Interesting how Joe Calzaghes legacy has changed

[IronDanHamza]

Interesting. Maybe the Ring reinstated him sometime before the Calzaghe fight. Only thing is one of the guys was fighting debut fighters 3 and 4 fights before, and the other was on a streak of 4 straight losses. Either way it shows Eubank wasn't the fighter he once was and had an undeserving ranking it my hypothesis is correct.

They didn't. He wasn't ranked.

[Marchegiano]

I liked Joe ... Then I read this thread and I must say IronDanHamza makes some good points.

Eubank has a soft spot in my heart. Say what you will about his ability, there is no convincing me he wasn't one of the greatest entertainers the sport ever had.

[MikeyMike100]

He also beat someone named Roy Jones. And some guy name Eubank. Those guys were pretty good.

Eubank was at the end of his career and Roy Jones was shot

[TyrantT316]

Not a bad legacy at all. Undefeated. Champion in two weight classes. Had a bit of a streak. Lacy was overrated, but at the time was supposed to destroy Joe. Kessler was supposed to suplant Joe. Hopkins still was the LHW champion. I wasn't a Joe C fan back then, but I respect what he was able to do to guys in that ring. I didn't expect him to beat Kessler like that.

[IronDanHamza]

Not a bad legacy at all. Undefeated. Champion in two weight classes. Had a bit of a streak. Lacy was overrated, but at the time was supposed to destroy Joe. Kessler was supposed to suplant Joe. Hopkins still was the LHW champion. I wasn't a Joe C fan back then, but I respect what he was able to do to guys in that ring. I didn't expect him to beat Kessler like that.

Not really because Calzaghe was the favourite.

You just named the 3 fighters he beat that were ranked in the Top 5 of the divison being fought in, and that is entirely the reason why his legacy infact is bad.

[Anthony342]

Not a bad legacy at all. Undefeated. Champion in two weight classes. Had a bit of a streak. Lacy was overrated, but at the time was supposed to destroy Joe. Kessler was supposed to suplant Joe. Hopkins still was the LHW champion. I wasn't a Joe C fan back then, but I respect what he was able to do to guys in that ring. I didn't expect him to beat Kessler like that.

Lineal/Ring champion in 2 weight classes as well. Not too bad at all. I still say Ward's record was better though. But you make good points. Got off the deck early on to beat both Hopkins then Jones as well.

[kara]

I trained for a bit under Peters father and had a soft spot for that fight getting made and the Hopes Peter could get the upset. In hindsight though, as popular as Manfredo was, he wasnt the fighter Froch was. I find it difficult to believe Froch vs Calzaghe anywhere in the United Kingdom wouldn't do big numbers. On top of that he was more highly rated at that point.

My whole point is Zags could have fought stiffer competition during his career and didn't. To me legacy is determined by who you fought, beat and when it happened. To me he was a very good fighter with a weak resume. Much the same as Vits Klitschko.

Probably so, but it was a high risk, low reward scenario

[Dr. Z]

Yes, The Ring Magazine rankings.

He fought 3 fighters ranked in the Top 5 in his career.

I just named them for you...

Wow, I did not know that. How many top ten fighters did he face at the time they were ranked?

[JAB5239]

Wow, I did not know that. How many top ten fighters did he face at the time they were ranked?

Seven as far as I can tell. I didn't look very thoroughly though.

[Dr. Z]

Seven as far as I can tell. I didn't look very thoroughly though.

He beat some HOF fighters, and the count of seven raked ring magaznie fighters is decent. Joe retired undefeated. While the division he was in wasn't great, he was.