Tweet
In 2001, Joe Calzaghe was the No.2 SMW behind Sven Ottke. The other fighters in the top 5 were Byron Mitchell, Antwun Echols and Charles Brewer. Instead of fighting any of them and in that very same year he opted to fight two boxers outside of the top ten who were relatively unknown - Mario Veit and Will McIntyre. Why??
In 2002, Joe Calzaghe became the No.1 SMW, followed by Sven Ottke, Antwun Echols, Eric Lucas and Byron Mitchell. Instead of fighting any of his mandatories he opted to fight Charles Brewer (who had previously lost two times to Sven Ottke), Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Tocker Pudwill. Why?
2003, saw Joe Calzaghe remain as the No.1 SMW, his top mandatories were Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Anthony Echols and Danny Green. In June he fought Byron Mitchell (who had just lost to Sven Ottke). Why not any of his mandatories again?? After this fight he called out Bernard Hopkins, who raised his price. Duck? Not at all - who was Calzaghe at that point to Hopkins? During this same year there was a vacant title, Joe Calzaghe chose not to fight for it and it was left for Anthony Mundine and Anthony Echols to fight for, why did he not fight any of them eh???
It was also in 2003, where Calzaghe made this famous comment - "I could probably give Jones a tough fight, probably the best fight he's ever had," said Calzaghe. "But I know my capabilities and unless I got paid the crown ***els I wouldn't want to risk it."
In 2004, Joe Calzaghe remained at the top of SMW list, followed by Mikkel Kessler, Anthony Mundine, Antwun Echols and Danny Green. Instead, again of fighting any of his mandatories, he fought, boxers outside of the top ten - Mger Mkrtchian and Kabary Salem.
2005, Joe stood high at the top of the SMW list, again followed by Mikkel Kessler, newcomer Jeff Lacy, Marcus Beyer and Anthony Mundine. This year again saw him fight none of these guys but Mario Veit and Evans Ashira (which deserves respect because he did it with just one hand). But again why not any of the top guys!
2004 / 2005 - sees the physical declines of living legends Roy Jones Junior / Hopkins
2006, we see Joe Calzaghe take leaps and bounds as he takes on hype machine and No.4 hype machine Jeff Lacy and slaughter him plus win the IBF belt. Mikkel Kessler and Anthony Mundine still lay in rest as number 2 and 3, near the end of the year we see him take on tough outsider Sakio Bika.
2007, he vacates the IBF belt (why) and fights Peter Manfredo (why?) - for the first time in 7 years he then fights his number two Mikkel Kessler and "his best win" to date!
Brandishing the statement legend killer, he goes on to fight Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior.
He retires undefeated
He is now believed by a "very few" to be an ATG / GOAT.
My question are
- why is Calzaghe viewed as such a fighter?
- was Calzaghe a highly 'protected' fighter?
- why did he not fight any of his mandatories?
- can he be accused of taking on past physical prime fighters to make his "not so great" career look brilliant?
Feel free to comment. Please note that this is not a know on JC, I just want answers.
Walterson.
In 2002, Joe Calzaghe became the No.1 SMW, followed by Sven Ottke, Antwun Echols, Eric Lucas and Byron Mitchell. Instead of fighting any of his mandatories he opted to fight Charles Brewer (who had previously lost two times to Sven Ottke), Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Tocker Pudwill. Why?
2003, saw Joe Calzaghe remain as the No.1 SMW, his top mandatories were Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Anthony Echols and Danny Green. In June he fought Byron Mitchell (who had just lost to Sven Ottke). Why not any of his mandatories again?? After this fight he called out Bernard Hopkins, who raised his price. Duck? Not at all - who was Calzaghe at that point to Hopkins? During this same year there was a vacant title, Joe Calzaghe chose not to fight for it and it was left for Anthony Mundine and Anthony Echols to fight for, why did he not fight any of them eh???
It was also in 2003, where Calzaghe made this famous comment - "I could probably give Jones a tough fight, probably the best fight he's ever had," said Calzaghe. "But I know my capabilities and unless I got paid the crown ***els I wouldn't want to risk it."
In 2004, Joe Calzaghe remained at the top of SMW list, followed by Mikkel Kessler, Anthony Mundine, Antwun Echols and Danny Green. Instead, again of fighting any of his mandatories, he fought, boxers outside of the top ten - Mger Mkrtchian and Kabary Salem.
2005, Joe stood high at the top of the SMW list, again followed by Mikkel Kessler, newcomer Jeff Lacy, Marcus Beyer and Anthony Mundine. This year again saw him fight none of these guys but Mario Veit and Evans Ashira (which deserves respect because he did it with just one hand). But again why not any of the top guys!
2004 / 2005 - sees the physical declines of living legends Roy Jones Junior / Hopkins
2006, we see Joe Calzaghe take leaps and bounds as he takes on hype machine and No.4 hype machine Jeff Lacy and slaughter him plus win the IBF belt. Mikkel Kessler and Anthony Mundine still lay in rest as number 2 and 3, near the end of the year we see him take on tough outsider Sakio Bika.
2007, he vacates the IBF belt (why) and fights Peter Manfredo (why?) - for the first time in 7 years he then fights his number two Mikkel Kessler and "his best win" to date!
Brandishing the statement legend killer, he goes on to fight Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior.
He retires undefeated
He is now believed by a "very few" to be an ATG / GOAT.
My question are
- why is Calzaghe viewed as such a fighter?
- was Calzaghe a highly 'protected' fighter?
- why did he not fight any of his mandatories?
- can he be accused of taking on past physical prime fighters to make his "not so great" career look brilliant?
Feel free to comment. Please note that this is not a know on JC, I just want answers.
Walterson.
Best DEBUNKATION of Calzaghe's career yet. If I had Green K I would give it to you right now.
Comment