At least Dirrell is honest

[Benncollinsaad]

He recognizes Calzaghe as the former king of the smw division in this article, where he says he's the heir apparent to the throne. I know many Americans are still resentful towards Calzaghe and would never call him king. Thanks Andre!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/8306336.stm

[Benny Leonard]

What?

Calzaghe was King of SMW...there is no debate about it.

[masta]

Calzaghe was the best super middleweight before and probably of all-time. I think people are just disappointed that he didn't do more while he was in the prime of his career.

[El_Cholo]

Calzaghe gets the same treatment Lennox Lewis gets, a grudging respect, but will never be fully accepted as the best of his era.

[Chunk..]

Calzaghe was the best super middleweight before and probably of all-time. I think people are just disappointed that he didn't do more while he was in the prime of his career.

Green K.............

[Chr0nic]

Calzaghe gets the same treatment Lennox Lewis gets, a grudging respect, but will never be fully accepted as the best of his era.

calzaghe was the best of his era?

[dans]

Calzaghe was the best super middleweight before and probably of all-time. I think people are just disappointed that he didn't do more while he was in the prime of his career.

Well said.

The bold is exactly why Calzaghe gets hate. He fought his career almost exclusively in Wales and in other parts of the UK without stepping out of his comfort zone or taking on the biggest challenges. His resume is very good and the title defenses are impressive but he couldn've done more to try and prove himself outside of his backyard and against big challengers.

[El_Cholo]

calzaghe was the best of his era?

name one SMW during his era that was better?

[El_Cholo]

Well said.

The bold is exactly why Calzaghe gets hate. He fought his career almost exclusively in Wales and in other parts of the UK without stepping out of his comfort zone or taking on the biggest challenges. His resume is very good and the title defenses are impressive but he couldn've done more to try and prove himself outside of his backyard and against big challengers.

I do agree with your sentiments here to a degree, but what is overlooked is the major problems Calzaghe had in his personal life at the time. His divorce was really messy and his kids didn't want to live with their mum.

Some might think its an excuse, but family comes first.

[Chr0nic]

name one SMW during his era that was better?

you did'nt say anything about supermiddleweight