Joe Calzaghe's Greatness

ATG fighter easily, if you do a top 100 list. Really can't argue with that. Not sure he enters the top 50, but he's a solid fighter.

I often hear him called a ATG & argubaly Britians best ever fighter. But the one thing that hurts Calzaghe is this. For 8 years Calzaghe defended the paper WBO title in homeland, leaving just once. Against extremly sub par fighters etc Branko Sobot, Will McIntyre, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill, Mger Mkrtchyan, Kabary Salem, Evans Ashira. Come on for the most part, these fighters were never heard of again. This tell's me there IS ALOT of padding on that record. His win over Lacy was impressive, but again Jeff never went on to do anything, and now has just been used as a punching pag for a washed Roy Jones. He beat washed up versions of Eubank, Jones Jr & Hopkins. And yet was still dropped in all 3 fights, even when all 3 were shells of themselves. His most impressive win is most likely Kessler, who although is a good fighter, is saying alot. His record is impressive, but if he would of took more risks, fought great prime fighters and fought more out of his homeland, it is highly unlikely that record would be intact. For 90% of his career he always fought in his homeland, and for the most part continued to defend that paper title. It hurts his legacy. He was a damn good fighter, but Joe Calzaghe ATG? Come on now, tags like that should just be left for fighters lile Robinson, Armstrong, Langford, Louis, Ali, Greb, Walker, etc. Lacy didn't go on to do anything because Calzaghe ruined him, Lacy's corner should have thrown in the towel around the 6th round. Lacy was an undefeated belt holder with good power who the "mini-Tyson" monicker. No one was giving Calzaghe a chance in that fight. Kessler was also an undefeated champion with excellent power, he obviously fell off but Ward was fighting a 2nd rate version of Kessler and not the same version that Calzaghe was fighting. He clearly beat Hopkins even though he was dropped, if Hopkings didn't hold and roll around the floor for 10 minutes crying about a non-existent low blow, Calzaghe would have KOd him. The fact that he fought in his home country for 90% of the time does nothing to diminish his legacy - BHop fought more than 90% of his fights in the US and most US fighters aren't really willing to travel either. If the money is bigger at home than on the road and you are the champion, why would you want to leave? He was an undefeated fighter with 46 wins and 10 years. He unified at super-middle and defended his title 21 times (I think), I believe this tied for either 2nd or 3rd in boxing history in any weight for the number of defenses. He is an ATG and GOAT when it comes to 168, I don't think we'll see a greater fighter than him in this division in our lifetime.

Setanta scored for Calzaghe, only 1 scored for Hopkins if I recall, the British media also thought Haye lost to Valuev. Only because they were scared they would get robbed. Jim Watt does not equal the entire British media.

Setanta scored for Calzaghe, only 1 scored for Hopkins if I recall, the British media also thought Haye lost to Valuev. Only because they were scared they would get robbed. i still can't believe people think hopkins won that fight. you can't win a fight not throwing punches!

Setanta scored for Calzaghe, only 1 scored for Hopkins if I recall, the British media also thought Haye lost to Valuev. Only because they were scared they would get robbed.

Original and profound thread. Dont think anyone has ever said that before. Anyway...Calzaghe was one of the best fighters of his era, that is without question.

hmm, I seem to remember Calzaghe falling down at some point in that fight. perhaps there was a knockdown(or mostly push) that sent Calzaghe to the floor momentarily in that fight, that wasnt called a KD? Its been a while since Ive seen it, but I could have sworn I saw Calzaghe touch the canvas for a short while in that fight. No he didn't.

Not many people seem to know that Eubank never dropped Calzaghe. It was Calzaghe to dropped Eubank in the 1st round. TS obviously never seen that fight.

Not many people seem to know that Eubank never dropped Calzaghe. It was Calzaghe to dropped Eubank in the 1st round. hmm, I seem to remember Calzaghe falling down at some point in that fight. perhaps there was a knockdown(or mostly push) that sent Calzaghe to the floor momentarily in that fight, that wasnt called a KD? Its been a while since Ive seen it, but I could have sworn I saw Calzaghe touch the canvas for a short while in that fight.

Overrated as hell. No where near an ATG list with less than 200 fighters. Leave Floyd out of this discussion.

Not many people seem to know that Eubank never dropped Calzaghe. It was Calzaghe to dropped Eubank in the 1st round.

You fail. Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins defended their titles in their homeland for 100% of their fights, and made negotiations for a fight with prime Calzaghe impossible. Bernard Hopkins picked on fighters weight divisions below him, While Roy Jones lost against mediocre fighters like Tarver, Johnson, and Green. Calzaghe defended his belt against all mandatories, and beat almost everybody in his division. When Calzaghe was out of prime, he still managed to defeat Lacy, Bika, Kessler, Hopkins, and Jones. Calzaghe out of prime agaisnt Lacy, kessler, and Hopkins>? He was 33,35, and 36 and was at his absolute best. He retired because he should have lost to Hopkins and was almost ktfo by Roy Jones who hadn't hurt anybody in years. Also don't bring up the hands, he never had power, it doesn't take much to stop bums early in your career man.

Dropped in four fights. Not many people seem to remember the Salem KD. five, actually. He was knocked down against Byron Mitchell, although the Salem KD was actually probably the worst of his career. Calzaghe is definitely a good fighter, and most likely the best fighter at 168lbs because of his longevity there. I give little to no credit to him for his win over Jones, but he gets fair points for the Hopkins win(albeit slightly controversial) and the Eubank win(although technically Eubank was retired at that point, I still think he was a decent fighter). Lacy win is really not that big a deal(although of course you should still give him credit for a solid win, Lacy was ranked #3 or so at the time) and the Kessler win is admittedly not looking as hot after his non-dominant performances in the super six, but its still very good. other good wins on Calzaghes record: Byron Mitchell Charles Brewer Richie Woodhall Sakio Bika Robin Reid(although interestingly enough I had Reid winning, but I dont have a problem with Calzaghe getting the nod either, it was a close one) people overrate it, but his wins actually arent that bad. I have to admit that a large amount of his title defences were jokes though, so dont put much emphasis on the # of title defences.

You fail. Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins defended their titles in their homeland for 100% of their fights, and made negotiations for a fight with prime Calzaghe impossible. Bernard Hopkins picked on fighters weight divisions below him, While Roy Jones lost against mediocre fighters like Tarver, Johnson, and Green. Calzaghe defended his belt against all mandatories, and beat almost everybody in his division. When Calzaghe was out of prime, he still managed to defeat Lacy, Bika, Kessler, Hopkins, and Jones. Jones never lost while he was prime, and his wins over Hopkins and Toney at his absolute peak alone are better than anythign Calzaghe has ever done, and those two guys were also better than Calzaghe ever was.

I often hear him called a ATG & argubaly Britians best ever fighter. But the one thing that hurts Calzaghe is this. For 8 years Calzaghe defended the paper WBO title in homeland, leaving just once. Against extremly sub par fighters etc Branko Sobot, Will McIntyre, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill, Mger Mkrtchyan, Kabary Salem, Evans Ashira. Come on for the most part, these fighters were never heard of again. This tell's me there IS ALOT of padding on that record. His win over Lacy was impressive, but again Jeff never went on to do anything, and now has just been used as a punching pag for a washed Roy Jones. He beat washed up versions of Eubank, Jones Jr & Hopkins. And yet was still dropped in all 3 fights, even when all 3 were shells of themselves. His most impressive win is most likely Kessler, who although is a good fighter, is saying alot. His record is impressive, but if he would of took more risks, fought great prime fighters and fought more out of his homeland, it is highly unlikely that record would be intact. For 90% of his career he always fought in his homeland, and for the most part continued to defend that paper title. It hurts his legacy. He was a damn good fighter, but Joe Calzaghe ATG? Come on now, tags like that should just be left for fighters lile Robinson, Armstrong, Langford, Louis, Ali, Greb, Walker, etc. You fail. Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins defended their titles in their homeland for 100% of their fights, and made negotiations for a fight with prime Calzaghe impossible. Bernard Hopkins picked on fighters weight divisions below him, While Roy Jones lost against mediocre fighters like Tarver, Johnson, and Green. Calzaghe defended his belt against all mandatories, and beat almost everybody in his division. When Calzaghe was out of prime, he still managed to defeat Lacy, Bika, Kessler, Hopkins, and Jones.

Overrated as hell. No where near an ATG less with less than 200 fighters. Say what?????

I dont get this being knocked down argument. If you take away floyd I'm struggling to think of some boxers that havent been knocked down. Knocked down 4 times, got up 4 times. Won all 4 of the fights. As far as I'm concerned its a dud arguement. Anyways back to the main point, all time great. I think an undefeated record probably guaranties that. And what's the deal with mostly fighting at home. Most American boxer rarely if ever leave the US either?

Overrated as hell. No where near an ATG list with less than 200 fighters.

Lewis and Prince Naz were greater british fighters. Calzaghe was a fighter with great skills, he just didnt stick around long enough to fight more top opposition to be considered an ATG. He became known in America with his win over Lacy in 2006, prior to that noone considered him that great a fighter. Then he reitired in 2008, when there were still challenges out there. Definate HOFer just not an ATG. no need to compare him to hamed and lewis. he's not even the greatest welsh fighter. let alone close to being the greatest british fighter.