Kelly Pavlik said that Joe Calzaghe is a fraud

[majestiC]

Eubank fought to draws with Nigel Benn and Ray Close fairly well on into his career (he had almost 40 bouts under his belt by that time). And you talk about Steve Collins as if he were an ATG. Please. While they may not be bums, neither one of those guys smelled the top 10 p4p on any credible lists. Good fighters? Certainly. Career-defining opponents? Hardly.



Dude, Brewer had already lost EIGHT times when he fought Calzaghe (three by KO), and not all of them were early on. That's a little different than B-Hop losing his very first fight on points in a 4-rounder. And I'm not discrediting Joe -- merely pointing out that he was a king in a very weak division, a la Rocky Marciano.



Yes, I said that Hopkins simply didn't land (or throw) enough to beat Calzaghe. And I believe that Hopkins, though he was already displaying signs of wear against Taylor, really began to show his age when he fought Winky -- atrocious punch output, ridiculously flagrant holding (even for him), etc. The difference between 40 and 43 can be huge, or at least very noticeable.



Mostly because Taylor gassed. He was much stronger down the stretch in the second Hopkins fight as well as in the Winky fight. And like I said, I think Hopkins was a bit more fresh (albeit minimally) against Taylor than he was against Calzaghe.

Bottom line: Calzaghe was/is a great champion who has had the unfortunate luck to reign over a division void of truly world class talent. Kessler is by far his best win IMO (and a very nice one at that), but a fight with Pavlik would have really done a lot to secure his legacy. Unfortunately, for reasons outlined ad nauseam on here, the fight won't go off. And as such, Calzaghe's legacy will never be considered among the sport's very very best champions.

Seriously I can't take you serious the way you just rated Eubank....

[Steel Town USA]

Seriously I can't take you serious the way you just rated Eubank....

So you are saying that, at one time or another, Chris Eubank was a top 10 p4p fighter? You are entitled to your opinion, but I would definitely argue that point.

[Steel Town USA]

Seriously I can't take you serious the way you just rated Eubank....

Also, it seems that other people remember Eubank the same way I do. This excerpt from East Side Boxing encapsulates my exact sentiments on him:

"He probably had the best physique in boxing, as well as the best chin, best pre-fight interview and best post-fight interview, and best ring entrance. But he simply didn't engage the pound-for-pound American elite, who were right there in his weight-classes with him (Michael Nunn, James Toney, Roy Jones). As such, he isn't remembered favorably in boxing circles. Quite the opposite."

Another good read that sums up what I'm trying to say about Calzaghe's legacy:

Calzaghe, For Legacy, Needs To Fight Pavlik

Please remember, I am not making a claim that Joe isn't a great champ -- I am simply questioning his legacy in relation to other great boxers. How do YOU believe he'll be remembered when his resume is pitted against the truly greatest fighters?

[Finesse1]

I agree, but how could you forget about Pacquiaou!

[IMDAZED]

Chris Eubank a pound for pounder...

Man, you hear it ALL on these boards...

[Finesse1]

I put Roy Jones Jr. in the class of performer, not fighter. If he was a real fighter, he would have taken on Charles Brewer way before Calzaghe did. It doesn't surprise me that he ducked him all this time seeing that it would be a great fight. Both guys chins have failed them with Roy's looking the worse when he got KO'ed by Glenn Johnson. Roy doesn't want a knock down, drag out fight because he never developed basic skills. Now that his reflexes and chin is failing him we see what kind of fighter he really is. I think and hope he will stop after the Calzaghe fight.

[Finesse1]

Basic defensive skills, I'm sorry. He relied on his speed and great timing to get there first with his punches.

[Finesse1]

Rumor

Chris Eubank a pound for pounder...

Man, you hear it ALL on these boards...

There's a rumor saying Roy Jones Jr. ducked him.

[IMDAZED]

There's a rumor saying Roy Jones Jr. ducked him.

Yeah, there's a rumor he ducked Charles Brewer too. And that Bush is the antichrist. And ***** too.

[WESS]

For all of you that "THINK" Pavlik is ducking anyone you are lost. Point being, "IF" PAV beats HOP, he can call out calzaghe. Especially if he does it BETTER than a SD.

PAV is making the right move. As a matter of fact, hes making the PERFECT move to SET UP a super fight with Joe Calzaghe. Who will IN FACT make him TWICE, if not more than that from an AA and WILLIAMS fight together.....

So get over your shame. Pav will face HOP and "IF" he wins he will be calling out Calzaghe. If you don't see this coming you are not a Boxing fan. Just another HATER that knows zero about anything. If PAV losses to HOP, he can easily move back down and face AA and williams.