Calzaghe's career: Who should he of fought?

**OptimusWolf** · 03-28-2007, 08:57 AM

Whether or not nay of these are his fault is moot, but they spring to mind

Hopkins
Jones Jnr
Tarver
Johnson
Kessler
Ottke
Liles

The fact that he has only Eubanks, Lacy, Mitchell, Reid on there who are comparable with some of the guys on that list is a major weakness in Calzaghe's legacy.

Good thread, looks even better next to Manny_P's toss.

**Super Cartel** · 03-28-2007, 09:00 AM

Any more threads about Cazlaghe or Kessler and u might has
well make this forum a fanclub for both

**.Mik.** · 03-28-2007, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by OptimusWolf

Whether or not nay of these are his fault is moot, but they spring to mind

Hopkins
Jones Jnr
Tarver
Johnson
Kessler
Ottke
Liles

The fact that he has only Eubanks, Lacy, Mitchell, Reid on there who are comparable with some of the guys on that list is a major weakness in Calzaghe's legacy.

From what I've heard, Calzaghe was looking to fight each and every one of them on the list with the exception of Kessler so far. Whether it be his fault or not, things got in the way (some people not wanting to fight him, some times his hand ****ed up, the prices not being right, the deal not being right...no doubt a few times he messed it up himself by not going through with the fight due to crisis of confidence). But how many people in the history of the SMW divison have in their career, fought and defeated four guys of the quality you name as being 'only' the ones Calzaghe has took on.

I think that there is surprisingly few. Hell, Reid is considered to be a credible fight to the top guys now. LONG after his best. Eubank was still a master technician when Calzaghe beat him. I think that Lacy still has his best days ahead of him (providing he can come back from a rather grisly injury), Mitchell at the time was far more credible than many of the top 10/5 are these days. Brewer went the distance with Ottke (which is more than be said for Kessler's best win). Mario Veit seemed to be a top contender against everyone else, but couldnt stop Calzaghe destroying him twice. Ritchie Woodhall was a superior technical boxer to many of the current top 10. Bika who Calzaghe beat last at the supposedly crap stage of his career where he doesnt take any decent fights (despite the Bika fight coming straight after Lacy) still seems likely to have another shot at a title despite having to cope with the setback of being beaten.

Calzaghe's resume is nothing special compared to some fighters, but compared to many of the historical SMW's, its pretty competetive.

**Liaison** · 03-28-2007, 09:49 AM

Liles
Girard
Johnson

For guys who spent a lot of time at 168, not that a win against any of these guys would do anything for him.

**Welter_Skelter** · 03-28-2007, 10:00 AM

Ottke refused to leave Germany.. Calzaghe refused to go there.. Same old story..

**scap** · 03-28-2007, 10:02 AM

Many know of my fondness for Joe Calzaghe, I have thought for sometime now he is a special fighter but with that he has been an extremely frustrating fighter too watch outside the ring.

Joe should have come to the State at least 5 years ago.

Joe should have done what Ricky Hatton is doing now, had Joe of done that Roy and Bernard would not have been able to avoid him. Everything would have been on Roy and Bernard if Joe had come over and started fighting on HBO or Showtime much earlier.

Now it is a huge debate about who ducked who and most fans understand that regardless of who ducked who the fights are not going to happen.

Regardless of what you think of Hatton as a fighter he is a stud in my book because he came over here to fight! (Joe didnt, Roy wouldnt go anywhere, Bernard wouldnt, Floyd wont....Ricky left the comforts of Manchester where he could fight Billy Bob and make millions)

Joe in my mind would have been the one to quite possibly shock Jones, he has a perfect style to give ANY version of Bernard Hopkins serious trouble...he just didnt cross the pond.

It pains this fight fan because I know how good Joe Calzaghe is!

**The Noose** · 03-28-2007, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by scap

Many know of my fondness for Joe Calzaghe, I have thought for sometime now he is a special fighter but with that he has been an extremely frustrating fighter too watch outside the ring.

Joe should have come to the State at least 5 years ago.

Joe should have done what Ricky Hatton is doing now, had Joe of done that Roy and Bernard would not have been able to avoid him. Everything would have been on Roy and Bernard if Joe had come over and started fighting on HBO or Showtime much earlier.

Now it is a huge debate about who ducked who and most fans understand that regardless of who ducked who the fights are not going to happen.

Regardless of what you think of Hatton as a fighter he is a stud in my book because he came over here to fight! (Joe didnt, Roy wouldnt go anywhere, Bernard wouldnt, Floyd wont....Ricky left the comforts of Manchester where he could fight Billy Bob and make millions)

Joe in my mind would have been the one to quite possibly shock Jones, he has a perfect style to give ANY version of Bernard Hopkins serious trouble...he just didnt cross the pond.

It pains this fight fan because I know how good Joe Calzaghe is!

Good post. I agree.
I remember wanting Joe and Roy to fight, back in 1997-8, it would of been very exciting. And I believed Calzaghe had the true fighters spirit in the ring. He loves a tear up much like Nigel Benn did.

I was sold after he put Eubank down in the 1st round of their fight. The kind of slap that KO's people.

**Gareth Ivanovic** · 03-28-2007, 11:28 AM

All I know is that he needs to fight Kessler after he beats up on Manfredo. They are obviously the two best SMW in the world. I don't care where this fight takes place, but it needs to happen. For Fight Fans Sake.

**Phantasm** · 03-28-2007, 11:39 AM

Am I the only one who is annoyed by people who write 'Who should he of fought' instead of 'Who should he HAVE fought'?

Anyway, Joe C. should fight the current fighters that fans have been clamoring for: Hopkins, Taylor, Kessler, Froch. Maybe back in the day, he should have tried his hand at moving up and facing RJJ, though prime Roy would have beat him. The Super Middleweight division was pretty much watered down and there werent many guys that would have made a big fight.

Calzaghe's career: Who should he of fought?