Ricky Hatton: "Calzaghe vs. Dawson, A Load of Rubbish"

[Mozza]

Hatton is completely correct. People will criticise Calzaghe no matter what. A few months ago it was Pavlik, before that it was Jermain Taylor, Lacy and Kessler's names were thrown in to the mix and Calzaghe stepped up and done the business. Now is a time to draw a line under things and retire knowing that he is one of the best of his era and one of the best to ever emerge from Britain's shores.

[MatsideObserver]

I don't know why I am not a JC fan.

I just don't consider him to be one of the greats eventhough his record suggests he is.

I think the fights over name fighters recently who are a shell of their former selves makes me think less of him than it does more.

[Pride Of Arkans]

Hatton is right. Only sad bitter yanks want to see that fight
everybody with half a brain knows Calzaghe would dominate.

[RichCCFC]

keep laughing..dawson has what joe doesnt want..dawson ud..amd joe and roy look like 2 ****** in your sig

I bet your only saying that because your hero said Dawson is p4p #1.

Before then you didn't give a **** about him, your a tool and Floyd is Margarito's *****.

Jog on...

[Spirit]

I'd just like to see it, because there is no one else @ 175 and I'd like to see how Calzaghe would perform against an in his prime LHW. Making a claim to have been something special at 175 would be very hard without fighting a guy thats the divisions future. Don't know who'd win it though, Dawson fought his last to fights with different styles

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

I'd just like to see it, because there is no one else @ 175 and I'd like to see how Calzaghe would perform against an in his prime LHW. Making a claim to have been something special at 175 would be very hard without fighting a guy thats the divisions future. Don't know who'd win it though, Dawson fought his last to fights with different styles

Here is the thing, Calzaghe himself is no longer in his prime. It would be a prime Dawson fighting a past his prime Calzaghe. Last year Joe beat a prime Kessler, the best fighter at 168 right now.

[Brassangel]

I don't know why I am not a JC fan.

I just don't consider him to be one of the greats eventhough his record suggests he is.

I think the fights over name fighters recently who are a shell of their former selves makes me think less of him than it does more.

Calzaghe is no longer in his prime either. For a guy who relies on speed, stamina, and volume of punches, it's pretty remarkable that he can do what he does at age 36. Especially against Hopkins, who we all know still has a lot of skill. 8 years ago, a fight between Calzaghe and Jones, or Calzaghe and Hopkins may have been closer, but he's no longer in his prime either, so it's really a poor thing to hold against him.

I doubt he planned from the beginning to wait until those two were that old before challenging them.

It's of little interest to him from a monetary, or a legacy standpoint to fight Dawson. The only reason (yes, I am saying "only" as an absolute), people want to see that fight, is because they want to hold something over Calzaghe's legacy as if it's incomplete. They live in the hope that there was always someone out there who could have beaten him, but Joe ducked that fighter. This makes them feel better when they call him a coward, protected, etc.

When Lennox Lewis fought Tyson and Holyfield, they were way past their primes. Still, people claim Lewis to be the best of that generation, despite the fact that Tyson and Holyfield had a myriad of personal issues that stunted their ability to be what they should have been (especially Tyson). It's fair to say that, given the circumstances, Calzaghe has beaten Jones and Hopkins, the other greats from his own era. He will always have that one-up on them, and should rightfully be considered the best of the latter half of their era. Jones in his prime was probably a top 10 all-time p4p great, but we're talking from 98-now.

I'm an american, and I was pulling for both Hopkins and Jones, but the fact is, Calzaghe was better on those days, and he should retire with his head held high.

[PoetryInMotion]

Joe needs to listen to Hatton, Hatton clearly has a sense on how to build a strong legacy. Bottom line is that history will know that Joe beat two old past their prime guys, The fact that he then turned around after those two wins to beat the future of the divisions(again...first time being Lacy) would be pretty big. The fact that Calzaghe himself is past his prime would make it even more impressive(just look at B-Hop vs. Pavlik). I for one think that Calzaghe would beat Dawson.

[PoetryInMotion]

Calzaghe is no longer in his prime either. For a guy who relies on speed, stamina, and volume of punches, it's pretty remarkable that he can do what he does at age 36. Especially against Hopkins, who we all know still has a lot of skill. 8 years ago, a fight between Calzaghe and Jones, or Calzaghe and Hopkins may have been closer, but he's no longer in his prime either, so it's really a poor thing to hold against him.

I doubt he planned from the beginning to wait until those two were that old before challenging them.

I doubt that also, if anything he never planned on fighting them at all, untill he saw how old and shot they had become and then decided it would be ok. Only Joe knows the answer to that, but for people to say Calzaghe planned it from years ago is crap, he had no way of knowing what shape either one of them would be in at this stage.

[Kris Silver]

I'm a little surprised by the amount of people whom have come out and said they're judgement and wishes would be for Calzaghe to retire. None have said anything but really, apart from guys whom would obviously want to get the better of him.

Calzaghe looked like the genuine LHW #1 on saturday, he's proven no one beats him at SMW or LHW, that's damn well impressive. So was his speed for a LHW, immense. Before the fight I was hoping Calzaghe would retire especially with Pavlik out of the window. I still kinda do tbh, this year beating two legends and finishing with a very good performance in Madison Square Garden seems too perfect a career ender to ignore.

The only fight I can see me supporting or Calzaghe being even near to up for enough, is Dawson at Cardiff's Millenium stadium. I think Joe has shown he'd clearly win though, so all considered I think Calzaghes conclusion in a few weeks having rested with his family, will be to retire.