Who deserves more credit

[Jose Rizal]

What's with all the Calzaghe-Mayweather threads? Joe's fans sound really desperate looking to give Joe recognition.

[Dan...]

The bold was just the cherry on top

I agree - I definately think that is the best way to look at Mayweather's career. I rewatch his fights against Corrales, Castillo, Hernandez and Chavez a lot more than his later fights, even though I enjoyed them also.

[Chunk..]

I accept that it is tougher for the British guys. THey don't get the same platform that the Americans get into fighting good fighters on the big stage, especially young American fighters that are also successful Olympians such as Floyd.

Still, it is possible to make the move. The likes of Lewis and more recently Hatton have been able to do it. I find it hard to believe that Joe couldn't have taken some steps to build his profile a little earlier in the US and land some big fights in America to boost his status.

Still, it is all not that relevant to this topic IMO. I simply look at the resumes and accomplishments of the two and make my judgement. They are both great but Floyd is greater IMO and therefore deserves more credit.

The thing you got to remember with that is, Lennox Lewis was pretty much know in America anyway before his career took off due to his success in the Olympics and beat USA Bowe in the finals. He was also promoted by Frank Maloney who has a lot of contacts in the USA, probably more then Frank Warren!?!

Ricky Hatton is a walking money bag whatever way you look at it! He was a man of the people, the type of guy you could walk up to in the street and say 'Hello' to. That and accompanied by the fact that he has arguably the biggest fan base in boxing meant that he was a money pinjatta waiting to be smashed open! Why do you think Floyd fought him? For the challenge LOL! ****, even Oscar and Manny want a piece of that 'Hatton' pie!

Calzaghe wasn't marketed right by Frank Warren and co. He didn't have a promoter as good as Lennox did IMO and he didn't have the fan base that Hatton had.

He was quiet and laid back, and seemed too comfortable. That i can't argue about.

[balistik94]

Floyd accomplished more.

[Kris Silver]

I literally just voted for Mayweather in a poll between the two of whom is the better skilled.

I'm pretty sure I've voted for Mayweather on resume, and probably others too.

But I see Chunk's point here. The thread title and poll is, which guy deserves more credit.

It's not asking really either of the two former things and polls I noted above although those are factors and no doubt how most will just vote.

Credit is a word people interpret differently, for me views on personal things of an athlete given their and the scenes circumstances, the amount of credit they do get are to be factored when voting on such a poll.

I voted Calzaghe in this poll partially because I believe he is short on credit, whereas Mayweather is not.

Calzaghe's had a tougher time of it, getting to the top imo. He was robbed of going to the olympics which as we've seen is shown to really raise awareness and elevate boxers onto the pro scene, some examples being RJJ, Khan, Harrison. On the latter two, the difference being Calzaghe would've not only probably won gold having beaten the guy whom did anyway, he had the talent to do better than some olympic winners have. This would have lead him to be a much bigger name earlier on, which would've changed his career for the better. That must be very tough to deal with mentally but he's persevered and proved himself the long, long way.

He beat Eubank just when Chris was not disliked, but liked by the public from a well known boxing tragedy around that time. He was sympathised with as a hero, whilst Calzaghe got little credit for going to war at a young age, beating an experienced proven top fighter in his 1st 12 round fight, showing great heart. That wins largely written off saying Eubank was shot, when he was merely 31 and past prime a bit but not much.

There weren't many big names in the SMW division in the coming years which is unfortunate for Calzaghe as he would've beaten them, or at least had a damn good shot had there been for any length of time.

At a young age doctors told him his hands were so brittle he couldn't box. But he carried on anyway. He's been plagued by hand injuries meaning he can't hit with the same part of his hands or as hard anymore, even breaking hands in a fight having to presever through the pain.

He's nearly got some bigger names fights earlier on in his career but for various reasons, often back ground politics, sometimes injuries, they've not come off.

He's remained motivated despite many strifes, and has beaten quite dominatingly in most cases, everyone put in front of him, often a top 10 fighter in the division. He now doesn't get the credit he deserves from a lot of people having beaten Kessler cos the excuse is who is he and whose he fought, Hopkins cos he's old, and RJJ shot.

I'm by no means saying Calzaghe is more technically skilled, is a better fighter all round, or has a better resume. I can't stress that enough. All considered, both deserve loads of credit. But I think Calzaghe for these and many other reasons, for persevering never quitting, losing, deserves more credit, certainly than he still gets, than Mayweather whom gets loads, and has not at least to my knowledge come through such things, or had the same or similar circumstances.

[bsrizpac]

Works both ways dude. Would RJJ and Hopkins gone to the UK to fight? No. In fact Hops was supposed to do it in 2002, but then backed he out. RJJ asked for $25 million just to fight Dariusz Michalczewski, so there's no way he'd go over to the UK and fight Joe. This ties in with what Warren said about Roy always pricing himself out of a fight with Joe, yet somehow, it was worthwhile fighting Clinton Woods, and for Hopkins, Morade Hakkar, which is the fight he took instead of Calzaghe.

No it doesn't work both ways. Especially not in the case of Roy. Jesus Christ. Joe was completely unknown to the mainstream boxing public. He had NO clout to demand a fight anywhere, only his WBO trinket.

Btw, Joe refused to fight Clinton woods. LOL@you.

[Benny Leonard]

Ummm, no. Joe had been a champion for 5 years straight when him and Hopkins agreed to fight. Again, when they agreed to fight. So, regardless of whether you think he didn't need to travel overseas, Hopkins obviously did, until he doubled his money to 6 million, which he knew he wasn't going to get, and in doing so, was forcing a way out of the fight. I guess taking Morade Hakkar and getting less than the 3 million he was offered is a good enough reason.

Hopkins and Joe need to shack up. Joe calling out Middleweights and Hopkins waiting for Welters to move up.

They both should have moved up or just stood their ground at their best weight and kept quite with their talk.

[Benny Leonard]

Floyd hopped around without clearing out any particular division.

You don't have to clear it out; you just have to fight the top dog in the division; some have more than the others...like 147, which is why I say Floyd has an incomplete resume there.

Hatton counts at 140...Floyd cleared it out.

And then you work your way down.


Tszyu thought "clearing" out a division was good...Not Always. He could have moved up to 147 and fought Mosley, Goldy, Tito, and Forrest, but he didn't.

Although, I will admit, if you want to set a "legacy" in one division, then I can see that. Tszyu still could have had a better legacy had he moved up one division.

It's like Hatton: if he wants a "great" legacy, go up to 147.

[The_Italian]

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

I will be the first to admit that i've been mad that it appears lately mayweather takes the fights with the least amount of risk and the biggest reward but joe calzaghe is way more protected in my opinion.

He hasnt really fought many good prime fighters in his career...

roy and hopkins are both past theirs (i mean hopkins is 43...come on now).

Sure he beat manfredo jr and bika but those two fought each other on versus and havent really accomplished much in his career.

Calzaghe's most worthy opponent (in my opinion) was kessler...

mayweather at least has climbed through the ranks in the U.S. against at least SOME good prime fighters...

calzaghe has only come to the U.S. twice and those were simply fights to put on his resume against big names trying to make a claim at the all time great list...nothing more.

[Pullcounter]

Floyd hopped around without clearing out any particular division.

doesn't matter, he wasn't fighting senior citizens to make his legacy. calz's claim to ATG status is beating 2 past their prime fighters and a dominant reign in a weak super-middle era.