Seriously - Is Calzaghe the greatest Super Middleweight of all time?

[MickyHatton]

Achivements wise yeah why not.

But he is not the best fighter to ever fight at that weight, Jones and Toney and other fans would argue guys like michael nunn were better fighters too.

There is also an argument that perhaps they were not as good as was made out?

If I'm not mistaken the only real named fighters they fought at that weight were each other?

[MickyHatton]

Ok, Roy was faster, more exciting and hit alot harder. Boxing monthly also have RJJ as the greatest Super Middleweight of all time. Calzaghe is a good fighter im not hating but Roy was on another level to Joe IMO

I disagree that Roy was faster and more exciting. We are talking minimal fractions here, Roy could be at times a very lazy fighter. That cannot be said for Calzaghe.

[SkillspayBills]

Joe totally cleaned that division out and beat two young prime undefeated champions handily. Greatest super middle of all time, I would say yes indeed. Roy stopped by at 168 but he wasn't really a main stay. Roy would beat Cal prime vs prime but over a length of time Cal has done a hell of alot at SMW to make him the best of that weight of all time.

[MickyHatton]

Nigel Benn is

As much as I loved Nigel I honestly cannot see him beating JC.

Calzaghe would just box his head off and make him miss. JC would not go to war with Benn.

[Celtic_Warrior]

Nigel Benn is

I used to think this was the case but no longer. Benn IMO opinion struggled with box fighters i.e. Watson, Eubank and Collins

Calzaghe would outbox him.

[duffgun]

I used to think this was the case but no longer. Benn IMO opinion struggled with box fighters i.e. Watson, Eubank and Collins

Calzaghe would outbox him.

i think out of all the British middleweights and super middleweights of recent history watson would be the hardest fight for joe as far as styles go.

[Easy-E]

Jones was very special but he didn't spend enough time at the weight to warrant being called the greatest super middle ever.

I'll admit that a few select fighters who have passed through the division are arguably better than Joe, but his longevity and his 21 defenses give him the right to be called the greatest super middle ever.

That is fair enough.
When I looked at this question I was thinking in terms of a who was the best in terms of skill at SMW, not overall accomplishments.

[Easy-E]

Joe totally cleaned that division out and beat two young prime undefeated champions handily. Greatest super middle of all time, I would say yes indeed. Roy stopped by at 168 but he wasn't really a main stay. Roy would beat Cal prime vs prime but over a length of time Cal has done a hell of alot at SMW to make him the best of that weight of all time.

My thoughts exactly.

[crold1]

I don't know for certain who would have won Jones-Calzaghe, but I do know they would have been each others best foes at the weight and both tended to rise to the occasion so it would have been nice to see. We'll probably still get the seniors version.

[SkillspayBills]

Does that make him an ATG. I mean some of the best SMW's off all time aren't even ATG's themselves even though they ARE great. I don't think Cal is an all timer just yet, you have to do ALOT to get to that status.