Dan Rafael.. Fanboy not expert?!?

[DrewWoodside]

This is a question taken from a Dan Rafael chat earlier today.. Why would Rafael react this way?

Patrick (Woodside, NY): I think Calzaghe is going to have to beat someone other than a 43-year-old Hopkins to cement his legacy and quiet the voices that say he has been protected. How about Taylor?

Dan Rafael: You're a joke.

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[2501]

ha, seems like it. Ima Joe Cal fan too but even I think beating a BHOP isnt going to do much for his legacy. I HOPE he goes after Jermaine or Pavlik after this fight.

[revs1227]

lmao dans the man

[Kball15]

This is a question taken from a Dan Rafael chat earlier today.. Why would Rafael react this way?

Patrick (Woodside, NY): I think Calzaghe is going to have to beat someone other than a 43-year-old Hopkins to cement his legacy and quiet the voices that say he has been protected. How about Taylor?

Dan Rafael: You're a joke.

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yea i reacted the same way to that answer. Like wtf? its legitimate, and Taylor is definetly someone that would silence many of his critics if Calzaghe could beat him

[DrewWoodside]

Rafael's a good guy but that response stunk as bad as Calzaghe's resume. I heard Calzaghe's next fight is with the first cast off from this season's survivor..

[squealpiggy]

This is a question taken from a Dan Rafael chat earlier today.. Why would Rafael react this way?

Patrick (Woodside, NY): I think Calzaghe is going to have to beat someone other than a 43-year-old Hopkins to cement his legacy and quiet the voices that say he has been protected. How about Taylor?

Dan Rafael: You're a joke.

_____________________________________________

It's a bit of a silly question. If you're going to doubt Joe Calzaghe's ability even if he beats Hopkins there's no reason why a win over deeply flawed Jermaine Taylor would elevate him any further.

[doughby]

I think that was a poor way to answer the question, but Rafael could say that in many ways, Taylor is/was as much a protected fighter as Calzaghe. His only 2 big victories came against Bernard, and both were very close decisions. Some may even argue, Hopkins lost those fights more than Taylor won them.

You have to give B-hop credit because even in his "old" age, he is still pound for pound one of the best. At times, he's not the most exciting fighter to watch, but he is one of the best boxers around.

I think Taylor needs to establish himself in the division more than Joe C. Those bouts with B-Hop, Cory Spinks (which i thought he lost) Quma, and Winky could have all gone either way.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

It's a bit of a silly question. If you're going to doubt Joe Calzaghe's ability even if he beats Hopkins there's no reason why a win over deeply flawed Jermaine Taylor would elevate him any further.

Esp over a guy who hasn't even fought at SMW.

[squealpiggy]

Exactly. I always considered Taylor to be a caretaker champion at Middleweight, his unconvincing wins over Hopkins were followed by a series of spoonfed fights against tiny opponents in order to make him look impressive and he got steadily worse in every fight. He looked OK for a round and a half against Pavlik then got hammered.

If there are doubts over Calzaghe's credentials (and I think that his deconstruction of Kessler qualifies him easily for elite fighter status) then he would need to beat Hopkins and a couple of other decent light heavyweights to establish them. That means Dawson really because as good as Zsolt Erdei is, Calzaghe is chasing the dollar and not the Forint.

[DrewWoodside]

Hopkins had a spectacular career.. One of the greatest fighters of the last decade.. He may very well have been a better fighter than Taylor.. However, Bernard Hopkins is 43 years old.. 43 Years Old! Someone said that Taylor was flawed and asked what would a victory over him would prove. To that I ask what does beating reality stars manfredo, bika and hyped up Lacy prove? Anyone else see the mayweather-hatton undercard? Lacy v Manfredo these men ARE NOT worldclass. And anyone who thinks Spinks beat Taylor needs to watch it again. You CAN NOT take a belt running, without atleast a few a truly convincing rounds.