Why Calzaghe has lots to prove if he wants to be an ATG

[Benny Leonard]

Hopkins could have fought Joe but refused to leave Middleweight. Jones was SMW but left to be LHW. Glen Johnson could have fought him at SMW.

The criticisms you level at Calzaghe could equally be addressed to Hopkins. Jones had a remarkable career but there's a lot of overmatched dross on his record. Johnson was decent but got beaten by Hopkins.

True, Hopkins could have moved up. I don't remember which fight set his record for most title defenses, but I know that was important to him.
And, he would not have moved up without fighting Oscar...$$$$$$$

Oscar was in 2004. YOu also had many British claiming Hopkins never fought the best European middleweight at that point; Eastman...he fought him in 2005.

Then came along Taylor who was set to replace Hopkins; Bernard fought him twice. End of 2005.

Tarver won the LH title...Hopkins went after him. 2006

At some point, Hopkins could have moved up...especially after he set his record at MW and/or after Oscar.

Either way, he was passing his prime after Tito so that would have been the best time.

The favor of blame, even though Hopkins was cementing a legacy at MW, could pass to Hopkins...I can agree, however; Joe never moved up to 175 to fight Roy, so the blame is on him for not moving up a division and wanting the same thing from Hopkins.

And...Glen Johnson did try to get a fight with Calzaghe and Joe backed out, 2 or 3 times. I guess he was really waiting for Johnson to get old to make a possible fight

Calzaghe has some good wins on his resume, notably Lacy and Kessler.

[Johnny Rebel]

When Jones and Hopkins had the leverage to make a fight with Calzaghe they didn't. When Calzaghe got the leverage the fights happened.

If Jones, Hopkins and Toney also want to be ATG's they too "needs to beat a slew of Prime young fighters to be considered great."

[Dirk Diggler UK]

When Jones and Hopkins had the leverage to make a fight with Calzaghe they didn't. When Calzaghe got the leverage the fights happened.

Exactly.

Calzaghe calls them out.........and nothing happens (well Hopkins ducks, Jones ignores).

Hopkins calls Joe out........done deal.

Jones calls Joe out........done deal.

Pretty easy to understand.

[daggum]

Exactly.

Calzaghe calls them out.........and nothing happens (well Hopkins ducks, Jones ignores).

Hopkins calls Joe out........done deal.

Jones calls Joe out........done deal.

Pretty easy to understand.

and if zsolt erdei calls them out before accomplishing anything in his career but a bunch of gimme title defenses should they fight him?

[roundingace]

When Jones and Hopkins had the leverage to make a fight with Calzaghe they didn't.

Who the **** was Joe Calzaghe when Hopkins and Jones "had the leverage?" He was a nobody and proved to be a nobody until some years later. Even still, in some circles, is a nobody. Jones and Hopkins didn't need Joe Calzaghe to achieve ATG great status, yet Calzaghe tries to piggy back off the careers of two ATG's to make HIS case as an ATG. Ain't gonna happen. Stop with these threads.

[mitch12]

He's not an ATG, has no chance of being an ATG and nothing he could do at this stage will ever make him an ATG.

10 years in a weak division = not ATG.

end of case study.

so how come hopkins is seemd as a guranteed atg then

[Dirk Diggler UK]

and if zsolt erdei calls them out before accomplishing anything in his career but a bunch of gimme title defenses should they fight him?

Nah they should fight Morrade Hakkar and Richard Frazier of course.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Who the **** was Joe Calzaghe when Hopkins and Jones "had the leverage?" He was a nobody and proved to be a nobody until some years later. Even still, in some circles, is a nobody. Jones and Hopkins didn't need Joe Calzaghe to achieve ATG great status, yet Calzaghe tries to piggy back off the careers of two ATG's to make HIS case as an ATG. Ain't gonna happen. Stop with these threads.

You're right, the Eastman and Woods fights was just too legacy defining to wait.

[hammerhiem]

so how come hopkins is seemd as a guranteed atg then

I can't stand Hopkins, he's a near to hate as i come to a public figure with the exception of Axl Rose.

But comeon

Johnson, Trinidad, Joppy, DLH, Eastman ,Tarver, Wright, Pavlik. plus fought Jones, Calz, Taylor.

I also seem to remember my dad talking up Lipsey like he was the next big thing until BHop beat him, (25-0, 20KO's).

[them_apples]

if he moves up to HW and defeats one of the klitscho's that'd make him an ATG.

He won't though..to risky for that clown