When people talk about undefeated records, they talk about Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather Jr. They don't seem to bring up Calzaghe at all.
Now obviously Joe's countrymen feel that he is a ATG, and one of the best.
I wasn't the biggest Joe Calzaghe fan but he always came to fight his resume is highly questionable but his win over Hopkins deserves credit ..Hopkins did himself no favors by *****ing and moaning in that fight
Joe Calzaghe *became* a technically superb fighter (beautiful to watch) whose skills were, unfortunately, underused against top quality opponents.
That few top quality opponents existed in or around Calzaghe's weight class during his time only goes SO FAR in explanation.
In comparison someone such as Carl Froch is nowhere near as talented a fighter as Calzaghe - and yet he understands the ethos of the sport in ways that Calzaghe can never even dream of.
Calzaghe was a chess-player in developing his career and earning potential. Froch is a riverboat gambler.
I like both because of their distinct talents and styles. And yet I wish both were one.
A boxer with Calzaghe's skills and Froch's no-guts-no-glory attitude is every fight fan's wet dream.
I just think its because he didnt fight out here and he was like Roman Gonzalez in that sense, and by the time he came here it was too late. Although he made quite an impression
I still think Froch would have won lol
But I think highly of Carl Froch
gonzales is 27 years old and has already beaten the best guy in 3 divisions. calzaghe was 35 when he did that in one divisoin. how can you compare them?
It only happens on forums because most forum regulars are computer geeks that don't understand just how hard it is to put on relentless pressure the way Joe did. In my experience, bring up Calzaghe in a boxing gym and the name garners nothing but respect. The guy was the poster boy for conditioning and workrate. Conditioning is the hardest and most unpleasant form of training but it means everything in the ring. Yea, most people know him for his later fights, when his hands were brittle and wrecked. But, he was an aggressive SOB who beat guys by being unrelenting. He was past prime by the time he was able to land the big fights in America.
you make it seem like he was trying to land the big fights when he clearly was not. he was scared of flying remember?
Because his resume is diabolical.
Fought 3 fighters in the top 5 in his entire career, one was Jeff Lacy and another was a razor close decision over a 44 year old Hopkins.
That's why.
It only happens on forums because most forum regulars are computer geeks that don't understand just how hard it is to put on relentless pressure the way Joe did. In my experience, bring up Calzaghe in a boxing gym and the name garners nothing but respect. The guy was the poster boy for conditioning and workrate. Conditioning is the hardest and most unpleasant form of training but it means everything in the ring. Yea, most people know him for his later fights, when his hands were brittle and wrecked. But, he was an aggressive SOB who beat guys by being unrelenting. He was past prime by the time he was able to land the big fights in America.
All of his fights save for the last two, took place overseas. He had virtually no U.S. exposure, and the only notable American fighters he faced were past-prime Jones and Hopkins, and an overrated Lacy, who couldn't take a punch.
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=5364&cat=boxer
This. It's like taking easy classes and getting straight As, who gives a schit.
How's one of those fighters who's fans do him no favors. He's a solid talent but the fact that his nuthuggers claim he is some kind of ATG is absurd. Kessler was a good win. Hopkins was a good win. Sorry but exposing Lacy and beating up an old Jones are not the stuff ATG legacies are made of.
I just think its because he didnt fight out here and he was like Roman Gonzalez in that sense, and by the time he came here it was too late. Although he made quite an impression
I still think Froch would have won lol
But I think highly of Carl Froch