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

[TheEvilSaint]

well, if it wasnt jeff lacy.... then it's kinda hard to tell who was calzone's "best" opponent. cuz its like a bunch of journeymen and fringe contenders and then jeff lacy. when you rule out jeff lacy, that really really limits calzone's limited and already laughable resume.

calzone's "best" opponent was jeff lacy. and if you dont think so, go ahead and beat urself over the head trying to pick out the "best" of the bums.

[GEOFFHAYES]

Reid and Bika were certainly the toughest fights of his career, but the best opponent I'd say was either Lacy or Reid.

Eubank is the best name on his record, but he wasn't the old Eubank we all hated/loved.

Joe said in one paper last month that the Eubank fight is still his toughest ever by some way. He says he was in bed for three days straight after that, with non-stop headaches, bruises all over his body and smashed up face!

[GEOFFHAYES]

Must be noted that, even though Richie showed his class throughout, Joe was the only guy to beat Richie convincingly.

Richie gave Roy Jones a close fight in the Olympic semi-final.

[GEOFFHAYES]

And Joe rated him the second best super-middle: http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/107000...4_calzaghe.ram

[macman]

Agree with GEOFFHAYES.

Calzaghe faced 2 former champs still very much in their prime who'd lost their titles in a controversial manner - Byron Mitchell & Charles Brewer.

These 2 guys, along with prime Reid & Ottke, were the best in the division at the time.

Brewer lost his title controversially to Ottke in a split, & had lost to Antwun Echols after he had Echols on the canvas 3 times, then got over-eager trying to finish him (as the Hopkins bouts showed, Echols was a tough SOB).

Brewer got in great shape for the bout, but Calzaghe was still too much for him, winning by a wide margin in an excellent fight.


Byron Mitchell was a two-time champion who also lost his title controversially to Ottke in a split decision, but before that had KO victory's over Frankie Liles, Julio Ceaser Green, & Manny Siacca.

In an exciting match he put Calzaghe on the canvas for the first time in his career, but Calzaghe got up & put him away in the same round with an incredible display of combination punching.

They'd be my pick for Calzaghe's best.

[GEOFFHAYES]

A lot of American's expected Brewer to walk over Calzaghe, just because Calzaghe was white and non-American. And American's were saying Mitchell would knock him out because he hit harder than Brewer, and Brewer got through often.

Joe dealt with the pair of them, coming through in flying colours both times. Shame he couldn't follow-up those wins with the Hopkins's, Jones Jr's, Tarver's or Johnson's as was the plan.

[The Wire]

I'd go with Robin Reid, Byron Mitchell, Chris Eubank, Charles Brewer and Jeff Lacy. Lacy may have looked bad in his last fight but I feel that was because he was fighting quite a good fighter and took such a beating against Joe that he lost it upstairs a bit. Calzaghe's resume isn't bad at all - it could be better, but if he wins fights against two of these: Kessler, Taylor, Wright or Hopkins and retires undefeated I dont think anyone could help but put him up as one of the best super middles of all time to be honest, and a definite shoe in for the IBHOF. At the moment it doesnt, but were he to win those fights then his resume would, in my opinion, surpass even Hopkins'

[GEOFFHAYES]

I'd go with Robin Reid, Byron Mitchell, Chris Eubank, Charles Brewer and Jeff Lacy. Lacy may have looked bad in his last fight but I feel that was because he was fighting quite a good fighter and took such a beating against Joe that he lost it upstairs a bit. Calzaghe's resume isn't bad at all - it could be better, but if he wins fights against two of these: Kessler, Taylor, Wright or Hopkins and retires undefeated I dont think anyone could help but put him up as one of the best super middles of all time to be honest, and a definite shoe in for the IBHOF. At the moment it doesnt, but were he to win those fights then his resume would, in my opinion, surpass even Hopkins'

Lacy tore his rotator cuff in the second or third, didn't he?

[GEOFFHAYES]

And he's out for 9-12 months, now.

[Shanus]

And he's out for 9-12 months, now.

6-12 months actually, if you want to start getting specific.