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

[znarfv_y2k8]

It's a disrespect to the greats...

I respect Nigel Benn more than he respect himself...he's a very good fighter who had a war w/ Chris Eubank during their prime that's resulted into a draw...but to say that he would be beaten by Joe if in case they have meet, sure yes if the fight will happen today but his old...but my point here is that if they're match both on their prime i think he's better than Joe not w/ Joe's unbeaten record but as a better fighter & has a better style...i think Joe's style is not that impressive to become great......but to the point that he said Joe would have beaten the best middleweights, it's a disrespect to the greats...i think Nigel's only good in fighting but not in this case...

[CiganoBoxer]

I think it's actually very possible that Calzaghe could hustle his way to decision Hagler. Hagler did lose to a past his prime Leonard who fought only once in five years and never fought at middleweight. Calzaghe is bigger, fast enough and hits harder than Leonard at middleweight. Hagler had a lot of problems with an old Duran and Duran's best weight was 135-147. Hagler won a very close 15 round decision on Duran. It may have gone the other way if the fight was 12 rounds.

Agreed

[znarfv_y2k8]

Follow up info...

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]

For a flash view w/ the greats, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hagler, Hearns & Duran they tested & proved themselves in a round robin battle between each other during their peak time where Leonard top them all, nxt is Hagler, then Hearns, and last Duran...not to mention Wilfredo Binetez as an additional ****e to the group...imagine how very hard for other boxer to be in the same era w/ these greats, all w/ Hall of Fame career...

[toysale]

fair play to Benn saying what he's said, he's an honest, class fighter. in all fairness though, ii'm not sure about the quotes on him beating hagler etc but we'll never find out anyways. He's just the best of this era and that's all that counts.

[Silencers]

I respect Benn and all but

[-EX-]

Calzaghe punches like a girl. How would he beat Hagler? Marvin wasn't in his prime when he fought Leonard(yea neither was). Plenty feel Hagler won that fight. Prime Hagler gives Joe a beatdown IMO. Joe got dropped by Bernard and washed up Roy. Hagler would test that chin. Hagler getting beat by a slapper? Please...

[BennyST]

Funnily enough, although it sounds silly to say he would beat guys like that, we mustn't forget he was actually a big SMW and not a MW or natural WW. I would honestly think he could, and should, beat Leonard and Duran. I think he would have a lot of trouble against Hagler as Hagler was big enough to fight him properly. I also think he would struggle with the speed, jab and power of Hearns.

If Hagler moved up to SMW in his prime to fight Calzaghe I think he could beat him. Like Calzaghe, he could box and fight just as well as each other and if we're talking about Hagler's prime, not his latter MW days like when he fought Leonard, Mugabi etc, then I think he would beat him with his speed and highly underrated boxing skills. I think it would be a very tough fight nonetheless because Calzaghe is very tough, very fast and big as well as being a southpaw with very good skills. Great fight.

I also think he would struggle with Hearns' jab and speed but I do think he could beat Hearns through pure aggression and outwork him down the stretch when Hearns fatigues a little.

I'm looking at this as if they were fighting Calzaghe at SMW because Calzonie never fought lower. Looking at Leonard and Duran fight at that weight, I actually think Calzaghe, at his best, would beat them on points reasonably well. UD's. He had the speed and boxing skills to be able to do it along with his natural edge in size, especially over Duran. At 5'6, and a natural lightweight, with only a 66" reach it would pretty amazing if he didn't win. Leonard is much closer to Calzaghe's size and probably has a similar reach etc, but at SMW he just didn't have what it took to beat Calzaghe.

It's not blasphemous or anything. If we're talking the mythical P4P then he would lose to all four, but as a big SMW against a lightweight, and two welterweights I think he would win. He is a very good fighter. I don't think he would beat Hagler though. Hagler could have moved to SMW easily.

Oh, and I think he would also beat Benn pretty easily as well. As was shown over Benn's career, if he fought someone with good boxing skills that could take a punch when needed, he could be beaten.

[The Noose]

Benn is entitled to his opinion like anyone else.
But if Calzaghe wasnt British i doubt Benn would say those things.

Benn is feircely patriotic and is giving him a big public pat on the back for acheiving what he has.

[SHB]

Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Benn were all beatable. All were beaten. Let's just remember than when the usual braintrust say there's no way in hell that the current Ring SMW and LHW champion has no chance in beating them.

For my money, Calzaghe beats Benn all day long. Benn's power didn't really carry up to SMW anyway and he even got outboxed by Nicky Piper before pulling out the KO win. I'd have Calzaghe a very heavy favourite.

Leonard - too small IMO. Leonard isn't THAT much better that he could compensate for that.

Hagler - actually, I think he's rather ideal for Calzaghe. I'd be more comfortable saying Calzaghe beats Hagler than saying he beats Leonard or Hearns.

For me, Hearns is the main choice to beat Calzaghe. Was Hearns good enough at SMW to beat Calzaghe? Debatable.

This thread is really missing the point though. These guys all operated best in a lower weight class than Calzaghe. All of them.

[Pugilistic™]

I Agree except i don't think he beats hearns or Hagler.

Duran and Leonard are too small to beat him.