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I am writing this in response to the ridiculous amount of negative criticism that I am constantly seeing on the site aimed at Joe Calzaghe. I don't mean to generalize, but the majority of abuse seems to come from Americans. Why is it that American supporters are so much more fickle than British supporters? For example, the recent criticism of Cotto/Pavlik for losing their undefeated records, as being 'exposed', 'no heart' etc etc. Being from Wales, I'm a big Calzaghe fan, as are most of my friends. Even people who are not seriously into boxing will watch his fights either live or on TV. The name 'Pride of Wales' is truly fitting.
As an amateur, Calzaghe set a post-war record for winning 3 consecutive ABA titles (all in different weight classes). He would have been selected for the Olympic trials, if the Welsh ABA didn't have the ****** policy of only sending one fighter from each weight. Calzaghe was defending welterweight champion, but in the following year he'd grown into a light-middleweight. He was told he could only be sent if he'd compete at welterweight, as they were sending the ABA light-middleweight champion instead of him at that weight. Since he could no longer make the weight limit (and despite offering a box-off with the other light-middleweight fighter), he was barred from selection.
Soon after turning pro, he became upset with his promoter, Mickey Duff, because he was not giving him the big fights soon enough. He changed his promoter to Frank Warren, with an agreement that he would get a world title shot in 3 fights. When he became the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt, Warren duly gave him his chance against Steve Collins. Instead of facing the younger, undefeated Welshman, Collins opted to retire.
Undetterred, Calzaghe chased a bout with WBC Champion Robin Reid, but Reid was not interested, refusing all offers of a potential fight. Instead, Calzaghe challenged for the Eubank's WBO Title, which he won with a unanimous decision, even dropping the champion on the way to victory.
In 1999 Reid did eventually agree to fight Calzaghe, but only after he'd lost his WBC belt and had limited options. Reid even refused a unification bout when he was still world champion. Despite badly injuring his hand early in the fight, Calzaghe won by a split-decision. Although the fight was close, Reid himself admits that Calzaghe deserved the victory. Immediately after the fight Reid was offered a rematch, but refused, only taking Calzaghe up on the offer after he'd lost against another fighter. It is incredibly annoying that Reid is often used as an example when criticising Calzaghe, but in reality he wanted no part of the Welshman when he was on top, instead calling him out when his career needed a boost.
Examining the BBC News archives, Calzaghe and his promoter Frank Warren repeatedly tried to get a fight with Roy Jones Jr in 2000, but Roy Jones wasn't interested. Searching the BBC Website will reveal several articles with Calzaghe/Warren calling out Jones. Jr, but to no avail.
In 2000, Calzaghe beat Richie Woodhall, a former WBC world champion and a bronze medal winner at the 1988 Olympics (lost to Roy Jones Jr). May not be a Top 10 P4P fighter, but hardly a nobody.
In 2002, former IBF champion Charles Brewer was defeated on points. In addition Calzaghe agreed a fight with Bernard Hopkins, only for Hopkins to come back the following day and demand DOUBLE the money! So please, do not keep repeating the nonsense that Calzaghe has ducked every good fighter in their prime, because the two biggest names around this time, Hopkins/Jones. Jr both came up with excuses for not fighting him.
In 2003, two-time former WBA champion Byron Mitchell was defeated. Calzaghe was floored in the 2nd, but got off the canvas to win by TKO in the same round.
In 2005, Calzaghe brutally won a unification match against IBF champion, Jeff Lacy. Despite being the underdog in most boxing pundits eyes, Calzaghe won every single round against 'The New Tyson' as he was called before his defeat. Of course, once he had been schooled by Calzaghe, Lacy quickly became a fighter 'that wasn't that good anyway'. What a cop out! Lacy never was a Hall of Fame fighter, but he was world class. Since his beating, though, he's never looked the same.
The fight with Peter Manfredo. Jr is also commonly used as ammunition against Joe. When will people realise that the fight was only ever used for exposure in the US. Nobody is claiming that Manfredo is a great name to add to Joe's resume. The sad fact is, that after the Contender series, Manfredo was a bigger name in America than the Super Middleweight World Champion. Beating Manfredo was the launchpad for fights in the US.
Despite Jermain Taylor claiming he would fight Calzaghe after the Manfredo fight, money problems again prevented the Welshman from fighting a big name. Since Taylor would only fight for an extortionate sum, Mikkel Kessler offered another unification fight to determine who ruled the 168 class.
Defending his WBO title for the 21st time (surpassing Hopkins/Holmes efforts at MW/HW), Calzaghe also won the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Championships. Not bad for a guy who has made a living out of beating 'bums' eh?
2008 brought about the fight with Bernard Hopkins. Anyone else noticed how keen Hopkins was for the fight to take place once Calzaghe had become undisputed champion and Hopkins was no longer middleweight champion. Reminds me of the Robin Reid situation again.
Yes the fight was close, I personally scored it 115-112. It wasn't a very good performance by Joe, but after watching the fight again, you can't honestly claim Hopkins did enough to win. Or as many of Calzaghe's critics are claiming 'schooled'. Hmm, considering that Hopkins was feigning low blows to gain some time, constantly clinching and the fact that Calzaghe landed more punches on Hopkins than any other fighter in his career has done (yes even a young Roy Jones. Jr), I don't think you can seriously dispute the decision.
And before people get hot under the collar, no: the fight against RJJ does not constitute a great name on your resume. That fight was all about the money. I don't know who Calzaghe was trying to convince when he was telling people that RJJ is still a great fighter because he went on record in 2004 telling people RJJ was shot! Ooops....Lol!
Seriously though, why doesn't this guy get more respect. He's one of the best British boxers of all time, beaten 4 current world champions, 4 former world champions, defended his title 21 times, remained unbeaten and been world champion for 11 years. If that was me, I'd personally be extremely happy and I bet you would be too if you were in his shoes.
Discuss.
As an amateur, Calzaghe set a post-war record for winning 3 consecutive ABA titles (all in different weight classes). He would have been selected for the Olympic trials, if the Welsh ABA didn't have the ****** policy of only sending one fighter from each weight. Calzaghe was defending welterweight champion, but in the following year he'd grown into a light-middleweight. He was told he could only be sent if he'd compete at welterweight, as they were sending the ABA light-middleweight champion instead of him at that weight. Since he could no longer make the weight limit (and despite offering a box-off with the other light-middleweight fighter), he was barred from selection.
Soon after turning pro, he became upset with his promoter, Mickey Duff, because he was not giving him the big fights soon enough. He changed his promoter to Frank Warren, with an agreement that he would get a world title shot in 3 fights. When he became the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt, Warren duly gave him his chance against Steve Collins. Instead of facing the younger, undefeated Welshman, Collins opted to retire.
Undetterred, Calzaghe chased a bout with WBC Champion Robin Reid, but Reid was not interested, refusing all offers of a potential fight. Instead, Calzaghe challenged for the Eubank's WBO Title, which he won with a unanimous decision, even dropping the champion on the way to victory.
In 1999 Reid did eventually agree to fight Calzaghe, but only after he'd lost his WBC belt and had limited options. Reid even refused a unification bout when he was still world champion. Despite badly injuring his hand early in the fight, Calzaghe won by a split-decision. Although the fight was close, Reid himself admits that Calzaghe deserved the victory. Immediately after the fight Reid was offered a rematch, but refused, only taking Calzaghe up on the offer after he'd lost against another fighter. It is incredibly annoying that Reid is often used as an example when criticising Calzaghe, but in reality he wanted no part of the Welshman when he was on top, instead calling him out when his career needed a boost.
Examining the BBC News archives, Calzaghe and his promoter Frank Warren repeatedly tried to get a fight with Roy Jones Jr in 2000, but Roy Jones wasn't interested. Searching the BBC Website will reveal several articles with Calzaghe/Warren calling out Jones. Jr, but to no avail.
In 2000, Calzaghe beat Richie Woodhall, a former WBC world champion and a bronze medal winner at the 1988 Olympics (lost to Roy Jones Jr). May not be a Top 10 P4P fighter, but hardly a nobody.
In 2002, former IBF champion Charles Brewer was defeated on points. In addition Calzaghe agreed a fight with Bernard Hopkins, only for Hopkins to come back the following day and demand DOUBLE the money! So please, do not keep repeating the nonsense that Calzaghe has ducked every good fighter in their prime, because the two biggest names around this time, Hopkins/Jones. Jr both came up with excuses for not fighting him.
In 2003, two-time former WBA champion Byron Mitchell was defeated. Calzaghe was floored in the 2nd, but got off the canvas to win by TKO in the same round.
In 2005, Calzaghe brutally won a unification match against IBF champion, Jeff Lacy. Despite being the underdog in most boxing pundits eyes, Calzaghe won every single round against 'The New Tyson' as he was called before his defeat. Of course, once he had been schooled by Calzaghe, Lacy quickly became a fighter 'that wasn't that good anyway'. What a cop out! Lacy never was a Hall of Fame fighter, but he was world class. Since his beating, though, he's never looked the same.
The fight with Peter Manfredo. Jr is also commonly used as ammunition against Joe. When will people realise that the fight was only ever used for exposure in the US. Nobody is claiming that Manfredo is a great name to add to Joe's resume. The sad fact is, that after the Contender series, Manfredo was a bigger name in America than the Super Middleweight World Champion. Beating Manfredo was the launchpad for fights in the US.
Despite Jermain Taylor claiming he would fight Calzaghe after the Manfredo fight, money problems again prevented the Welshman from fighting a big name. Since Taylor would only fight for an extortionate sum, Mikkel Kessler offered another unification fight to determine who ruled the 168 class.
Defending his WBO title for the 21st time (surpassing Hopkins/Holmes efforts at MW/HW), Calzaghe also won the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Championships. Not bad for a guy who has made a living out of beating 'bums' eh?
2008 brought about the fight with Bernard Hopkins. Anyone else noticed how keen Hopkins was for the fight to take place once Calzaghe had become undisputed champion and Hopkins was no longer middleweight champion. Reminds me of the Robin Reid situation again.
Yes the fight was close, I personally scored it 115-112. It wasn't a very good performance by Joe, but after watching the fight again, you can't honestly claim Hopkins did enough to win. Or as many of Calzaghe's critics are claiming 'schooled'. Hmm, considering that Hopkins was feigning low blows to gain some time, constantly clinching and the fact that Calzaghe landed more punches on Hopkins than any other fighter in his career has done (yes even a young Roy Jones. Jr), I don't think you can seriously dispute the decision.
And before people get hot under the collar, no: the fight against RJJ does not constitute a great name on your resume. That fight was all about the money. I don't know who Calzaghe was trying to convince when he was telling people that RJJ is still a great fighter because he went on record in 2004 telling people RJJ was shot! Ooops....Lol!
Seriously though, why doesn't this guy get more respect. He's one of the best British boxers of all time, beaten 4 current world champions, 4 former world champions, defended his title 21 times, remained unbeaten and been world champion for 11 years. If that was me, I'd personally be extremely happy and I bet you would be too if you were in his shoes.
Discuss.
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