Joe Calzaghe, Paper Champ?

[hookoutofhell]

how is he a paper champ he beat one of the top fighters in the SMW division to take the WBO belt. he the unified the division with wins aginst kess and lacy. so theres no way anyone can accuse him of being a paper champ in the SMW division.

as for light heavy he stepped up and beat the man to beat, hopkins was no.1 in the division. whether or not you think the win os overrated or justified is something else - no-one can accuse him of being a paper champion.

in case you didn't know the term paper champ is given to someone who either inherited the title without winning it in the ring or by someone who is constantly facing unworthy mandatories or subpar opposition (ala sven ottke). imo you can't accuse HC of either of these things.

[Abstraction]

Calzaghe is a talented fighter, but loses credibility due to the fact he stayed in Wales and only fought Euro-Level Fighters. The big stain on his career came when he suddenly overcame his "Fear of Flying" when Hopkins and RJJ were about to retire.

[dde91]

Calzaghe is a talented fighter, but loses credibility due to the fact he stayed in Wales and only fought Euro-Level Fighters. The big stain on his career came when he suddenly overcame his "Fear of Flying" when Hopkins and RJJ were about to retire.

AGREE! Because he would have got exposed like the 43 Hopkins did to him, but worse.

[dde91]

how is he a paper champ he beat one of the top fighters in the SMW division to take the WBO belt. he the unified the division with wins aginst kess and lacy. so theres no way anyone can accuse him of being a paper champ in the SMW division.

as for light heavy he stepped up and beat the man to beat, hopkins was no.1 in the division. whether or not you think the win os overrated or justified is something else - no-one can accuse him of being a paper champion.

in case you didn't know the term paper champ is given to someone who either inherited the title without winning it in the ring or by someone who is constantly facing unworthy mandatories or subpar opposition (ala sven ottke). imo you can't accuse HC of either of these things.

The weakest Division in boxing for a long time. That division only been around for about 20 years. He couldn't fight Hopkins in his prime, only a division below or Jone Jr in his prime a division above him because he was a nobody and his promoter was protecting him from being exposed. So he waited till they were old and won, not by skill, but of stamina.

[SickmyDuck]

The weakest Division in boxing for a long time. That division only been around for about 20 years. He couldn't fight Hopkins in his prime, only a division below or Jone Jr in his prime a division above him because he was a nobody and his promoter was protecting him from being exposed. So he waited till they were old and won, not by still, but of stamina.

The middleweight division Hopkins made his name in was pitiful

His biggest win came at Middleweight came against a Welterweight

Calzaghe`s division may not have been great but Hopkins division for most of his career was piss poor

[S.W.F.C]

Hopkins was in his prime around his mid 30's. So is Calzaghe. When is Calzaghe's prime then? when he was a nobody fighting Tomato cans in whales. He is at the end of his prime, and Hopkisn is a good 5 years away from his, and still Knocked down your little slap artist you call a fighter, and schooled him. The world saw it. The only ones that didn't see it are Calzaghe fans and the 2 judges. HOPKINS WAS 43!!!!!!!! and you make it as if Calzaghe Beat the hell out of him. HE wasn't even close. he was the one that ATE canvas.

And Oscar been in the game since his early 20's, and been on the p4p list for years. Hopkins was in prison in his early 20's, thats why he hit his prime later. Oscar been through many battles since he been in boxing. For the past 12 years. you cant say the same about Calzaghe. I dont think DLH shot anyway. Pac was just to fast.
B-HOP, PAC, DLH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Calzaghe

lol, have you taken a look at Hopkins resume ?
Yes he's fought some great fighters but have a look and his resume is full of sub standard fighters, all boxers fight journey men or below par fighters in their career. Don't try and say Calzaghe fought tomato cans, when Bernard did himself.

[dde91]

The middleweight division Hopkins made his name in was pitiful

His biggest win came at Middleweight came against a Welterweight

Calzaghe`s division may not have been great but Hopkins division for most of his career was piss poor

Hagler's best Wins are from a lightweight DURAN, and a welterweight HEARNS. And many (including me) know he is a great. Hopkins beat a Undefeated Trinidad that knocked out a middleweight champion before Hopkins, and DLH, who sturm couldn't pull the victory out of. Hopkins also beat Winky, and Tarver when he was the man by UD. He also whooped Glen Johnson *who Calzaghe is scarred to fight* by TKO.

[hookoutofhell]

The weakest Division in boxing for a long time. That division only been around for about 20 years. He couldn't fight Hopkins in his prime, only a division below or Jone Jr in his prime a division above him because he was a nobody and his promoter was protecting him from being exposed. So he waited till they were old and won, not by still, but of stamina.

if its your opinion that SMW division is a weak division then so be it but in the last 10-15 year or so it has had some pretty good fighters in it - benn, eubank, calzaghe, RJJ, toney, kessler, all these big names with a pretty decent level of comp below the above - ottke, robin reid, brewer, lacy, mitchell, taylor, barkely maybe?

then you go and mention hopkins, ask yourself is the MW division really as strong as the SMW division over the last 10-15 years. yes of course it had some big names at one point (the hagler era) but since then - hopkins, toney and RJJ he had brief stints thereas did fighters like benn and eubank but that last names i mentioned all mae their careers and legacies outside of the MW division. in fact i think MW has been one of the most dire divisions of recent years, yes it has more prestige, history and glamour but recently it has been poor to say the least.

as for him not fighting hopkins - have you seen the size of joe? he was pretty much down to his bare min. at 168 - yet you expect him to go down even further for hopkins? as for RJJ - calz was never on his radar RJJ was always thinking about the HW match-up.

a for JC waiting till hopkins and co were old - why has he been calling them out since the turn of the millenia? he has been calling out fighters like tarver, hopkins, johnson and RJJ since 2000.

you can make an argument that his promoter protected him.

you can make an argument that he would have lost to some of those fighters in thier prime - especially toney.

but you dont have a leg to stand on when you argue that hes a paper champ

[S.W.F.C]

if its your opinion that SMW division is a weak division then so be it but in the last 10-15 year or so it has had some pretty good fighters in it - benn, eubank, calzaghe, RJJ, toney, kessler, all these big names with a pretty decent level of comp below the above - ottke, robin reid, brewer, lacy, mitchell, taylor, barkely maybe?

then you go and mention hopkins, ask yourself is the MW division really as strong as the SMW division over the last 10-15 years. yes of course it had some big names at one point (the hagler era) but since then - hopkins, toney and RJJ he had brief stints thereas did fighters like benn and eubank but that last names i mentioned all mae their careers and legacies outside of the MW division. in fact i think MW has been one of the most dire divisions of recent years, yes it has more prestige, history and glamour but recently it has been poor to say the least.

as for him not fighting hopkins - have you seen the size of joe? he was pretty much down to his bare min. at 168 - yet you expect him to go down even further for hopkins? as for RJJ - calz was never on his radar RJJ was always thinking about the HW match-up.

a for JC waiting till hopkins and co were old - why has he been calling them out since the turn of the millenia? he has been calling out fighters like tarver, hopkins, johnson and RJJ since 2000.

you can make an argument that his promoter protected him.

you can make an argument that he would have lost to some of those fighters in thier prime - especially toney.

but you dont have a leg to stand on when you argue that hes a paper champ

Excellent post, end of thread.

[hookoutofhell]

cheers broffy, i try to do my best