take out the reigning Ring and linear champion in a foreign country with corrupt officiating is very impressive." And whys that so impressive at 36, when you are fighting a former middleweight who is 43 ?

ok here goes, the Hopkins Executioner files Greg Paige, Keith Grey, Percy Harris, Jouvin Mercado,Khaliff Shabazz,Darrin Oliver,Mike Sapp (good one that!),Wayne Powell,Anibal Miranda (wow, in Paris) and James Stokes. The above nobodies contribute 50% of B Hops unbeaten record before he lost to RJJ in '93. Look at the record of every fighter and they will all have fought bums (if thats what you wanna call em). Ali, Sugar Ray, Hagler, Monzon, RJJ, Mayweather. I dont see anyone bringing up Hopkins past. Because its Joe and he isnt American, the Americans siimply HAVE to find a reason for his success other than the fact that he is actually rather fucking good. "fight hopkins" everyone said, yet a few years back 'ol Bernie pulled out. when he finally did beat a dirty, lazy and negative Hopkins, he is STILL not good enough. Luckily, Joe doesnt give a toss about the critics, and the real boxing world recognises him for what he is. Im sure Joe would be amused to read this board.

I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious shit like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins! His "place in the books" is unquestionably and far above the likes of: Bernard Hopkins, Tito Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Winky Wright, Shane Mosley Joe is more talented, more courageous, and has had a better career than all these people. This truth hurts a lot of narrowminded (and racist) xenophobes on this side of the ocean, but none of the fighters I listed were ever quite in Joe's class

Oh. So the belt matters now does it?

What belt was it that Joe defended so many times ???? WBO doenst count as one of the big ones, has most been looked upon as a european belt. Sure Joe has some good wins and very good wins, but he held a crap belt for most of the time. People like to point out that Hopkins only held one belt for most the time (never mind that the other campions was not close to his class). But at least Bernard held a real belt not WBO, in the 90`s.

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd. Isn't that just the truth. When was the last time a Brit went to the US and took out one of their legends? Probably only Lennox in recent times. Mind you, that's one example more than the US have managed over in the UK. Joe Calzaghe is a modern day great. That's just indisputable. The fact that, at 36, he could still move up a division and take out the reigning Ring and linear champion in a foreign country with corrupt officiating is very impressive.

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd. LOL - Ain't that the truth! I am not one of them - I didn't give a squat who won that snoozefest. Me - I like fights with action, toss in some drama, like a nice grudge or something, hell, give me a nice "Rocky" story - not two fighters who should have fought damn near a decade ago, and certainly not when both are at the end of the road....

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd.

I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious shit like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins! If you look carefully at any boxers records, they've all fought journeymen. Hopkins' early opponents were no better than Calzaghe's, nor were his title defenses. Check the records of Hopkins and Mayweather's early opponents: Hopkins: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=1414&cat=boxer Mayweather: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=352&cat=boxer Did they really fight better opposition than Calzaghe? This article was more about how they built the record via questionable talent, and if you look at who was fighting opponants with winning records - then you have to agree Hopkins fought MANY more of them than Calzaghe, and much sooner than Joe did in his career. I say all this and I am not a Hopkins fan myself - never have been...

I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious shit like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins! I knew someone would get the point!!!

Dont get me wrong i like calzaghe, but i feel he could've moved up to light heavy a couple of years ago and we wouldnt be questioning his ability now. Having said that its easy to say now, i think people like calzaghe will always be questioned. The ultimate answer is, he's still undefeated and until someone can beat him he's the best around. (from britain at least)

I will make this simple for you: you are wrong as wrong can be. I can barely even muster up the energy to refute your ridiculous, narrow minded and indeed wilfully ignorant claims. What you really ought to do is get off boxrec and get some DVDs or downloads of Joe's fights, then go into therapy to find out what it is you dislike so much about Joe that makes you want to discredit a man who is or has, wait for it: Current Ring LHW Champ Current Ring SMW Champ Unified Alphabet SMW Champ Two Weight Ring Champion Longest Reigning Champ Currently On Earth Top Five Most Title Defences Ever Top Five Longest Reigming Champs Ever 20+ Title Defences at SMW Undefeated Pro Career of 45 Fights Record Breaking UK Amateur Career Simply, if you do not think this man is an ATG boxer and a current p4p top 3er, you are insane, and you do not like boxing, you just dislike Joe Calzaghe. I could waste time explaining to you that Joe's standard of opposition is good, that just because some of the people he's fought aren't worldbeating 'names' doesn't make them bad boxers and that Joe's resume is perfectly fine, but I won't because you can read all about that elsewhere, and besides I think you already know it. Look at your post, you deliberately pick the very worst names from Joe's record, and discredit or ignore all his good and decent wins. Good, it makes me happy. I now realise that all you calzaghe haters have nothing left to beat him with than the banal observation that, years ago, back when Joe was making his name as contender and champ, he fought some middling opposition, as every single fighter in history and the future has and will. The only other fighter I can think of who is not allowed to have a single middling win on his record is Floyd Mayweather Jr, and if Joe is noe attracting the same sort of ridiculous criticism that Floyd does, then i finally know he has truly arrived. I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious shit like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins!

Last night I watched the most BORING fight since Jon Ruiz. :ugh: Of course the boards immediately lit up with a ton of "Calzaghe is the Best Ever" - some went so far as to say he is the P4P #1 - total B.S.. Lets take a look back at some of the most memorable wins of "Mighty Joe". Obviously there is now Hopkins to "top" the list, never mind the fact that he is 43 years old. ;) Before that he beat a tough and then Undefeated Kessler. Add to that the victory over the "highly touted" (at least by the t.v. show The Contender) Manfredo JR. Of course there was the Lacy butt kickin' too! Those we all remember - but lets check out some wins that boxing fans here in the U.S. might NOT know about. Calzaghe started off like a rocket, showing his huge power, and blowing through his opponants!!!! :boxing: He knocked out everyone including some of Great Britains' best fighters including: Paul Hanlin 7-16-0 Spencer Alton 12-23-3 Martin Rosamond 10-15-1 Karl Barwise 14-28-3 Trevor Ambrose 10-13-0 Calzaghe then began stepping up the competition with fighters like: Frank Minton 26-21-1 Robert Curry 33-34-0 Guy Stanford 16-11-1 Anthony Brooks 11-6-2 Pat Lawlor 21-8-0 Carlos Christie 13-22-1 The list goes on, and this is what is really wrong with the sport, but, a smart trainer always knows he needs a "sure fire star" like Joe Calzaghe to fight for 2 years before he ever sees an opponant with a winning record, after all this is professional boxing, and it's all about the record right??? So what if nearly half of Calzeghe's career wins have been against - shall we say - "questionable talent", he is still the "all time best" in both of his divisions isn't he???:kiss: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=5364&cat=boxer I will make this simple for you: you are wrong as wrong can be. I can barely even muster up the energy to refute your ridiculous, narrow minded and indeed wilfully ignorant claims. What you really ought to do is get off boxrec and get some DVDs or downloads of Joe's fights, then go into therapy to find out what it is you dislike so much about Joe that makes you want to discredit a man who is or has, wait for it: Current Ring LHW Champ Current Ring SMW Champ Unified Alphabet SMW Champ Two Weight Ring Champion Longest Reigning Champ Currently On Earth Top Five Most Title Defences Ever Top Five Longest Reigming Champs Ever 20+ Title Defences at SMW Undefeated Pro Career of 45 Fights Record Breaking UK Amateur Career Simply, if you do not think this man is an ATG boxer and a current p4p top 3er, you are insane, and you do not like boxing, you just dislike Joe Calzaghe. I could waste time explaining to you that Joe's standard of opposition is good, that just because some of the people he's fought aren't worldbeating 'names' doesn't make them bad boxers and that Joe's resume is perfectly fine, but I won't because you can read all about that elsewhere, and besides I think you already know it. Look at your post, you deliberately pick the very worst names from Joe's record, and discredit or ignore all his good and decent wins. Good, it makes me happy. I now realise that all you calzaghe haters have nothing left to beat him with than the banal observation that, years ago, back when Joe was making his name as contender and champ, he fought some middling opposition, as every single fighter in history and the future has and will. The only other fighter I can think of who is not allowed to have a single middling win on his record is Floyd Mayweather Jr, and if Joe is noe attracting the same sort of ridiculous criticism that Floyd does, then i finally know he has truly arrived. ________ HIWANK.COM