Joe Calzaghe's Greatness?

[Southpaw Great]

Hey

I just wanted to get your thought's on Joe Calzaghe's greatness and legacy he left behind.

Joe reitred 46-0. But alot of people question his legacy due to a number of reasons.

How great do you feel he was, how high would he be on your ATG list etc.

Discuss.

[The_Demon]

Im a huge fan of calzaghe,but il try not to be biased with my post

I understand why some people dont like calzaghe or dont really rate him that highly but i feel he does catch some unnecessary hate

He could have had a better resume but he was naive and didnt realize what warren was really like until late in his career,which is a shame.People act like he ducked all the big names which is actually untrue,they didnt want to know him as much as joe didnt want to know them-for different reasons of course

on paper his resume is very impressive-21 title defences and the ring title in two seperate weight divisions

Considering the majority of his best wins came at a time when his hands were completely destroyed,id say he did quite well

[BG_Knocc_Out]

I think he could have been great. He had so many tools at his disposal, and his ability to adapt was beyond impressive. What's great about Calzaghe is that he never really had a prime because he always fought at the level of his opponents, well actually a level higher. The majority of his first 25 wins were won by KO/TKO, and once his hands got screwed up, he was able to make an entirely new style and was able to outbox his opponents and trick them. His skills were truly great, but it's sad he couldn't have tested them out with better opposition. I would rank him higher, but due to the reasons stated earlier, I really can't. Skill wise, I could rank him high, though.

[The_Demon]

I think he could have been great. He had so many tools at his disposal, and his ability to adapt was beyond impressive. What's great about Calzaghe is that he never really had a prime because he always fought at the level of his opponents, well actually a level higher. The majority of his first 25 wins were won by KO/TKO, and once his hands got screwed up, he was able to make an entirely new style and was able to outbox his opponents and trick them. His skills were truly great, but it's sad he couldn't have tested them out with better opposition. I would rank him higher, but due to the reasons stated earlier, I really can't. Skill wise, I could rank him high, though.

Very well put

[Stallone60]

Calzaghe is the best british boxer ever. He has held the british title and was undisputed super middleweight champion. Then later he won the ring belts for super middleweight and light heavyweight. He fought many good fighters Even fighters who were very good that when they were champions like Robin Reid and Charles Brewer did want to fight Calzaghe when they had there world titles. But Calzaghe risked his WBO belt and put it on the line when they had lost there belts and beat them both.Calzaghe beat Eubank for his world title and won by a wide points margin, he beat a good robin reid, brewer, mitchell, sheika, bika, and the memorable lacy fight and then beat the best in the super middleweight division kessler then hopkins and jones. To me he beat everyone there was to beat in his weight class. As for skills he had a good chin, great hand speed and good punching power (ask chris eubank) So i would say Calzaghe was the best ever britain has ever seen, the best super middleweight champion of all time and should be in with the best of all time. Joe thank you for all your greatness you have given us many great years of boxing. I would love for you to shut that Calzaghe wanna be Froch up for good. Millenian stadium would be great.

[r.burgundy]

he's a top 20 atg for me.i think his win over hopkins got better with time,and jones was a solid win also being as how they are both close in age.i still rate his kessler and lacy wins as great wins given the magnitude of the fights.especially lacy,where not many people gave joe a chance

[Sven72]

I thought his win over Kessler sealed his spot as the best SMW of all time. He had a solid chin, blistering hand speed and was a good combo puncher, but above all, Joe's fights were always entertaining.

[gibo]

Any American who Retires Undefeated and is White while defended his title 21 times and has beaten Roy Jones and hobkins would be considered GREAT!!! So Joe Calzaghe should be given the same respect! Just cause he's not from here doesn't make his accomplishments any lesser. The Man is an ATG!!!!!

[studentofthegam]

I tend to forget about Zags sometimes but he is right there with Hearns and Frazier btween 17 and 30ish. He didnt just win fights against tuff comp but he dominated the championship rounds against all of them. He was the first Euro fighter I saw with style, work ethic and fundamentals to match. Please dont bring up Hamed.lol. I'd definitely take Joe over anyone at 168 right now.

[T.McGrady]

What greatness are you talking about?