Who was Joe Blow's best opponent of his career?

[K-DOGG]

But the case is, Eubank was always a light-heavyweight, even in the 80's. And by the time he fought Calzaghe, he was a cruiserweight.

That's how badly he drained himself out to make weight, and because his big-money contracts with ITV and SKY demanded him to be so active, it caused him to be BALDING at 26-28 years old. The '94-'95 Eubank was very lead-footed, almost polar opposition to the incredibly mobile Eubank from say '89 to '92 who boasted stunning reflexes. And his reactions had been in decline since 1993. With each passing fight, it became even more difficult to make weight. He got clear gifts against Ray Close in Glasgow, Benn, Mauricio Amaral and Dan Schommer, and Rocchigiani probably should of got a draw (with the point deducted).

But then again, Eubank did show incredible heart against Calzaghe and actually entered the ring at only 174 (he entered the ring against Schommer for example at 185). Calzaghe proved his own heart here, as well as his power, chin and stamina. It wasn't much of a skillfest that's for sure.

lol!! Well, if anyone would know, you would. ....but I will argue the balding thing...personal experience, don't ya know.

Seriously, thanks for the insight.

[GEOFFHAYES]

Eubank took the Calzaghe fight at 10 days notice, as well.. after Steve Collins reviewed a tape of Calzaghe and chickened out.

[K-DOGG]

Eubank took the Calzaghe fight at 10 days notice, as well.. after Steve Collins reviewed a tape of Calzaghe and chickened out.

It's hard for me to imagine Collins chickening out of anything.


Damn, I hate that I missed that whole series of fights while they were happening. Collins used to be such a boring fighter due to his lack of power at Middlweight; but that whole series with him, Eubank, Benn, etc was a great series from all I've read.....and I haven't seen a damn one of those fights.


Someday I will have them on DVD, though.

[Run]

Lacy never reached elite status, like Gatti. ...

How in the hell did Gatti achieve elite status?



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[K-DOGG]

Gatti was popular because of his blood and guts style; people love a warrior. However, there is a difference between being a big draw due to your popularity and fighting style and being an "elite fighter".

[GEOFFHAYES]

It's hard for me to imagine Collins chickening out of anything.


Damn, I hate that I missed that whole series of fights while they were happening. Collins used to be such a boring fighter due to his lack of power at Middlweight; but that whole series with him, Eubank, Benn, etc was a great series from all I've read.....and I haven't seen a damn one of those fights.


Someday I will have them on DVD, though.

Yeah, none of those were on Showtime.

Collins was hideously bad, to be honest, what a sloppy puncher. But he'd of beaten Eubank eight days a week, and Benn eight days a week, because he'd always be able to out-hussle Eubank (who needed to take breaks) and proved he could take Benn's best shot without even blinking an eyelid and fire straight back!

Collins got loads of publicity for his press conference antics for the first Eubank fight, Ray Close pulled out after failing a brain scan and this unknown Irishman Steve Collins replaced him.. he played mind games, wearing tartan clothes and getting himself hypnotised, and saying a lot of **** that would get up Eubank's wide nostrils (and did), it was quite ridiculous really, but you can't say it didn't work. He'd got inside of Eubank's ****ed up head and messed about with it. Then for the second fight, he said for months that he was going to be a cagey counter-puncher, when the bell rings though he comes charging out of his corner like a maniac and doesn't stop alnight!

I don't think even any Dubliners really knew Collins that well before the first Eubank press conferences, but they had such an impact and were such well-publicised that 5,000+ fans turned up for the WEIGH-IN!

Then on the night Eubank gets lowered into the arena on his Harley Davidson with personalised Simply the Best wrote onto it, while Collins is sat in his corner with his hood up and earphones on playing the 'Rocky' tune to himself. Crazy, weird night and build-up that was.

"A mortal man at last" was what Eubank said the next morning, he hadn't lost for 10 years to the month (in the semi-final of the New York Golden Gloves).


The Benn-Collins fights were painful viewing for Benn fans, Benn came out of retirement for both fights and was hideously bad both nights. He quit in both fights. Think Tyson-McBride, creepily similar.

[GEOFFHAYES]

It's hard for me to imagine Collins chickening out of anything

He became a delusional ******* after being hypnotised, infact he's still hypnotised to this day because he still believes he'd of beaten Roy Jones! Seriously, and even people who knew him well say this, he hasn't actually been the same since he was hypnotised for the Eubank fight. He's ****ed.

He said Roy Jones was the only fight he could get motivated for and that Jones was running scared of him, that was his excuse for not fighting Calzaghe.

[K-DOGG]

Geoff, thanks for all the info, man. I really appreciate it...that's insight I hadn't ever heard. Props, mate.

[GEOFFHAYES]

Yeah, so basically Collins spooked and fooled Eubank and was simply too tough for Benn.

[The Noose]

Collins was hideously bad, to be honest, what a sloppy puncher. But he'd of beaten Eubank eight days a week, and Benn eight days a week, because he'd always be able to out-hussle Eubank (who needed to take breaks) and proved he could take Benn's best shot without blinking an eyelid and fire straight back!

.

You really think he had Benns number?
Benn quit in both their fights, he had nothing left. Middleweight Benn would have beat him as would of Eubank.