Calzaghe: Best British Fighter of My Time, Says Warren

[PittyPat]

Whaaaaaaaa...??!! I want that Sky version of the fight! The full thing, man. All I've ever found is a crappy, crappy quality HBO version which is 114MB. Someone out there must have the full Sky version. Come on, out with it whoever you are!

[Dave Rado]

I have to disagree with the Lewis part. No freakin way.

You're entitled to your opinion, but some highly respected boxing writers do agree, for example Gareth Davies.

And some others rank Lewis, Calzaghe and Buchanan as the equal best post-war British fighters, e.g. Ben Dirs.

Not to say they're right, just that it's not an outrageous statement, and a case can be made for it.

[Abstraction]

Best British Fighter?

LOL

Makes sense though when Warren says it, probably wants one last payday from him,

[Dave Rado]

Lennox also beat every contender and great fighter in or around his era that would sign to face him, except Vitali.....who I think he got a gift win off of.

Nevertheless, just like Calzaghe, for one reason or another he didn't fight the best fighters of his generation when they were in his prime - Tyson was way past his peak when they fought, Holyfield was past his prime, and he never fought Bowe.

[Abstraction]

Nevertheless, just like Calzaghe, for one reason or another he didn't fight the best fighters of his generation when they were in his prime - Tyson was way past his peak when they fought, Holyfield was past his prime, and he never fought Bowe.

That is true about Lewis. He had a pretty carefully managed career, saying that though, he is leagues better than calzaghe

[reptar]

Hatton is easily no 1 if he beats pacman

[Chase8400]

Nevertheless, just like Calzaghe, for one reason or another he didn't fight the best fighters of his generation when they were in his prime - Tyson was way past his peak when they fought, Holyfield was past his prime, and he never fought Bowe.

I agree that he should have faced Evander and Tyson earlier, but I do think he should not be responsible for not facing Bowe. Everyone knows Bowe was the one who turned that fight down. I think Lennox KO'd him in the am's.

Either way, at least he faced all the competition in his era. Calzaghe didn't even come close to doing that.

I give LL the edge in being the better Brit boxer.

[S.G.]

Top 5 British boxer ever, maybe top 3

Hatton is not #1 if he beats Pacman, sorry. He's still not higher than Joe in fact

[Dave Rado]

I agree that he should have faced Evander and Tyson earlier, but I do think he should not be responsible for not facing Bowe. Everyone knows Bowe was the one who turned that fight down. I think Lennox KO'd him in the am's.

Either way, at least he faced all the competition in his era. Calzaghe didn't even come close to doing that.

I give LL the edge in being the better Brit boxer.

I don't hold Lewis responsible for not fighting Tyson or Holyfield earlier, he didn't duck either of them, it was just boxing politics. And I know Bowe didn't want to fight him. Similarly I don't hold Calzaghe responsible for not fighting Jones earlier, he didn't duck him (neither ducked the other), it was just boxing politics (HBO wasn't interested in it, see my sig). And in 2002 Hopkins made it clear he didn't want to fight him (see my sig). Ottke also made it clear he didn't want to fight Calzaghe. Johnson and Calzaghe did want to fight each other, but injuries killed that match-up. Other than those fighters I can't think of any others that Calzaghe could have fought and didn't. So in terms of the competition the two fighters didn't face, I think their records are comparable - neither ducked anyone, but neither faced everyone one would have liked them to either, or not in their primes.

[hammerhiem]

Top 5 British Fighters

Jimmy Wilde
Lennox Lewis
Joe Calzaghe
Bob Fitzsimmonds
Nazeem Hamed.

Hatton can grab the No6 slot if he beats Pac.