Calzaghe: Best British Fighter of My Time, Says Warren

[Chunk..]

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.

He actually KO'd Bowe for the Olympic gold.

Calzaghe is definitely one of the best fighters we've ever produced but i personally have Lennox above him because i preferred his style. Lennox epitimised what 'Sweet Science' was all about, whereas Joe Calzaghe was well?!?....Joe Calzaghe. That's not a pisstake by the way because Calzaghe's style was unique to other fighters.

[Dave Rado]

Top 5 British Fighters

Jimmy Wilde
Lennox Lewis
Joe Calzaghe
Bob Fitzsimmonds
Nazeem Hamed.

Hatton can grab the No6 slot if he beats Pac.

What about Ted "Kid" Lewis, Ken Buchanan and Bob Fitzsimmons?

[Sick/]

frank warren is the man

[Dave Rado]

He actually KO'd Bowe for the Olympic gold.

Calzaghe is definitely one of the best fighters we've ever produced but i personally have Lennox above him because i preferred his style. Lennox epitimised what 'Sweet Science' was all about, whereas Joe Calzaghe was well?!?....Joe Calzaghe. That's not a pisstake by the way because Calzaghe's style was unique to other fighters.

I liked both styles in different ways, I don't prefer either. Lewis could be a bit stiff and over-cautious sometimes, almost making a fight into a chess match. Before all the hand injuries, Calzaghe punched pretty hard, and the fact that he managed to find a way to win even after he had to protect his fragile hands is a testament to his skills. I would say that in terms of sheer ring intelligence and ability to adjust his tactics mid-fight, Calzaghe had the edge - and he also had the edge in terms of handspeed. Obviously Lewis had more punching power though.

Anyone who thinks Calzaghe wasn't exciting hasn't watched the Mitchell, Brewer or Woodhall fights.

[Sweet Pea 50]

The best.....



I just about gave up watching HW's when he retired.

[Chunk..]

I liked both styles in different ways, I don't prefer either. Lewis could be a bit stiff and over-cautious sometimes, almost making a fight into a chess match. Before all the hand injuries, Calzaghe punched pretty hard, and the fact that he managed to find a way to win even after he had to protect his fragile hands is a testament to his skills. I would say that in terms of sheer ring intelligence and ability to adjust his tactics mid-fight, Calzaghe had the edge. Obviously Lewis had more punching power though.

I agree with that to a certain extent but like you say, Lennox was a chess player and he knew how to protect his king and would say 'Checkmate' when the time was right. Lennox was a very smart fighter, and IMO more 'Ring intelligent' then Calzaghe.

Calzaghe was very good at adapting half way through fights i'll give ya that, and his work rate was superhuman.

The best.....



I just about gave up watching HW's when he retired.

I holla!

[Kris Silver]

I agree with that to a certain extent but like you say, Lennox was a chess player and he knew how to protect his king and would say 'Checkmate' when the time was right. Lennox was a very smart fighter, and IMO more 'Ring intelligent' then Calzaghe.

Calzaghe was very good at adapting half way through fights i'll give ya that, and his work rate was superhuman.

I holla!

Fair assessment that, I'd agree for the most part. Lennox knew what he was going into more often than Calzaghe did. Although I did read an article recently whereby for once Joe was saying "we watched loads of his fights and sparred guys to suite". IMO he never done that enough, and as such relied on adapting a few rounds in.

Lennox did all those things, and was better at all those things just, though Joe was better at adapting and switching his tactics and style up.

[hammerhiem]

What about Ted "Kid" Lewis, Ken Buchanan and Bob Fitzsimmons?

Bob was in at Number 4, Ted lewis was so long ago it's impossible to judge the quality of opposition he beat and he lost to alot of mediocre opposition who regularly lost to the best of his time and Buchanan only held the LW title for 3 fights.


I put Honeygan above Buchanan.

[Dave Rado]

Buchanan only held the LW title for 3 fights ... I put Honeygan above Buchanan.

Most experts seem to agree that if Buchanan hadn't happened to run into arguably the greatest Lightweight of all time, he'd have had a long reign; and the manner of his loss to Duran was controversial, and he was unlucky never to be granted a rematch. I think he was a far classier fighter than Honeygan.

Sorry about not noticing you had Bob in your list.

I respect your opinion about Ted "Kid" Lewis, but Bert Randolph Sugar, in his book, The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time, ranked Ted Lewis # 33, and he was a real boxing expert.

[Dave Rado]

I'd agree for the most part. Lennox knew what he was going into more often than Calzaghe did.

True but Lewis had Manny Stewart as a trainer. Preparing for opponents' styles isn't Enzo's strength, unfortunately.