the wbo was filling a hole in the market created by title boxing going to Sky and AMerican companies, thats why they were able to sell their bogus title in britain so well. If sports hadnt moved tosky and others, the wbo reigns of eubank et all wouldnt have taken off.
that doesnt mean the fighters were bogus though, benn for instance proved he was for a time elite by taking out the elite mclellan
Prime Jones would have KO'ed all of them with his superior counter movement and that leaping left hook. British boxing, (Eubanks, Collins, Calzaghe and the Dark Destroyer) was all off balance, wheeling desperate haymakers and rabbit punching. The most dangerous of the lot was Benn. Calzaghe the wildcard. It was always very enjoyable viewing.
You can't rewrite history to make it look like Collins wanted to fight Calzaghe... he said himself
"This fight doesn't appeal to me. Calzaghe is a very good fighter, but he doesn't bring a reputation or a title, and that's no disrespect to him.
"There's no money in it. People haven't heard of Calzaghe. I'd go in there with a low battery. And a 2,000 arena? I get more than that at my weigh-ins."
It's clear that Collins preferred to retire than risk losing against someone he considered to be a too high risk low reward, he was happy to fight Seillier 8 months earlier who had never fought in the UK before that point, but it is less risk.
Collins had a good career, but it isn't Calzaghe's fault Collins didn't want to fight him.
........
On the main point, Roy Jones would've beaten Calzaghe and anyone else at the time of his peak.
yet its joe repeating the pattern every year of facing a name and then instead facing mediocrity, and collins never doing it.
its clear you want to reverse the facts.
Collins didn't want the fight, whatever way you shake it
What you say is conjecture. It is pretty clear you know nothing of what you speak. Joe Calzaghe was mandated and fully prepared to fight Steve Collins for the WBO World Super Middleweight title. The Collins camp stalled the fight, then pulled out before a date could be set. For a time Calzaghe was fully expecting to go through Collins to win the title. There was no "using name for status", as you put it. It is pretty clear you are trying to slander Joe in any way you can, when you don't know what you're talking about. Very sad that you have to fabricate a narrative to discredit Joe. If you want to talk about Boxing you should learn your subject matter.
yet its joe repeating the pattern every year of facing a name and then instead facing mediocrity, and collins never doing it.
its clear you want to reverse the facts.
What you say is conjecture. It is pretty clear you know nothing of what you speak. Joe Calzaghe was mandated and fully prepared to fight Steve Collins for the WBO World Super Middleweight title. The Collins camp stalled the fight, then pulled out before a date could be set. For a time Calzaghe was fully expecting to go through Collins to win the title. There was no "using name for status", as you put it. It is pretty clear you are trying to slander Joe in any way you can, when you don't know what you're talking about. Very sad that you have to fabricate a narrative to discredit Joe. If you want to talk about Boxing you should learn your subject matter.
The date/venue/card was set, fight announced and advertised for months and both were training for the fight. Everyone was looking forward to it, then Collins strangely pulled out 12 or 13 days before the fight to announce his retirement! Eubank stepped in to save the day.
Also Collins was the bookies and pundits favourite.
yes calzaghe was nothing at the time, Steve was right - theres nothing that negates Warren and Joe using his name for status.
And it came to pass true too, Cazaghe took another 10 years to win a title that was recognised. His name would have meant nothing for another 10 years to Steve.
What you say is conjecture. It is pretty clear you know nothing of what you speak. Joe Calzaghe was mandated and fully prepared to fight Steve Collins for the WBO World Super Middleweight title. The Collins camp stalled the fight, then pulled out before a date could be set. For a time Calzaghe was fully expecting to go through Collins to win the title. There was no "using name for status", as you put it. It is pretty clear you are trying to slander Joe in any way you can, when you don't know what you're talking about. Very sad that you have to fabricate a narrative to discredit Joe. If you want to talk about Boxing you should learn your subject matter.
As if Eubank ever took orders from anyone.
He'd of got more respect for losing than winning, so let Calzaghe and Thompson go the distance instead of stopping them. He only made his comeback for respect, to 'take his beatings'.
he turned up for an extra paycheck.
sure he is always committed in fights but he had no intention of winning back a title (of that body) he had done more with that anyone else.
you can tell from the late rally when he was finally hurting joe.
You do the honorable thing and fight, you don't just not fight! What the **** is that about! At least be honest and say Calzaghe looked too good when you started studying him a few weeks before the fight!
thats not the honest thing, thats the issue.
Collins would have taken him apart.
Warren and Joe needed him out of the picture.
Perhaps he knew something all along that we didn't. He was doing the chicken dance after getting up from being dropped by Frankie Liles apparently in '88
yes calzaghe was nothing at the time, Steve was right - theres nothing that negates Warren and Joe using his name for status.
And it came to pass true too, Cazaghe took another 10 years to win a title that was recognised. His name would have meant nothing for another 10 years to Steve.
You do the honorable thing and fight, you don't just not fight! What the **** is that about! At least be honest and say Calzaghe looked too good when you started studying him a few weeks before the fight!
that was probably more to do with eubank asked not to win, just put in a credible performance.
He had no interest in that title again.
As if Eubank ever took orders from anyone.
He'd of got more respect for losing than winning, so let Calzaghe and Thompson go the distance instead of stopping them. He only made his comeback for respect, to 'take his beatings'.
Did you watch the video? Steve Collins openly admits he didn't have any interest in fighting Joe Calzaghe, he was looking for money fights and couldn't motivate himself to fight little known upstarts. It isn't opinion but fact that this happened, c'mon man. The wider opinion at the time is that Collins had nothing to gain from fighting a young beast like Calzaghe, and a lot to lose, and I'd agree with that. Both sides of the coin are understandable.
yes calzaghe was nothing at the time, Steve was right - theres nothing that negates Warren and Joe using his name for status.
And it came to pass true too, Cazaghe took another 10 years to win a title that was recognised. His name would have meant nothing for another 10 years to Steve.