I'm going for Hatton. At least, he risked it all to find out. He fought two P4P # 1's in their prime.
Calzaghe, although undefeated, took the easier and safer rout to his unblemished record. He's like the Harlem Globetrotters, who are at least 200-1, but who cares, they don't play in the NBA. Even the worst team in the NBA could beat the Globetrotters.
At least Ricky had the bollocks to find out.
Hatton is a fighter who's popularity out-stripped his ability by some distance. The top man in his division shouldn't be getting hit-at-will from the first bell and before the end of the very next round knocked unconcious from a pot shot albeit from a great fighter in Paquiao.
Calzaghe could and should have done more with his ability which is a charge he'd probably own up to himself, but ring smarts, defence, offence and versatility sets him far apart from Hatton.
When matched at top level, ability is the basis for success and whilst they both dominated their respective divisions Hatton's ability was clearly not to a level of excellance required whereby the head to head showdown with your nearest rival (beit at a higher weight v Hopkins or your natural weight v Paquiao) results in being rendered unconcious.
I've been a huge fan of both and Calzaghe in particular so maybe there is bias in what I say but the facts don't lie.
Bottom line is for all his many assets Hatton's defence borders on non-existent and whether it's Paquiao's power or Hatton's chin, the sight of that knockdown was such that it left me doubting whether he belonged in the same ring as Paquiao?
I disagree Hatton is the better fighter he put it all on the line against 2 of the pound for pound best fighters in the worl at their PRIME unlike Calzaghe who only fought fighters out of their prime besides Kessler who aint fought anybody BUT Calzaghe.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Hopkins
+
Kessler
=
all 46 on hattons resume
At least hatton actually fought the best in their prime, Roy Jones would have spanked Calzaghe in his prime, then we wouldnt have to hear about that stupid f.ucking unbeaten record.
Sends out a great message to boxers
"Dont fight the best in their prime, take the shittest alphabet belt and hide in your backyard for 10 years fighting nobodies, wait till everyone gets old or they been knocked out a few times, barley decision them, get floored in round 1, then your a boxing legend"
Yeah i missed the edit.
Calzaghe is a better fighter than hatton but if calzaghe like hatton would have seeked out and fought p4p champions he would have got beaten to.
hopkins is p4p #3 right now, calzaghe beat him.
Yeah i missed the edit.
Calzaghe is a better fighter than hatton but if calzaghe like hatton would have seeked out and fought p4p champions he would have got beaten to.
Well there's the question of whether Calzaghe could have gotten the huge fights(paydays) Hatton could because he brings no where near much to the table, money and fame-wise
and i think there are a few unmade fights that Calzaghe would have lost, however I truly believe he wouldn't have been out of his depth like Hatton was. In fact he'd have even give prime Jones and Hopkins a real hard night's work
and Hopkins is pound-for-pound #3 right now ya know. Not a bad win in retrospect eh? (if you believe he won that is)
on a pound-for-pound basis i'm talking about, maybe you didn't see the edit
Calzaghe proved he could hack it at the top level against anyone. Hatton got brutally owned twice
sorry but Hatton is no where near Calzaghe in terms of anything but popularity
Yeah i missed the edit.
Calzaghe is a better fighter than hatton but if calzaghe like hatton would have seeked out and fought p4p champions he would have got beaten to.
I dunno but I sure as hell respect Hatton a lot more. Like someone else said, at least hatton dared to be great.
While I somewhat agree with this statement, Calzaghe is clearly superior. For all his faults he was still a top fighter.
Then valuev is greater then calzaghe. Calzaghe would have been knocked out by the ruiz that valuev fought.
on a pound-for-pound basis i'm talking about, maybe you didn't see the edit
Calzaghe proved he could hack it at the top level against anyone. Hatton got brutally owned twice
sorry but Hatton is no where near Calzaghe in terms of anything but popularity
Calzaghe is far greater
Hatton would have got knocked out had he fought the Eubank Calzaghe faced, the Reid Calzaghe faced, the Kessler Calzaghe faced, the Hopkins Calzaghe faced, and hell, maybe even the Lacy Calzaghe faced
(p4p of course)
Then valuev is greater then calzaghe. Calzaghe would have been knocked out by the ruiz that valuev fought.
Calzaghe is far greater
Hatton would have got knocked out had he fought the Eubank Calzaghe faced, the Reid Calzaghe faced, the Kessler Calzaghe faced, the Hopkins Calzaghe faced, and hell, maybe even the Lacy Calzaghe faced
(p4p of course)
this is a real bad joke.
and you're the punchline.
It's a discussion, relax. People have differing opinions. So what? What makes your opinion, which I think is Calzaghe, right, better than others.
calzaghe, by a good bit. I've got more respect for Hatton, but Calzaghe was the better boxer, has the better record and can go down as a great boxer. Hatton will go down as a good boxer with a great heart and amazing fanbase.
I think some people here are confusing greatness with respect, the two dont always go hand in hand.