Is Joe Calzaghe actually considered a great fighter

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Yes, without a doubt. He was a very gifted and amazing talent. He is considered a great fighter in and outside of the UK by boxing experts. I would take the opinion of Roy Jones Junior and Eubank over some random Internet guy who has probably never laced a pair of boxing gloves in his life.

Here's a lovely get-together RJJ, Eubank and Calazaghe had - note the respect between these ATGs:

You do realise they call Richie Woodhall a great fighter in that gloves are off segment as well.

That’s a great watch btw, Eubank winding Collins up is priceless.

Shame Nigel Benn wasn’t there, would have made it even better.

[iamboxing]

You do realise they call Richie Woodhall a great fighter in that gloves are off segment as well.

That’s a great watch btw, Eubank winding Collins up is priceless.

Shame Nigel Benn wasn’t there, would have made it even better.

I've never followed Richie Woodhall's career or watched his fights. From his Wiki, though:

Richie Woodhall (born 17 April 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2000.^[1] He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1998 to 1999, as well as the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1992 to 1995, and the European middleweight title from 1995 to 1996. As an amateur, Woodhall won a gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 1988 Summer Olympics, both in the light-middleweight division.

That's nothing to scoff at. Unless this forum has unbelievably high standards, that's a great to fighter in my book....are we all forgetting how hard it is to actually win a belt, no less in the pro ranks? and we're not talking nowadays, we're talking back in the 90s when belts actually meant something!

[Stuntman Mike]

Yes, without a doubt. He was a very gifted and amazing talent. He is considered a great fighter in and outside of the UK by boxing experts. I would take the opinion of Roy Jones Junior and Eubank over some random Internet guy who has probably never laced a pair of boxing gloves in his life.

Here's a lovely get-together RJJ, Eubank and Calazaghe had - note the respect between these ATGs:

You cant take an opinion from a shot Jones that calzaghe was good..
of course Jones is going to say he was good because he was beaten by the guy and he's sitting right in front of him it just wouldn't be respectful to say he thought he and slappy were both **** when they fought

he was nothing compared to the likes of Jones it wouldn't have been a tiny bit competitive had they fought a few years prior

And in that video the true respect if from eubank to Jones you can tell that is legitimate and not just for the cameras

boxing fans don't respect calzaghe ,the only top worth a damn fighter he fought prime was kessler..
lacy won a vacant belt and looked like ass his fight prior to calzaghe and every fight after..so what he steam rolled a couple of tomato cans and somehow lacy is a legit solid win?...if anything time hasn't been kind looking back on calzaghes career especially since he held belts hostage in the uk when he could have had so many big fights....

They tried to do the same thing with Nathan Cleverly to until he met the unheard of at the time kovalev

[IronDanHamza]

I think so yeah, Calzaghe walked onto shots, I’m not convinced Calzaghe has the inside game to hang with him either.

Probably depends how motivated Toney is tbh, if he’s in shape (which is a massive if) I think he stops Joe but if the lazy Toney who fought Griffin turns up I’ll take by Joe by UD.

I doubt it highly. Toney isn't a one punch KO puncher like that.

Calzaghe's not going to sit on the inside with him he'll likely just move in and out and outbox him and outwork him.

What fight would you say Toney was in shape for to give that premise? As opposed to when he fought Griffin.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I've never followed Richie Woodhall's career or watched his fights. From his Wiki, though:



That's nothing to scoff at. Unless this forum has unbelievably high standards, that's a great to fighter in my book....are we all forgetting how hard it is to actually win a belt, no less in the pro ranks? and we're not talking nowadays, we're talking back in the 90s when belts actually meant something!

I wouldn’t necessarily use Wiki when studying the sport tbh mate. It won’t really give you the full picture.

Woodhall was decent, good amateur not so great as a pro, managed to pick up a world title by beating a shop worn Sugar Boy Malinga, 2 defences, the first of which Richie himself openly admits he should have lost vs Glenn Catley, he then stopped a past prime Nardiello before dropping the belt to Beyer. Got another shot vs Calzaghe and then retired I think. I’d compare him to like a Luke Campbell in the modern day. But yeah Woodhall certainly wasn’t a great fighter.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

What fight would you say Toney was in shape for to give that premise? As opposed to when he fought Griffin.

Tough question

Iran Barkley maybe, that’s probably peak Toney at 168.

[iamboxing]

You cant take an opinion from a shot Jones that calzaghe was good..
of course Jones is going to say he was good because he was beaten by the guy and he's sitting right in front of him it just wouldn't be respectful to say he thought he and slappy were both **** when they fought

he was nothing compared to the likes of Jones it wouldn't have been a tiny bit competitive had they fought a few years prior

And in that video the true respect if from eubank to Jones you can tell that is legitimate and not just for the cameras

boxing fans don't respect calzaghe ,the only top worth a damn fighter he fought prime was kessler..
lacy won a vacant belt and looked like ass his fight prior to calzaghe and every fight after..so what he steam rolled a couple of tomato cans and somehow lacy is a legit solid win?...if anything time hasn't been kind looking back on calzaghes career especially since he held belts hostage in the uk when he could have had so many big fights....

They tried to do the same thing with Nathan Cleverly to until he met the unheard of at the time kovalev

Gotta disrespectfully disagree with ya there, bud. They were far from tomato cans. And of course, predictably, soon as he beat Lacy, oh well...he wasn't that good to begin with (despite being the favourite). True, he didn't beat Hopkins and RJJ when they were at the primes, but neither was Calzaghe, I mean he's what.. two years younger than RJJ?

As to why the Hopkins fight never happened earlier. Showtime senior Vice President of sports and events Jay Larkin revealed:

‘A teleconference was set up in July 30th in New York, on the call was myself, Don King, Frank Warren and Bernard Hopkins lawyer Arnold Joseph. Along with Arnold was a women named Linda Carter who was there on behalf of Bernard. Arnold was asked how much it would take to set up a fight between Calzaghe and Hopkins and responded $3 million and the fight would have to be in the United States. Frank Warren immediately agreed, Don King agreed and as far as we were concerned all parties were singing from the same hymn sheet.

Arnold excused himself with Linda which I assume was to call Bernard. They came back with a new figure, $6 million, the deal collapsed. Joe gets criticized sometimes for not fighting the big name Americans but in this case the fault never rested with him.

The truth is Calazaghe, if anything, is underrated and doesn't get the credit he deserves. I believe he would have beat Hopkins and Toney in their primes. His boxing IQ, resilience and heart is unparalleled. I also commend him for retiring with his health intact.

[Stuntman Mike]

I doubt it highly. Toney isn't a one punch KO puncher like that.

Calzaghe's not going to sit on the inside with him he'll likely just move in and out and outbox him and outwork him.

What fight would you say Toney was in shape for to give that premise? As opposed to when he fought Griffin.

It's prime for prime ..both men on their best night ...

Slappy fought a shot eubank ,Shot hopkins,shot Jones a a prime kessler

The kessler fight was his biggest achievement and fight to judge his whole career on and it was a very close fight...to suggest he would move in and out on prime toney is ridiculous

toney would light calzaghe up and calzaghe wouldn't be hurting toney

Kessler was life and death with froch and only a micro step behind calzaghe

[Stuntman Mike]

Gotta disrespectfully disagree with ya there, bud. They were far from tomato cans. And of course, predictably, soon as he beat Lacy, oh well...he wasn't that good to begin with (despite being the favourite). True, he didn't beat Hopkins and RJJ when they were at the primes, but neither was Calzaghe, I mean he's what.. two years younger than RJJ?

As to why the Hopkins fight never happened earlier. Showtime senior Vice President of sports and events Jay Larkin revealed:



The truth is Calazaghe, if anything, is underrated and doesn't get the credit he deserves. I believe he would have beat Hopkins and Toney in their primes. His boxing IQ, resilience and heart is unparalleled. I also commend him for retiring with his health intact.

He would have beat hopkins in his prime?? Haha he got a gift against a 42 year old hopkins and flattened by him in the first round haha what are you smoking

[Stuntman Mike]

Gotta disrespectfully disagree with ya there, bud. They were far from tomato cans. And of course, predictably, soon as he beat Lacy, oh well...he wasn't that good to begin with (despite being the favourite). True, he didn't beat Hopkins and RJJ when they were at the primes, but neither was Calzaghe, I mean he's what.. two years younger than RJJ?

As to why the Hopkins fight never happened earlier. Showtime senior Vice President of sports and events Jay Larkin revealed:



The truth is Calazaghe, if anything, is underrated and doesn't get the credit he deserves. I believe he would have beat Hopkins and Toney in their primes. His boxing IQ, resilience and heart is unparalleled. I also commend him for retiring with his health intact.

His boxing iq? Resilience? And heart?

Froch showed all that stuff against kessler too considering that's the only win on slappys resume that means anything