Nigel Benn: "Calzaghe Beats Me, Hagler, Hearns, Sugar"

[Bobby Shaw]

Former champion and UK legend, Nigel Benn, has a lot of respect for his countryman Joe Calzaghe. After weeks of speculation, the Welsh fighter announced his retirement on Thursday. Benn says that Calzaghe always stepped up his game against the best opponents like Jeff Lacy, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. He even goes as far as admitting that Calzaghe would have likely beaten him if the two of them were around in the same era. [details]

****en asslicker,what a disgrace Nigel is to the sport of boxing.He has no right talking about Hearns

[daju_99]

I can't believe what I'm reading! Lacy was much too green for Joe, Hopkins was 42, and Jones was straight up shot. The win vs Kessler is the only one that counts. Joe gets kod by Hagler in 6, by Hearns in 8, by Duran in 8, Leo by pts.

[daju_99]

But I understand Nigel, he must have taken a million punches to think this. I just hope he stops smoking that medicinal bud he be smoking!!! You better pass that quick Nigel before you totally lose it!!!

[Dave Rado]

These are not p4p matchups, in which I'd pick Hagler, Hearns, and Leonard with a ton of confidence to beat Calzaghe. This is straight up where size does matter.

I get the impression from the posts claiming that Benn is being ridiculous that they've misread the article and that they do think of it in terms of P4P match-ups. Of course in P4P terms, a peak Leonard, Hagler or Hearns beats a peak Calzaghe, but as you say that's not what Benn was talking about. Either those posters have misunderstood the article or they have no boxing understanding at all.

Having said that, it is a strange statement from Benn - why compare Calzaghe with legends from the past fighting well above their best weights? What does that comparison prove? Nothing much.

[Thread Stealer]

It really doesn't say much for Calzaghe when he talk about how he'd beat greats who were 2-3 weight classes below him when they peaked. It's like saying "Kelly Pavlik would beat Jose Napoles" or "Ricky Hatton would beat Eusebio Pedroza".

Where Calzaghe should be matched up in mythical fights is of top guys his own size. 168-175 fighters like Foster, Toney, younger Jones, Qawi, Spinks, etc.... I don't think he fares too well with the guys I just named, but they are all much closer to the same weight.

[Dave Rado]

It really doesn't say much for Calzaghe when he talk about how he'd beat greats who were 2-3 weight classes below him when they peaked. It's like saying "Kelly Pavlik would beat Jose Napoles" or "Ricky Hatton would beat Eusebio Pedroza".

Where Calzaghe should be matched up in mythical fights is of top guys his own size. 168-175 fighters like Foster, Toney, younger Jones, Qawi, Spinks, etc.... I don't think he fares too well with the guys I just named, but they are all much closer to the same weight.

Calzaghe hasn't said anything about it - it was Nigel Benn.

[Thread Stealer]

Calzaghe hasn't said anything about it - it was Nigel Benn.

I know, for some reason I totally ****ed up on the grammar.

I get the impression from the posts claiming that Benn is being ridiculous that they've misread the article and that they do think of it in terms of P4P match-ups. Of course in P4P terms, a peak Leonard, Hagler or Hearns beats a peak Calzaghe, but as you say that's not what Benn was talking about. Either those posters have misunderstood the article or they have no boxing understanding at all.

Having said that, it is a strange statement from Benn - why compare Calzaghe with legends from the past fighting well above their best weights? What does that comparison prove? Nothing much.

Probably because names like Hagler, Hearns, and Leonard ring out more for boxing fans than they do of guys like Foster and Spinks.

Also, do you picture Calzaghe beating Foster or Spinks? I sure don't.

But those others are great fighters that Calzaghe could beat (although for not the right reasons).

[The Surgeon]

Nigel wouldnt have said that if he was still active, fighters get way humble once they gone. Can u imagine an active and prime Ali going on national tv and saying Tyson woulda beat him!? Plus Benn is daft anyway!

[Mr. Philadel]

Nigel Benn is one of my favs but that was some of the most bias **** I ever heard ........Nigel Benn might be on this board because that sounded like something one of the Calzaghe fans would've posted on here ......Joe MIGHT get Duran and Leonard but Hearns and Hagler would get over on Joe in any era

[KJB]

no it wont at all in 50 years time ppl will know the name hopkins and jones yeah but then they will no the name calzaghe the 46-0 undefeated 11 year 21 defences smw lhw world champion much the same as ppl remember marciano now

Time will tell, my friend. I would bet cold cash that in 20 years boxing historians hold both Hopkins and Jones in higher regard than Calzaghe, much like they do today.
Think Sven Ottke. I know Calzaghe isnt as bad as that, but its the same ballpark.