Recognize A Legacy - Calzaghe

[Soundtraveler]

I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious **** like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins!

If you look carefully at any boxers records, they've all fought journeymen. Hopkins' early opponents were no better than Calzaghe's, nor were his title defenses.

Check the records of Hopkins and Mayweather's early opponents:

Hopkins:
http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php...1414&cat=boxer
Mayweather:
http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php...=352&cat=boxer

Did they really fight better opposition than Calzaghe?

This article was more about how they built the record via questionable talent, and if you look at who was fighting opponants with winning records - then you have to agree Hopkins fought MANY more of them than Calzaghe, and much sooner than Joe did in his career. I say all this and I am not a Hopkins fan myself - never have been...

[Mozza]

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd.

[Soundtraveler]

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd.

LOL - Ain't that the truth!

I am not one of them - I didn't give a squat who won that snoozefest. Me - I like fights with action, toss in some drama, like a nice grudge or something, hell, give me a nice "Rocky" story - not two fighters who should have fought damn near a decade ago, and certainly not when both are at the end of the road....

[TommyGunn.]

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd.

LMAO

It wont happen in the rematch but it'd be some shiznik if it did.

[SHB]

There are more than few people really hurting right now. Christ knows what would have happened if Hatton beat Floyd.

Isn't that just the truth.

When was the last time a Brit went to the US and took out one of their legends? Probably only Lennox in recent times. Mind you, that's one example more than the US have managed over in the UK.

Joe Calzaghe is a modern day great. That's just indisputable. The fact that, at 36, he could still move up a division and take out the reigning Ring and linear champion in a foreign country with corrupt officiating is very impressive.

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

NOOO!?! Seriously?? Calzaghe didn't fight a p4p'er on his debut? His record is PADDED!!

What a loser.

He's the only one too...

[New Life 79]

What belt was it that Joe defended so many times ????
WBO doenst count as one of the big ones, has most been looked upon as a european belt.

Sure Joe has some good wins and very good wins, but he held a crap belt for most of the time. People like to point out that Hopkins only held one belt for most the time (never mind that the other campions was not close to his class). But at least Bernard held a real belt not WBO, in the 90`s.

[SHB]

Oh. So the belt matters now does it?

[kayjay]

I dont think homeboy was discrediting Joe and his accomplishments, itz just some people over exaggerate his place in the books, thatz all! Some says he's the greatest boxer ever from the UK, and ridicilious **** like that! He's arrived yes! via Hopkins! not none of them journey men contenders you mentioned! Hopkins!

His "place in the books" is unquestionably and far above the likes of:

Bernard Hopkins, Tito Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Winky Wright, Shane Mosley


Joe is more talented, more courageous, and has had a better career than all these people.

This truth hurts a lot of narrowminded (and racist) xenophobes on this side of the ocean, but none of the fighters I listed were ever quite in Joe's class

[kevtwin]

ok here goes, the Hopkins Executioner files

Greg Paige, Keith Grey, Percy Harris, Jouvin Mercado,Khaliff Shabazz,Darrin Oliver,Mike Sapp (good one that!),Wayne Powell,Anibal Miranda (wow, in Paris) and James Stokes.

The above nobodies contribute 50% of B Hops unbeaten record before he lost to RJJ in '93. Look at the record of every fighter and they will all have fought bums (if thats what you wanna call em). Ali, Sugar Ray, Hagler, Monzon, RJJ, Mayweather. I dont see anyone bringing up Hopkins past. Because its Joe and he isnt American, the Americans siimply HAVE to find a reason for his success other than the fact that he is actually rather ****ing good. "fight hopkins" everyone said, yet a few years back 'ol Bernie pulled out. when he finally did beat a dirty, lazy and negative Hopkins, he is STILL not good enough.

Luckily, Joe doesnt give a toss about the critics, and the real boxing world recognises him for what he is. Im sure Joe would be amused to read this board.